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Fire and safety

This module turns a remote estate into a place that can prevent, detect and survive emergencies on its own until help arrives. It covers hazard assessment, wildfire defensible space and ember-resistant building, indoor fire and carbon monoxide safety, fuel storage, first aid, security, links to the off-grid communications plan, stay-or-go decisions and family emergency plans.

Why it matters

Off grid, the fire brigade, ambulance and phone network may be far away or absent. Every other system on the estate (batteries, wood stoves, LPG, generators, water tanks, animals) adds a hazard, so safety must be designed in, not added later. A good plan means small problems stay small and the household can call for help from anywhere on the land.

Assess the risks of a remote site (Plan)

1. Build a hazard register for the estate safety-1
2. Measure your distance to help and plan for self-reliance safety-2
3. Plan emergency vehicle access and an address that can be found safety-3

Design out fire and fuel hazards (Design)

1. Lay out wildfire defensible space zones safety-4
2. Specify ember-resistant construction safety-5
3. Size and protect a fire water reserve and pump safety-6
4. Site LPG, petrol and diesel storage safely safety-7
5. Agree battery room and electrical fire safety with the power design safety-8

Fit indoor fire and carbon monoxide protection (Install)

1. Install smoke alarms in the right places safety-9
2. Install CO alarms and control fuel-burning appliances safety-10
3. Run wood stoves and fireplaces safely safety-11
4. Choose and place fire extinguishers safety-12

Set up off-grid communications (Install)

1. Use the household PACE communications plan safety-13
2. Install satellite internet safety-14
3. Consider a cellular signal booster safety-15
4. Choose two-way radios (see comms) safety-16
5. Buy and register a personal locator beacon safety-17
6. Budget backup power for comms and critical safety loads safety-18

Prepare for medical emergencies, security and child safety (Install)

1. Stock a medical kit and get first aid training safety-19
2. Plan low-power security (see the secure module) safety-20
3. Make water, machinery and animals safe for children safety-21

Write and practise emergency plans (Run)

1. Write an emergency plan with evacuation routes safety-22
2. Decide: stay or go, and how to shelter in place safety-27
3. Pack grab bags and emergency supplies safety-23
4. Run family drills and test equipment safety-24
5. Prevent and treat heat illness safety-25
6. Prevent and treat cold exposure safety-26

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