A car parked close to your home can result in your home being destroyed
A burning vehicle beside your home is enough to start a structural fire
Risks
Cars, boats, caravans and trailers often get parked right beside the home - under windows or next to walls. In a bushfire this creates a dangerous ignition zone.
When exposed to radiant heat or flying embers, vehicles can:
Trap embers underneath, especially around tyres and wheel arches
Ignite flammable materials stored inside or around them
Burn intensely, producing flames that reach external walls
Radiate heat directly onto windows, external wall cladding and eaves
Fire can spread to the house, especially when the car is parked against timber structures or under a verandah or carport
Fixes
Quick fix: Move cars, boats, yachts, caravans and trailers 12-15 metres away from external walls on high-risk days. Clear leaf litter, grass and debris from parking area.
Long-term fix: Create a dedicated parking zone that remains clear year-round:
On gravel, bare earth or concrete
With no overhanging vegetation
Several metres away from the house, sheds, decks and fences
Free of stored flammable items (fuel cans, cardboard, tarps)
If possible, position vehicles so embers cannot accumulate underneath.
Why it matters
Vehicles are large, potentially flammable objects. If they ignite beside your home, they deliver flames and radiant heat directly to your walls, windows, eaves and roof space. A small change in where you park can prevent a major fire.
Take action today
Park away from external walls, a verandah or carport
Clear debris from parking areas
Avoid storing vehicles under windows or eaves
Keep the area beneath vehicles free of grass and leaf litter
