Don't be a domino: why your neighbour's house matters too
Black Saturday,Victoria, Australia, 2009. The surrounding trees survived, the houses didn't. When homes are built within 12 metres, a fire that takes hold in one can spread house by house and then street by street.
This home's facade was scorched by the fire that destroyed the house next door. Distance and preparation both play a part in what survives.
It's not just your own home you need to think about when it comes to bushfire risk
Your neighbour's place matters too. If homes are less than 12 metres apart, a fire that takes hold in one can generate enough radiant heat, or throw its own embers, to ignite the next, on top of the embers already coming from the bushfire itself.
This is how a single ignition can turn into the loss of an entire street. Working on your own home's safety still matters, but it helps to know this risk doesn't stop at your boundary.
Risks
Homes closer than 12 metres apart can ignite one another through radiant heat and direct flame contact, not just embers
A house on fire next door throws its own embers too, adding to whatever the bushfire itself is already sending your way
One home catching fire can threaten several neighbouring properties in a chain reaction. This is how entire streets are lost during a bushfire
This risk depends partly on your neighbour's property, not just your own, so it can be easy to overlook
Fixes
Talk to your neighbours about bushfire preparedness, as your safety is genuinely connected to theirs
If you're building, renovating, or adding a structure, consider its distance from neighbouring homes, not just your own boundary setbacks
Harden shared risk points between properties, like fences, sheds and vegetation, that can carry fire from one home to the next
Consider joining or starting a local Community Fireguard style group, so preparation happens street by street, not just home by home
These are small conversations that make a real difference. A chat with your neighbours today could reduce the risk for both of your homes tomorrow.
For more on hardening your home, visit our Resource Hub.
