Tasmania, and Australia more broadly, use two key systems to help people stay safe during bushfire season: the Australian Fire Danger Rating System and the Australian Warning System. They sound similar, but they serve very different purposes.

Fire Danger Rating This rating system is used to forecast how dangerous a fire could be if one were to start. It doesn’t predict whether a fire will occur, but rather how intense it might become based on conditions like temperature, wind, humidity, and fuel load, are used to determine a daily rating. Ratings are updated daily and fall into four levels:

• Moderate: Plan and prepare
• High: Prepare to act
• Extreme: Take action now to protect your life and property
• Catastrophic: For your survival, leave bush fire risk areas

You can check the daily rating at fire.tas.gov.au/firedanger-rating

Australian Warning System This warning system is used during active emergencies such as bushfires, floods, or storms. The warnings help people understand what’s happening and what they need to do. There are three warning levels:

• Advice (Yellow): An incident has started. There is no immediate danger. Stay up to date in case the situation changes.
• Watch and Act (Orange): There is a heightened level of threat. Conditions are changing and you need to start taking action now to protect you and your family.
• Emergency Warning (Red): You may be in danger and need to take action immediately. Any delay now puts your life at risk.

All active warnings can be found on the TasALERT website at alert.tas.gov.au or via the app.

In essence, Fire Danger Ratings help you prepare and plan ahead before a fire starts, while the Australian Warning System helps you respond during an unfolding emergency. Knowing the difference and where to find each system can keep you safe this bushfire season.