Understanding bushfire warnings
Advice
- General information to keep you up-to-date with development
Watch and Act
- A fire is approaching you
- Conditions are changing and you need to start taking action now to protect your life and your family
Emergency Warning
- You are in imminent danger and need to take action immediately
- You will be impacted by fire
Where can I find the warnings?
- Warnings and Advice. All alerts and warnings are posted on the CFA and DSE websites.
- Ring the Victorian Bushfire Information Line (VBIL) on 1800 240 667
- Keep informed by listening to ABC Local Radio, commercial and designated community radio stations or watching Sky News TV.
- Callers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech/communication impairment can contact VBIL via the National Relay Service on 1800 555 677.
Telephone warnings
Emergency Alert is a telephone warning system that emergency services can use to send alerts to communities via landline telephones based on the location of the handset, and to mobile phones, based on the billing address.
In the case of an emergency, you may receive a voice message on your landline or a text message on your mobile phone. If you receive an Emergency Alert and want more information, follow the instructions in the message.
Emergency Alert is a community warning system that attempts to provide a message to the vast majority of phones in an area defined by the emergency services.You should not rely solely on receiving a telephone warning as it is generally only used for life threatening emergencies.
For further information visit www.emergencyalert.gov.au (opens in new window)
Why did I not receive an alert?
There are a number of reasons why you may not receive an alert. For more information visit the Emergency Alert website (opens in new window)
Standard Emergency Warning Signal (SEWS)
The Standard Emergency Warning Signal (SEWS) is a distinctive siren sound that is played in the event of an emergency.
It is designed to alert the public via radio, television and public address systems in areas such as shopping centres or sports grounds that an official emergency announcement is about to be made concerning an actual or potential emergency which has the potential to affect them.
You are strongly advised to become familiar with the sound.
SEWS Community Service Announcement. mp3 - 1Mb (Includes introduction)
SEWS Community Service announcement .wav - 705k (Includes introduction)
SEWS Standard Emergency Warning Signal .mp3 - 764k (Siren sound only)
What should I do if I hear SEWS broadcast?
- Stop what you are doing
- Listen carefully to the information provided
- Act as directed
Who decides when to use SEWS?
SEWS broadcasts are authorised by Police and Emergency Services, in accordance with arrangements in the Emergency Management Manual Victoria.
Who should I contact for more information?
Victoria Police Media Unit
637 Flinders Street
Melbourne VIC 3005
Phone: (03) 9247 5205
Fax: (03) 9247 5210
Email: policemedia@police.vic.gov.au
The SEWS Guidelines can be downloaded below.
To learn more, please download the Bushfire Alerts and Warnings - pdf 676k | Text version - doc 45k
