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Bushfire road closures: everything you need to know

As Australia endures an environmental crisis, here's how to ensure you stay safe on its roads


Thousands of homes have been destroyed, 24 lives lost (at time of publishing) and millions of wildlife killed amid Australia's worst-ever bushfires, which have also seen holidaymakers and home owners stranded as a result of extensive road closures.

Over six-million hectares of land have been destroyed by blazes across New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania and the ACT, many of them affecting popular tourist areas and rural hubs.

Travellers attempting to flee affected areas have encountered gridlocked traffic as a result of hundreds of road closures and reduced speed limits across the nation, with some drivers forced to sleep on the roadside amid slow-going mass evacuations.

On some routes, drivers were only allowed to proceed with a police escort.

 

We were on the side of the road for around 7 hours until we were escorted by police through the Sussex inlet to Nowra we got home just after midnight safe. #roadclosure #southcoastfires

A post shared by Teresadivito (@teresadivito19) on Jan 3, 2020 at 6:17pm PST

 

As recently as January 6, 2020, a rescue effort was being carried out along a stretch of the Eyre Highway in Western Australia, where more than 300 drivers were left stranded at remote roadhouses after authorities closed major roads between Western Australia and South Australia.

 

This is what the last day of the decade looked like to me. Bega Motor Inn // New Year’s Eve 2019 #australiaburns #australianbushfires #climatechange #bega

A post shared by a i d ä n l y n c h (@aidoframes) on Jan 5, 2020 at 8:21pm PST

 

If you're one of the many who have been trapped by road closures, or are looking to assess whether an upcoming road trip is still viable, there are several resources available to you.

Here's what you need to know about the bushfire road closures.

 

How to check for bushfire road closures in your state

Depending on where you are, there's likely a resource specific to the state you're driving in. They are as follows:

New South Wales: Live Traffic NSW

Victoria: VicTraffic

South Australia: Traffic SA

Queensland: QLDTraffic

Tasmania: TASAlert

Western Australia: Mainroads Western Australia

ACT: City Services ACT

 

What to do if you encounter an unexpected road closure or fire

As of January 2020, the official advice from most state authorities is to avoid unnecessary travel within fire-affected areas at all costs. If you find yourself travelling in an affected area, keep your radio on to receive warnings and updates and download the relevant emergency app to your phone.

The NSW Rural Fire Service also advises packing an emergency kit, which should include a battery-operated radio, protective clothing, woollen blankets and water.

If you are caught in a fire while driving, you should call Triple Zero immediately. When parking your car in the event of an oncoming fire, opt for a clear area away from trees and grass and face the front of your car towards the fire.

The RFS advises staying in your car below the windows, "to protect yourself from radiant heat", ensuring you turn off the engine while turning on headlights and hazard lights and ensuring all windows and air vents are closed.

Cover yourself with a woollen blanket, cover your mouth with a damp cloth and stay hydrated. When exiting the car once the fire has passed, be aware that it will be hot and exit slowly and carefully once you are sure the fire has passed.

If you would like to donate to bushfire relief effort, you can give funds to the Red Cross, WIRES for wildlife victims, the Salvos, the Food Bank, the NSW Rural Fire Service, the CFA and the CFS Foundation for volunteer firefighters. 

Susannah Guthrie

Susannah Guthrie has been a journalist for over a decade, covering everything from world news to fashion, entertainment, health and now cars. Having previously worked across titles like The New Daily, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, People Magazine and Cosmopolitan, Susannah now relishes testing family cars with the help of her husband and two-year-old son.

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