BUSHFIRE SURVIVAL GUIDE IN DEMAND AT THE FIRE FRONT

Aussie Pumps distributors across five states have been helping their communities with valuable information on fire protection. And the company’s staff and regional dealers have found that the biggest issue is a lack of preparation putting homes, commercial buildings and whole townships at risk.

According to Aussie Pumps Operations Manager, Hamish Lorenz, “No one expected the severity of this year’s catastrophic fires. Dealers, fire fighters, farmers and the users all report on a lack of preparation for what appears to be the worst fire season in a century.”

Aussie Pumps has printed tens of thousands of copies of its free Bushfire Survival Guides to aid homeowners, businesses and even Government authorities.

The Bushfire Survival Guide provides invaluable information on a wide range of fire fighting topics. Starting from RFS, CFA and CFS guidelines, Aussie has built on that framework with information provided by dealers, farmers and users across the country.

“Even now, we’re learning every day from this years’ fires on how we can make the Survival Guide better for next season,” says Lorenz, adding that “Preparation could have been carried out in Winter and early Spring.”

Aussie staff working at the counters of dealerships across the country report a consistent lack of understanding of even the basics of protecting homes and property. A classic example includes a customer of one of the South Coast dealerships wanting to buy a pump to protect his property without having any available water supply.

“Our man on the spot was able to stop the customer spending hundreds of dollars on an Aussie pump that would have used all the water capacity that he had in a matter of minutes. We advised him to block up the downpipes on his gutters, fill the gutters with water after clearing out any debris, and clearing as wide an area around his house as possible. That’s practical advice that’s all in the Aussie Survival Guide,” says Lorenz.

The guide is now in its 10th year of printing, with each new version being improved based on the growing knowledge bank compiled by the company.

The guide is available from the Aussie Pumps website and is now in its third print run for the season based on the unexpected demands for information on fire preparation.

The company is moving fast to triple its production capacity of fire fighting pumps and beefing up not only the standard units but also diesel and Honda electric start versions. “Many customers living in coastal areas are retirees. They don’t need the dramas of a pull-start. Electric start means it’s easy and it’s just about turning the key on the engine driving the pump,” says Lorenz.

Australian Pump Industries
02 9894 4144
aussiepumps.com.au