With Brisbane's hot days and frequent dry spells, we all need to be prepared in case of fire.

If a fire is heading your way, you are advised to leave early. But there are steps you can take to help protect your home and property.

Here are some of the steps Queensland Fire and Rescue recommends:

Before the fire season

• Display a prominent house number or other identifier

• Make sure fire trucks can get onto your property

• Make sure things that can burn are well away from the house (eg garden mulch, wood piles, boxes, garden furniture, cans of fuel, rubbish bins, etc)

• Create low fuel areas with driveways, paths, gravelled areas and lawns close to house

• Remove, cut or mow bushes, grass and weeds around sheds, fences and gates for at least 20 metres from house

• Clear any overhanging branches from roof

• Clean gutters

• Make sure that external house timbers have a good coat of paint

• Buy a battery powered radio to listen to bushfire updates

• Monitor fire information, listen to local ABC Radio

• Remove flammable door mats

• Contact the Department of Community Safety Customer Contact Centre on 1300 369 003 or your local fire station for advice.

For the full list of recommendations visit Queensland Fire and Rescue's website.

Staying in your home

If you don't have time to evacuate safely you should:

• Call triple zero (000) to advise them of your situation.

• Be prepared to put out any fires that may break out within the home.

• Stay inside until the fire has passed.

• Evacuate your home once the fire has passed and take shelter in an area that has burnt out.

• Call triple zero (000) if you require any assistance from emergency services.

• Drink plenty of water.

• Do not shelter in baths/water tanks.

Planned burning

Smoke doesn't always mean danger...While smoggy, smoky days might signal fires, they don't necessarily mean bushfires. Planned burning could be happening in your area to decrease the risk of bushfire. See Brisbane City Council's list of planned burning for this year.

Planned burning on Brisbane City Council land is used to maintain the health of forest ecosystems and to lessen the impact of wild fires.

With planned burning, some areas of the forest are left untouched. Wildlife can use the untouched areas as a refuge. These areas also help re-establish vegetation in the burnt sections.

Fire bans

Find out whether your area is under a complete fire ban, or if you can use wood barbeques etc. If you're in Brisbane, select Brisbane City Council as your shire.

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