Bushfire-safer places remain something of a mystery to a large number of South Australians, according to new data released by the state's Country Fire Service.
Ahead of bushfire season, the CFS says data collected last summer from people living in bushfire-prone areas found that 42 per cent didn't know the meaning of a safer place or where to find one.
"Despite the fact that we've had catastrophic bushfires in our state over recent years, it's quite worrying to know that people don't fully comprehend the concept of our established bushfire safer places," CFS spokesman Joel Taggart said.
"More often than not, they get confused with a bushfire last resort refuge which should not be used unless there is absolutely no other option."
Bushfire-safer places are identified areas that can provide relative safety and can be used by people planning to leave early from high-risk locations on a bad fire day or during a bushfire.
A refuge of last resort offers only a minimum level of protection and should only be used if a safer place cannot be reached or if a person's bushfire survival plan has failed.
"It's critical that anyone who lives, works, or travels through an area where a bushfire can occur knows exactly where the safest place to seek shelter is, and that they have a plan," Mr Taggart said.
"Identify where your nearest bushfire safer place is, plan how you will get there, who will be with you and what you'll bring.
"In many cases, this safer place will be the metropolitan Adelaide area or a large rural town."
Australian Associated Press
