CFA's annual post-season bushfire community survey found 88 per cent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that leaving early was the safest option.
However, 81 per cent indicated they were unlikely to leave until fire was threatening the landscape, and 12 per cent said they would stay and defend.
CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said the results showed important bushfire safety messages were reaching communities, but there was still work to do.
“It’s encouraging to see so many Victorians understand that leaving early is the safest way to protect themselves and their family,” Mr Heffernan said.
“But knowing that leaving early is safest and knowing when to act are two different things. Leaving early means leaving the area before a fire starts, not when you can see flames or smell smoke.”
The results also showed 93 per cent of respondents have a bushfire plan, but only 13 per cent have it written down.
“A good plan should cover when you will leave, where you will go and what you will do if your preferred route is no longer safe,” Mr Heffernan said.
“Writing it down and placing it somewhere you can see it can make a huge difference during an emergency.”
Expectations of emergency services also remain high, with 63 per cent of respondents believing they were likely or very likely to receive assistance from fire trucks to defend their property, and 77 per cent expecting emergency services to tell them when to leave.
“During a bushfire, we cannot guarantee a fire truck will be at every property,” Mr Heffernan said.
“Don’t wait for a fire truck or a verbal warning from firefighters to act. Download the VicEmergency app, set a watch zone, listen to emergency broadcasters and monitor social media and the CFA website for updates.”
With hot and dry conditions expected across much of the state this spring, Mr Heffernan urged Victorians to prepare now.
“The best way to prepare now is to attend a Get Fire Ready event this October, speak with your local brigade, understand your risk and make sure your plan is ready before the fire starts,” he said.
Last year, 537 brigades directly engaged more than 40,000 people about fire safety at Get Fire Ready events.
For more information about Get Fire Ready, visit cfa.vic.gov.au/getfireready
