You can reduce bushfire risk around your home in a few hours with one focused clean-up by removing debris near the house, clearing the gutters, and cutting back anything touching the roof. You’ll need basic gardening tools like gloves, a rake, pruning shears, and access equipment for safe gutter cleaning. This guide from John Wildes breaks down the exact priority areas and step-by-step actions, along with when to bring in a professional from Jim’s Mowing.
Watch John Wildes walk through practical bushfire risk reduction around the home above, or keep reading for the step-by-step breakdown.
What Needs Clearing Before Bushfire Season?
John does not name specific tools or products in the video. Instead, he points to the exact fire-risk materials and areas that need attention around the property: piles of timber, old bits of wood, general debris, rubbish close to the house, debris sitting inside gutters, and anything growing over or touching the roof.
If you are booking the work out, Jim’s Mowing franchisees commonly offer gutter cleaning, hedge trimming and pruning, gardening services, and rubbish removal, which fit the exact clean-up areas John talks about.
How to Reduce Bushfire Risk Step by Step
Step 1: Clear Debris Close to the House
Start with the obvious fuel sources sitting near the home. John specifically calls out piles of timber, old bits of wood, and general debris and rubbish hanging close to the property. His point is simple: if an ember lands there, that is where a fire can begin.
Do not just focus on what looks messy. Focus on what can burn. Anything dry, loose, and sitting near the house needs to go. This first pass is about reducing the amount of combustible material right up against the building.
Step 2: Clean the Gutters Completely
This is the priority job in the whole video. John says that if there were only one service to do around the house, it would probably be the gutters. He explains why: homeowners often cannot see what is sitting inside them, and that hidden debris can catch fire once bushfire embers start flying.
A gutter full of dry leaves and debris is not just a maintenance issue. In bushfire conditions, it becomes a fire-starting point attached to your roofline. John warns that a fire in the gutter could potentially burn your whole house down. That is why professional gutter cleaning is not a minor seasonal tidy-up here. It is risk reduction.
Jim’s Mowing lists gutter cleaning as one of its regular service offerings, and Jim’s Group backs work by franchisees with the Jim’s Work Guarantee.
Step 3: Remove Anything Growing Over or Touching the Roof
John’s next focus is on roof clearance. If branches or other growth are hanging over the roof or touching it, he says to clear that off. The goal is to create more clearance so floating embers have less chance of catching on vegetation sitting right against the home.
This matters because embers do not need a large opening to create a problem. They only need a dry, reachable fuel source. Keeping the roofline clear gives the house a better buffer and removes another easy ignition point. If the growth is minor, a standard hedge trimming and pruning job may be enough. If it involves larger tree work, it may be better suited to another Jim’s division, such as Jim’s Tree & Stump Removal.
Step 4: Prioritise the Hidden Risks, Not Just the Visible Ones
A tidy yard can still be a risky yard. John’s strongest point is that the most dangerous spot may be the one you are not checking. That is why he keeps returning to the gutters. They hide debris, sit directly on the house, and can ignite before you even realise there is a problem.
So if time or budget is tight, work backwards from risk. Gutters first. Roof-touching growth next. Loose debris around the house after that. This is the order John’s advice supports, and it gives you the biggest reduction in bushfire risk from the simplest property-prep tasks.
Common Bushfire Prep Mistakes to Avoid
Leaving Timber, Wood, and Rubbish Near the House
John specifically names piles of timber, old bits of wood, and general debris close to the property. Leaving them there gives embers an easy place to land and ignite.
Assuming the Gutters Are Fine Because You Cannot See a Problem
This is the biggest mistake in the video. John says gutters are probably where a fire is most likely to start because homeowners are not seeing what is sitting inside them. Hidden debris is still fuel.
Ignoring Roof-Touching Growth
Anything growing over the roof or touching it needs to be cleared back. Leaving it in place shortens the gap between floating embers and combustible material.
Treating Bushfire Prep Like a Cosmetic Clean-Up
This is not about making the property look tidier. It is about removing ignition points. The right question is not “Does this look neat?” It is “Could this catch if embers blow through?“
When to Get Professional Help
Call a professional when the gutters are hard to access, the roofline is steep, or the vegetation touching the house needs cutting back safely. Bushfire prep is not the time to take risks on ladders or guess your way through roof-edge work.
John’s advice lines up closely with the services Jim’s Mowing already offers, including gutter cleaning, pruning, gardening, and rubbish removal. If the job goes beyond that into larger tree work, Jim’s Group also has other divisions available through its wider services network.
For a one-off pre-season clean-up, you can book through Jim’s Mowing services. Jim’s Mowing states that one-off jobs are available, quotes are free, and enquiries can be made through 131 546.
Bushfire Prep FAQs
According to John Wildes, the most important single job is clearing the gutters. He says that is probably where a fire is going to start because debris sits out of sight, and embers can ignite it.
Dry debris in gutters can catch fire from wind-blown embers. John warns that a gutter fire can potentially burn the whole house down.
John names piles of timber, old bits of wood, and general debris and rubbish close to the property. Anything that can burn and sits near the house should be removed.
Yes. John says anything growing over the roof or touching the roof should be cleared off to give more clearance from bushfire risk caused by floating embers.
Yes. Many Jim’s Mowing franchisees also offer gutter cleaning, hedge trimming and pruning, gardening, rubbish removal, landscaping, and other garden services.
Yes. Jim’s Mowing says customers can book one-off jobs and do not need to lock into a regular contract.