Beat the Bushfire Enemy with Knowledge Maximise your self-defence capability

This powerful and practical guide is for anyone living with the threat of bushfire. Drawing on real-world experience and proven techniques, it delivers the essential knowledge every property owner, firefighter, and rural family needs to stay safe and in control when fire strikes. Whether you're preparing for the next fire season or determined to better protect your home and loved ones, this book gives you the tools and confidence to act. It breaks down bushfire behaviour in clear, accessible language and shows you how to manage risk, not fear it. At the heart of the book is the Self Defence System-a straightforward, field-tested model built on decades of dry fire-fighting experience. These methods were successfully applied during the devastating Black Saturday fires in Victoria, Australia, where they helped save lives, livestock, and entire properties. Packed with practical advice, checklists, and strategies, this book empowers readers to make smart, timely decisions and to turn knowledge into action. It's more than a survival manual-it's a blueprint for resilience. If you want to understand fire, take back control of your safety, and protect what matters most, this book belongs on your shelf before the next fire season arrives. AUTHOR: Denis O'Bryan is a fire-behaviour specialist and environmental engineer with over four decades of on-ground experience in bushfire management, land rehabilitation, and fire safety education. His pioneering Self Defence System has been adopted by communities and emergency services across Australia as a practical model for property protection.