"You really can't imagine a bushfire until you're in it," he says. "It's so volatile. The wind can just shift."

"Even spot fires - you can be standing there and the ground next to you will start burning, or a post."

It's why he keeps his acre block on the edge of Medowie State Forest as tidy as possible and has a concrete plan in place if his wife is home alone when a fire breaks out.

"If I'm not here, she will go," he said.

"We have a firebox with passports and documents in it. My wife has a bag packed.

"We've planned where we would meet depending on where the fire is coming from."

These are all part of the important, and potentially life-saving preparations the RFS is calling on residents to do now ahead of the upcoming fire season.

Living in a bushfire-prone area, Mr Fairless described feeling "apprehension" during the warmer months of the year.

"I think we dodged a bullet last year," he said. "They're talking about these extreme weather events.

"You do get a bit worried."

As a firefighter he perhaps prepares his property for the worst case scenario better than the average person.

He has installed a sprinkler system on top of his shed to reduce the risk of it going up in flames in an ember attack, has taps all around his property and keeps a jar of hose O rings in his yard in case one of his breaks and a firefighter needs to use the water supply. There was also two hazard reduction burns in the forest behind his home in June.

But it's just as important to do the basics, Mr Fairless says. He regularly cleans his gutters of leaves and debris, mows the grass and keeps his wood pile tidy and away from the house.

"You've just got to do what you're capable of doing," he said.

"Evaluate your situation and be realistic."

This all may seem like common sense to some, but Medowie RFS community engagement officer Gavin Smith says every time there's a fire in the area, the brigade receives calls from the community asking what they should do and whether they should stay or leave.

"It gets frustrating - we have so many other things to do and the last thing we want to do is say 'it'll be right' then the road later becomes blocked and you can't get out," Mr Smith said.

"Everybody's situation is different. You need to have a plan to suit you."

And the firefighters say the safety messages still don't get through to some. They've had to walk away from fires due to piles of old gas bottles being left on properties and been shocked to see things like stacks of newspapers and mulch spread around yards.

"When you're dragging a hose around a yard and see a gas bottle, you think oh s---," Mr Fairless said.

"The danger kicks in."

Mr Fairless said preparing and having a plan in place can help make firefighters' lives much easier.

"We're only volunteers," he said.

The RFS is holding a Get Ready Weekend on September 19-20 to help residents prepare for the coming bush fire season and discuss options with firefighters.

Due to COVID-19, brigades will be offering a number of ways to participate including fire station events and online. Visit the RFS website for more information.