Quick answer
Once a bushfire has passed and authorities say it's safe, record the damage, lodge your insurance claim and check whether your local government area has been declared on DisasterAssist. Call the ATO Emergency Support Infoline on 1800 806 218 about deadlines. Bushfire support for businesses is usually event-specific and may include recovery grants, concessional loans and advisory services. Fund only the gap that remains after insurance and grants.
Key points
- Don't return until authorities say it's safe — ash, asbestos and damaged structures are hazards.
- Bushfire assistance is event-by-event; check declared areas and the current list on business.gov.au.
- Victoria's January 2026 bushfire support included free business recovery advice and financial counselling.
- Recovery funding is sized to the gap, not the whole loss.
- Declared areas
- disasterassist.gov.au
- Free counselling
- Small Business Debt Helpline 1800 413 828
- Tax deadlines
- ATO 1800 806 218
- Property-secured funding
- $20,000 to $5,000,000
A bushfire can take a business in an afternoon, or it can leave the buildings standing and take the customers instead — roads closed for weeks, tourists staying away, smoke damage that looks minor but shuts a kitchen. Both are real losses, and both are worth planning around.
This page walks through recovery in the order it tends to happen. If you want it as a tick-list, pick “Bushfire” in our emergency action checklist.
The first 24 hours after a bushfire: what matters most?
Your first job is to stay away until you’re allowed back. Fire-damaged sites can contain asbestos, unstable structures, hot spots and contaminated water. Follow your state fire service and local emergency announcements.
When it’s safe to return:
- Record everything — photos and video of every building, vehicle, machine and stockpile, plus anything that looks untouched but may have smoke or heat damage.
- Tell your insurer and find out what they need, whether an assessor is coming and what you’re allowed to remove.
- Secure the site if you can, and keep receipts for fencing, security or temporary power.
- Contact your staff and check they’re safe. Many will be dealing with their own losses.
- Look at your bank balance and list what’s due over the next fortnight.
Which jobs matter most in the first week?
- Check declared areas. Search your local government area on DisasterAssist and look at business.gov.au’s list of assistance for your event.
- Call the ATO. The Emergency Support Infoline (1800 806 218) can talk through lodgement and payment deferrals and help rebuild lost records. See ATO disaster support.
- Get free advice. The Small Business Debt Helpline (1800 413 828) offers free financial counselling, including help finding grants and bill relief. Victoria’s January 2026 bushfire response included a Business Recovery Advisory Service and Small Business Financial Counselling Service through Business Victoria. More on free support services.
- Talk to lenders, landlords and suppliers about pausing repayments or extending terms.
- Collect quotes for clean-up, repairs, replacement equipment and temporary premises.
Who should you call after a bushfire?
| Contact | What for |
|---|---|
| 000 | Immediate danger |
| Your insurer | Claim, assessor, what can be removed |
| ATO Emergency Support Infoline — 1800 806 218 | Deferrals, lost records, payment plans |
| business.gov.au — 13 28 46 | Current programs for your event |
| Small Business Debt Helpline — 1800 413 828 | Free, confidential financial counselling |
| Your state’s recovery agency | Local recovery centres and programs — see recovery contacts by state |
| Lifeline — 13 11 14 | 24/7 crisis support for you or your team |
What bushfire recovery help exists for businesses?
Most government help after a bushfire flows through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, which are jointly funded by the Australian and state governments and delivered by state agencies. For businesses that can mean clean-up and recovery grants, concessional loans or interest subsidies, and freight subsidies for primary producers.
Examples from recent events on business.gov.au’s list include the NSW Rural Assistance Authority’s Natural Disaster Relief Loans of up to $130,000 after the November–December 2025 NSW East Coast bushfires, and the Victorian advisory and counselling services mentioned above. Our recovery grants explainer covers how these programs usually work and what evidence they want.
Grant and loan programs have closing dates. Put them in your calendar the day you find them.
How do businesses fund a bushfire recovery gap?
Even with good insurance, rebuilding runs ahead of the money. Common gaps are the policy excess, underinsurance on buildings or stock, costs the policy excludes, and plain timing — builders and suppliers want paying before the claim settles. If you’d like help working out a realistic figure, a real person can talk it through with you.
| Gap | Typical funding route |
|---|---|
| Rebuild or major repair while claim is assessed | Property-secured loan, $20,000 to $5,000,000 |
| Temporary site, hire equipment, reopening costs | Temporary premises funding or unsecured cash-flow funding |
| Underinsured buildings or stock | See the underinsurance gap |
| Loss of trade while customers stay away | Working capital sized on bank statements |
Speed can matter when a builder is ready to start. Property-secured funding of $20k to $250k is possible same day, and up to $5m is possible within 24–48 hours, depending on the property and paperwork.
Illustrative example only: a rural engineering workshop loses a shed and two machines. Insurance will pay, but not for about three months. The owner draws on a second mortgage secured against the family home to replace one machine and hire the other, keeps two contracts alive, and repays the loan when the claim settles.
What documents should you keep after a bushfire?
- Policy schedule, claim number and every email with the insurer
- Photos, video and your loss list
- Quotes and invoices for clean-up, repairs, hire and replacement
- Bank statements for the six to twelve months before the fire (proof of normal trade)
- ABN/ACN details and your ABR record
- BAS, tax returns or management accounts
- Grant and loan applications, approvals and receipts
Want to talk through your recovery numbers?
Rebuilding after a fire is a long job, and money is only one part of it. If the part that’s missing is timing or a shortfall, we can help you look at it.
Expect a call from a real person who’ll ask about insurance, grants and timing as well as money. We leave your credit file alone while we talk it over; nothing is checked until you decide to proceed. In a crisis you need fewer calls, not more, so your enquiry stays with one team.
Give us straight numbers — how much, what it’s for, which state, and whether property is involved — and the first call can go straight to real options. Begin the 60-second form.
Frequently asked questions
What bushfire assistance is available for small businesses?
It depends on the event. Past and current programs listed on business.gov.au include recovery grants, concessional loans such as the NSW Rural Assistance Authority's Natural Disaster Relief Loans, and free services such as Business Victoria's Business Recovery Advisory Service and Small Business Financial Counselling Service for the January 2026 Victorian fires.
My business wasn't burnt but customers can't reach us. Can I get help?
Some programs cover businesses that suffered a loss of trade or access rather than physical damage, but eligibility varies widely. Check the guidelines for your event, and record the drop in turnover with bank statements and sales reports either way.
How long should I expect a bushfire insurance claim to take?
The General Insurance Code of Practice generally commits subscribing insurers to a decision within four months of a claim, with updates at least every 20 business days. Large events can stretch timeframes, so plan your cash flow as if the payout will be slower than you'd like.
Can I borrow against my home to rebuild the business?
Yes, a property-secured business loan over residential or commercial property is common in recovery. Amounts range from $20,000 to $5,000,000, and the loan must be for business purposes.
Should I rebuild in the same place?
That's a bigger decision than funding. Talk to your insurer about reinstatement options, your council about rebuilding approvals, and an accountant about the numbers before committing.