Liza and Frank Marando remember the bushfires that burned in the suburbs of Canberra in 2003.

While their home was spared, the event imparted an important lesson.

"We were very underprepared. It was something we hadn't thought about. It really took us by surprise that day, and it was such a scary event," Ms Marando said.

"We were very concerned about family, we couldn't get in touch with them — all the phones went down, there was no communication."

The Marando family, who live nearby a large nature reserve, has had a bushfire survival plan in place every year since.

Frank and Liza Marando said they would not let a lack of preparation catch them off guard again. ( ABC News: Tamara Penniket )

"We make sure we get the kids, we all gather around the table and talk about it so we're all on the same page," Ms Marando said.

"We all know should that happen again, we know exactly what we're going to do."

New arrivals don't know Canberra's dark history

But not all Canberrans have lived in the capital long enough to remember the terrible weekend when fires swept through the city on five fronts, killing four people and destroying hundreds of homes.

The head of the ACT's Rural Fire Service Joe Murphy said, for many in the city, the horror of 2003 had faded over the years.

Huge flames lit the darkened sky as the fire rushed through Duffy. ( ABC News )

"2003 was a long time ago, 16 years ago," he said.

"Time has healed wounds, people have forgotten … so the impact of 2003 is largely gone."

As a result, he said Canberrans are not as prepared as they should be ahead of what is expected to be a particularly hot and dry summer.

"We still have a very complacent community out there," he said.

"We really need people just to think about what they've seen in Queensland, what they've seen in northern New South Wales recently. That should be a very clear indication to people that bushfires are real right now."

Alongside having a comprehensive plan, the Marandos have prepared their home so it is safer if a bushfire did come to their backyard.

"We've already this year had our gutters cleaned and we're looking at cutting back all our trees and making sure they're safe," Ms Marando said.

Mr Murphy recommended all Canberrans, but particularly those living on the urban fringe, made sure windows were secure, and that grass and shrubbery had been trimmed.

And he said, while having the plan in place was essential, it was even more important to enact the plan when the time came.

He said it was common for people to abandon plans when they saw the signs.

"We have to work as a community," he said.