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We have witnessed Australia’s most deadly and devastating bushfires in recorded history. A new benchmark has been set. During Black Saturday 7th February 2009 and the days that followed 210 people lost their lives, over 2000 houses were destroyed and 7000 made homeless. Properties, fences and equipment, pets and livestock, plantations and forests, businesses and livelihoods, families and communities, all affected in immediate and long-term ways that may change the face of many Victorian townships forever.
Towns and rural localities across Victoria faced the worst fire weather ever seen – temperatures over 45oC, wild winds gusting over 100km/hr and a relative humidity of less than 5%, all coming off the back of weeks of sweltering temperatures and no rain. We all knew the day would be bad, we knew any fires that started could be devastating despite the best efforts of emergency services, we just didn’t know where or when they would start.
As it happened on the 7th February 2009, fires were already burning in the state with new significant fires starting near Coleraine, Bendigo, Horsham, Castlemaine, Kilmore East, Murrundindi, Bunyip State Park, Weerite, Churchill, Beechworth and Dargo.
During the days that followed, 2 more extreme fire weather days were publicised and new fires began including those near Muskvale, Wilsons Promontory, Mooroondah, Upper Yarra Dam, French Island, Healesville, O’Shannassy and East Tyers. Amazing stories of community preparedness, survival and resilience have been heard as have stories of loss and devastation. Incredible saves by emergency services have contrasted against fires too large to be dealt with using available resources.
After every major disaster hard questions are asked, research is undertaken, answers are found and current practices are either confirmed or revised. The Royal Commission will carefully review all issues relating to these fires to determine future recommendations, policies and regulations. We need to let them do their job, and not try to pre-empt their decisions regarding warnings, bunkers, mandatory evacuation or any other of the many ‘quick fixes’ currently being debated locally.
What is evident from the information still coming out is that most people that had prepared their properties and enacted practical bushfire survival plans in advance made a huge difference in their survival and property losses. Bushfire education does make a difference. Do you have a written and practiced Bushfire Survival Plan? |
A REVIEW OF THE LAST FEW WEEKS |
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YOU CAN… Recognise fire danger days in advance Talk to your household members Inform your friends and family of your plans Plan for your pets and livestock Have back-up resources and equipment On a fire day you will either be home or not — plan for both possibilities |
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Please note: Articles in this newsletter are not necessarily the views of the Barwon-Corangamite Area Community Fireguard Program. The editor reserves the right to not include submissions which are considered inappropriate to publish in this newsletter. |
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