THE Country Fire Authority (CFA) and local government have intensified planning to minimise the impact of bushfires on human life.
This year, it seems to me that a more sinister risk has emerged in a positive threat to urban areas that we haven’t seen to any large degree.
During normal seasons most towns have green nature strips and areas that at least slow a fire, but with everything tinder dry, including private gardens, ember attack becomes much more of a threat.
Most fires customarily stop short of urban areas.
Villages that have large trees seem to be in much more danger than ever because of dry undergrowth and a fire season that started three months early.
This in turn will see our volunteer firefighters well and truly tired by February.
They need to be supported in every possible way.
Many will miss Christmas at home.
We have a serious situation and more than ever both authorities have been promoting the need to have a fire plan.
But I sometimes wonder if the message gets through to everyone.
I am happy that the emergency fire tracks issue has been resolved and that it is generally accepted that people must decide whether to stay and fight a fire or leave in good time.
However, those who stay must be in good health, fit, and psychologically able to cope with a large fire looming down.
They must have prepared their properties.
Believe me, big fires are frightening monsters.
They are hot beyond belief, smoky, and whatever we decide to do or whatever we say and however well we are prepared, they are dangerous.
Harkaway, north of Berwick, has been of concern because of debate over its fire access track, but this track has been a false comforter for many years.
The track has been defined positively as an emergency access route and not for public use as an escape route. When you drive around Harkaway it is easy to see that from whatever direction a fire comes there will be problems.
There is no easy answer, but I believe Harkaway must have a major refuge area that everyone knows about, plus two or three minor areas where people can seek shelter.
The school needs an underground bunker that may never be used, but could be needed.
Harkaway also needs to form a fire safety committee to advise and help people to know exactly what they should do in case of fire.
This applies to many other areas.
These things won’t happen unless residents form committees to plan the best way to deal with fire.
Climate change could mean more long dry spells, or we could be going through a normal oneinahundredyear dry season.
Whatever is happening we still have hot summers, a determination to regrow our lost bushlands and many villages with homes among large trees, including my own.
We must have ways and means of protecting human life when the fires come and that is an individual personal responsibility because we cannot expect the CFA to be on everyone’s doorstep when the real heat is on.
Fires will come time and again.
The only thing we don’t know is when and from where?