What we have learnt from Black Saturday and the Royal Commission into it
The royal commission that has started since Black Saturday has brought up things we have been ignoring for too long. Victims, survivors, witnesses, firefighters and other people have been standing up to have their say into what happened and what needs to be done. People have told their tales of how they had to watch someone burn, or had to leave a neighbour behind because there was not enough spaces in their car. The court of the Royal Commission has seen everything; from a mixture of heroics, to tragedy, and the blame-game. From the inquest, the following dot points have become obvious to all;
· Much more back-burning of bush land needs to be done every year in preparation for each new bushfire season. The fires swept through dry bush land within seconds and some houses were completely surrounded by dry trees and bushes. People have said that they had asked their councils for permission to clear the trees but their reply was a straight and out ‘no’.
· It has been heard in the commission many times that movement of information and communication was hardly as good as it should have been on the day of Black Saturday. Systems were down, websites showed wrong or late information, the emergency bushfire hotline for that day had only answered 1 in 3 calls and people who tried to call 000 were put on hold for too long. Fire-spotters couldn’t get their vital information passed on quickly enough, charts and maps of the fires got lost in the spiral of electronic systems and head chief firefighters got a small portion of all the information that was meant for them. Better commutations and electronic systems are needed in time for the next fire season and to have everyone organized in time of panic would also be very helpful.
· Bunkers, pubs, fire stations, town halls, lakes and footy ovals were at the top of the list for refuges from the fire. With all of these places there are problems; Buildings and bunkers had the oxygen sucked out of them as the fire came by and lakes boiled up. There are plans and actions been taken to make sure new houses and buildings are better protected from the fire storm that came about on the 7th of February. Buildings are going to be made fire proof and better bunkers are going to be installed. So far, no policy about houses having to be fireproofed is going to be made but it is thought that most people would want to make theirs houses and shelters safer as to not repeat the death of Black Saturday.
· The Stay-or-go policy has so far not been changed. It is going to be more enforced next bush fire season as to either go early or not go at all. There were split opinions on how the policy should stay or be changed but one thing is for sure: People can not leave their houses at the last minute. Victims died in their cars as they tried to escape the ferocious flames because of the mass blackness around them (due to the smoke), the heat, smoke inhalation and of course, the flames.
Once the Royal Commission has finished and a report has been written up, hopefully we can make some good changes which will help Victorians to better survive each new coming bush fire season. It is truly hoped that something like the 7th of February is never again repeated in the history of anywhere, in anytime, to anyone.
