This POST is just a brief note WITH CHECKLIST at bottom ( Why necessary ? Because "much advice is best "and because many who work HIGH risk territory ( like the authors) would not want anyone to be left to the media machine and practices of the government of this day- many of us used to work FOR them when they worked better,
Much advice and much LOCAL advice and phone contact should be sought .
Question Kids ask naturally are we at risk ? ( to MUM or DAD),,,Answer , If you have big native trees or bush nearby-- YES you are and esp if its to the north or west of YOU see posts below and links
Why this confusion?
Unfortunately with the intense love of the bush, there is a bit of denial . Time to give this up for realism if you live near bush and ...........leave early - if you can . If a bush fire is near or day progressing you leaving maybe too late . In old days someone would often come and tell you if it made sense to do so and where to go.
---Maybe ask your CFA friends to do that because in this days and age of all talk and no responsibility you have few better guarantees
Should you trust the government? Well YES BUT sadly NO -----to the extent that trees have become sacred in their eyes , they and their processes TOO are in denial PLUS they don't really understand and commit to local risk management ( its a local thing YOU have to be in charge of ) use own resources eg phone ; the internet and specific sites can go down as will some communication lines .Find a TWITTER feed that makes sense to you if you use it .( less likely to go down and quick)
CHECKLIST ( not definitive )
- Wise up and trust your own judgement and those who live with similiar risks nearby .
- Carry woollen blankets, overalls ,phone nos ,lots of water and chainsaw ( if you can) in any car you use
- Carry LOCAL resource phonenumbers .low use local web and weather links eg http://otwaysonline.blogspot.com
- If you do go somewhere safe , plan to come back late ( usually less risk)
- Expect electricity outages. If need power/ water supply find other sources, store water in smaller containers
- Add here ........................
1 comment:
Comments from former Fire chief in Victoria
Underwood's letter to Senator Milne
>
> My CFA volunteer friend in Dunkeld sent me the following comments on
> fire detection in the Grampians
>
> Last weekend was very ordinary, with vicious winds and a violent SW
> change (some damage but also a bit of rain with the lightning). We
> survived here OK. We are relying less and less on the CFA
> bureaucracy to get any action on anything, as (at least in this
> district) the system is badly broken. We even had our own network
> of fire spotters, located on various hills, watching for lightning
> to hit the ground - it worked well. The official fire spotting
> towers in this area are manned only rarely these days, with the
> spotters poorly trained and equipped. On top of that, the local
> Shire shut down the Dunkeld Tourist Information Centre on both TFB
> days, even though the volunteer staff were rostered on as normal.
> The many tourists in the area had nowhere to go to ask if it was
> safe to visit the Grampians, and lots of them asked instead at the
> local newsagency. Madness! We have been told that "there was a
> direction from the State Government in Melbourne", but we were not
> told which Department or individual. Our Group Officer (Simon
> Armytage) told the Shire CEO that we will find out who it was by
> ringing either Lapsley or the Premier. Down here, we find the only
> way to get action on anything is to start at the top and work down!
>
> Seems that nobody remembers the Mt. Lubra fire !!!
>
> Cheers
>
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