Heed fire warning to 'go early'

HAVING seen the 2003 bushfires in Canberra and the aftermath at first hand, I wanted to see if my thoughts on fire-fighting policies were confirmed by the Black Saturday experience in Victoria.

They were. The horrific loss of life in February is something that should never be allowed to happen again. The "stay and fight or go early" policy should be changed to "go early".

One hundred and seventy three people perished, lives that arguably could have been saved if they'd left at the first hint of danger.

Some decided to stay, others were caught unawares in their houses, others perished fleeing too late in their cars.

I know what some people say: the fires were the most ferocious ever in Australia and probably a one-off.

And if you're properly prepared, you should be able to save your house and survive.

But with the climate changing, droughts set to get longer and more intense, and another dry fire season looming, is the risk worth taking?

There's a royal commission looking at the issues, and its findings should be heeded.

But it's worth listening to what some Black Saturday survivors are saying.

Marysville local Bruce Ackerman stayed to fight the fire, saving his house and that of a neighbour.

He's a great believer in preparation and minimising the risk to property. His house is built on a slab, made from mud brick, his windows double-glazed. He's cleared away native trees, planted grass right up to the house, put in wide verandas.

And yet Bruce is adamant. "I'll be the first out next time. I believe people should get insured and go at the first sign of danger."

Graeme Brown, who lost his Marysville house in the fire, agrees. "Get insured and leave as soon as the sirens go" is his message.

"If your house is gone when you get back, so be it. At least you're alive."

It's also important we ease the pressure on fire-fighters who must worry about protecting lives as well as property.

Some are suffering intense trauma because they feel they failed the people who died. It's an unfair burden they should never have to shoulder again.