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Wildfires- Are The Various Levels of Government to Blame For the Destruction?
Unless you've been locked away in the Big Brother house for a few weeks (Times have changed, I think it used to say something like, "marooned on a deserted island") you'd be well aware of the HUGE wildfires ripping through my home state, here in Victoria, Australia.
My question to the brothers and sisters of "the nation" who have been through these situations, quite possibly on both sides of the firehose:
Are the Governments at all levels to blame in part for the destruction?
Local, State and National Governments.
For example, in my area (Macedon Ranges), we've been in the top 3 fire risks for the State for a number of years, including this year. (From memory, in no particular order, it's generally Macedon Ranges, The Dandenongs and also I think The Otways)
The Macedon Ranges was obliterated off the map in the 80's with Ash Wednesday (Go and google that for more info).
Yet in our area, we've got a big "green" movement.
We have local laws that prevent the proper clearing of properties.
I live on 5 acres. I can clear any "non native" tree off my property without a permit. I can clear any tree from my property that is within 10 metres of the actual house. Anything else, I need a permit to clear, which are very, very rarely issued.
I have a good mate who lives in Cockatoo- it's another area that Tony P would definitely be familiar with- it too was obliterated off the map in Ash Wednesday. He has trees that are so close to his home, that in high winds, they bump the house. Guess what? He can't get a permit to clear them!
Is this lunacy?
We also have the CFA in some parts of the state refusing to put some trucks into areas as the roads are too narrow, or too overgrown, or no way out once they're in, etc.
What about the amazing fuel loads we're living with? Very few reduction burns are being done, or certainly what I beleive is not enough.
Are our Governments to blame in part for this devastation and destruction?
Who's accountable?
What do the "greens" say now? Are they on the end of the hose as I type this?
Sorry, venting a bit- I'm over seeing all this devastation. The toll is now over 180 and growing....
I've put this in the "Safety" discussions, because I firmly beleive these decisions have a direct impact on FF safety.
My question to the brothers and sisters of "the nation" who have been through these situations, quite possibly on both sides of the firehose:
Are the Governments at all levels to blame in part for the destruction?
Local, State and National Governments.
For example, in my area (Macedon Ranges), we've been in the top 3 fire risks for the State for a number of years, including this year. (From memory, in no particular order, it's generally Macedon Ranges, The Dandenongs and also I think The Otways)
The Macedon Ranges was obliterated off the map in the 80's with Ash Wednesday (Go and google that for more info).
Yet in our area, we've got a big "green" movement.
We have local laws that prevent the proper clearing of properties.
I live on 5 acres. I can clear any "non native" tree off my property without a permit. I can clear any tree from my property that is within 10 metres of the actual house. Anything else, I need a permit to clear, which are very, very rarely issued.
I have a good mate who lives in Cockatoo- it's another area that Tony P would definitely be familiar with- it too was obliterated off the map in Ash Wednesday. He has trees that are so close to his home, that in high winds, they bump the house. Guess what? He can't get a permit to clear them!
Is this lunacy?
We also have the CFA in some parts of the state refusing to put some trucks into areas as the roads are too narrow, or too overgrown, or no way out once they're in, etc.
What about the amazing fuel loads we're living with? Very few reduction burns are being done, or certainly what I beleive is not enough.
Are our Governments to blame in part for this devastation and destruction?
Who's accountable?
What do the "greens" say now? Are they on the end of the hose as I type this?
Sorry, venting a bit- I'm over seeing all this devastation. The toll is now over 180 and growing....
I've put this in the "Safety" discussions, because I firmly beleive these decisions have a direct impact on FF safety.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Aussie_Wildfire on
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A straight YES
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Permalink Reply by lutan1 on
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With a Royal Commission being announced over the Vic fires, will any of the Government departments be held accountable?
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Permalink Reply by Tony P on
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Ah Luke, the Macedon Ranges. About five years ago as part of my job (with the CFA) I drove over the ranges from the north. It scared the living shyte out of me! The amount of growth there was huge. It was ridiculous. I asked around and was told that Parks 'aren't allowed' to do fuel reduction burns because the Greenies have too much say in the area. The greenies - the people you hear complaining about how we fight fires but who you never meet on the fireground. I tell people that if Mt Macedon goes up, you don't want to be there - the whole place is one large bomb just waiting to explode. When I call someone a 'greeny' it's an insult.
Parks have more luck in the Dandenong Ranges (almost my backyard). They do a lot of regular patch burning - doesn't mean the place won't go up with a roar, but at least it gives us some chance!
I agree with making it a bit hard to cut down trees in some areas, but many councils take it to stupid lengths. My Council is one of them.
Refusing to put trucks in some places? Too bloody right! Only one way out? I'm not going in there. Roads too narrow to manourver? I'm not going in there. We even have a road in my suburb that we won't go in - our pumper won't fit. A house fire in there is going to be a surround and drown - after we manage to drag hoses along from the main road...
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Luke
Same as the grampians, Mt william had 140 tonnes of vegetation to the acre when it burnt. we like it around 10-30
Ash Wednesday will come again in the same locations
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Here's an intersting blog titled, "The Wilderness Society and Bushfire Management"
http://jennifermarohasy.com/blog/2008/11/the-wilderness-society-and...
According to the blog, the Society says that with the onset of climate change “mega-bushfires that burn massive areas” are expected to become more frequent. They have therefore come up with the following Action Plan:
1. Improve aerial fire detection.
2. Ramp-up high-tech suppression forces, including more Elvis helitaks;
3. Do more research into fire behaviour and the impacts of fire on wildlife;
4. Around towns and urban areas, carry out fuel reduction burning and have fire breaks;
5. Give priority to wildlife and their habitat in remote areas and national parks;
6. Make forests resistant to megafires by protecting them from woodchipping and logging.
Read the full blog at
http://jennifermarohasy.com/blog/2008/11/the-wilderness-society-and...
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From the same blog mentioned above, there's this gem: Who are the Beneficiaries of Large High Intensity Bushfires?
http://jennifermarohasy.com/blog/2007/02/who-are-the-beneficiaries-...
Then there are the Fire Chiefs, resplendent in their American World War 2 General’s uniform. “Bushfire management” these days has largely morphed into “bushfire fighting”, a thrilling battle to be fought by Emergency Services staff who have been waiting in the wings for this very moment. I am not criticising our top Firemen. They are doing the job they are appointed to do and all would be equally dismayed by the human misery and environmental damage caused by intense bushfires. Nevertheless, when the Big Fire declares war, their 15 minutes of fame arrives. The regiments of firefighters are amassed and despatched; the squadrons of bombers and helicopters are unleashed; the support and technical units are rushed to the battle. Fire Chiefs are nightly seen on the news giving high profile briefings to politicians and the media, planning strategies and dictating the tactics at the front. This is war, and war is hell. But war is also The General’s Big Moment, his hour upon centre stage.
Read the full blog at:
http://jennifermarohasy.com/blog/2007/02/who-are-the-beneficiaries-...
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I don't think I'm game to read those Luke. I think my head might explode. jennifermarchasy - a long way of spelling 'bitch'?
Yes, those excerpts have already got to me. "resplendent in their American World War 2 General’s uniform" - is that supposed to be an insult? Pictures of tired men, members of a uniformed service, with rumpled shirts displaying a couple of service medal ribbons? I think the truth might be hurting, that she and her compatriots are amongst those who have brought the level of destruction so high.
No, I'm not going near either her or her blogs. I'm sick of the uninformed telling us what should be done and how to do it.
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