It's now weeks before the expected start of the next bushfire season.
We'd like to hope we're more ready for it than we were last season. If sensible people have learnt any lesson from February, it's that any potential bushfire fuel should be cleared well before the expected time. Thankfully, some immediate recommendations from the Bushfires Royal Commission regarding that are already being implemented, with some people already starting to clear such fuel from the immediate surrounds of homes in potentially-affected areas. The CFA is also working on fuel-reduction as well.
Recommendations concerning better warning systems, though, might be problematic to implement in time for technical reasons. However, things like Twitter and some of the other social media will be ready and the volunteers from February and March will be amongst the earliest responders monitoring and ready to provide important safety information. People will know a bit better in coming months that Twitter can be highly effective.
We've already heard that it is expected to be a potentially-worse season than the last. That doesn't mean we want it to turn out like Black Saturday. Far from it. People will be more vigilant, quicker to respond and move.
In the meantime there are two regional hearings of the Royal Commission, at Myrtleford and Horsham. At a later date, there will be a hearing in the Gippland area.
After the 21st of September, the Commission will investigate deaths from the last bushfires, with the intent to evaluate the "stay or go" policy.
Let's hope this next season, some commonsense enables more to be done to protect lives and make the upcoming season far safer than the last. But let's not just hope, let's do.
We'd like to hope we're more ready for it than we were last season. If sensible people have learnt any lesson from February, it's that any potential bushfire fuel should be cleared well before the expected time. Thankfully, some immediate recommendations from the Bushfires Royal Commission regarding that are already being implemented, with some people already starting to clear such fuel from the immediate surrounds of homes in potentially-affected areas. The CFA is also working on fuel-reduction as well.
Recommendations concerning better warning systems, though, might be problematic to implement in time for technical reasons. However, things like Twitter and some of the other social media will be ready and the volunteers from February and March will be amongst the earliest responders monitoring and ready to provide important safety information. People will know a bit better in coming months that Twitter can be highly effective.
We've already heard that it is expected to be a potentially-worse season than the last. That doesn't mean we want it to turn out like Black Saturday. Far from it. People will be more vigilant, quicker to respond and move.
In the meantime there are two regional hearings of the Royal Commission, at Myrtleford and Horsham. At a later date, there will be a hearing in the Gippland area.
After the 21st of September, the Commission will investigate deaths from the last bushfires, with the intent to evaluate the "stay or go" policy.
Let's hope this next season, some commonsense enables more to be done to protect lives and make the upcoming season far safer than the last. But let's not just hope, let's do.
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