Fire ‘minefield’

By Kath Gannaway
THE STATE Government has released its policy on the establishment of community fire refuges.
The Community Fire Refuges Policy provides a framework for the provision of built refuges in high-fire risk areas, and the government has allocated $1.5million for a pilot refuge project.
At community meetings around the Yarra Valley in the immediate aftermath of Black Saturday, there was anger that refuges – built or otherwise, had been done away with in previous years.
There were heated calls for the establishment of refuges at that time – somewhere for people to go when fire hit. But two and a half years on, some of those involved in those fires, and with the benefit of the experience of those fires, some in the community who lived through the 2009 fires now question whether refuges are the answer.
Chum Creek resident Lorraine Dell said the message was still “get out early”, a message the government is also pushing as the first response.
Mrs Dell said with people spread out over many kilometres, it would be hard to find one location that would provide a safe haven.
“It would very much depend on where it was and how many people would fit in. You would never suit everybody and for me, it is just about leave early,” she said.
Steve Meacher who was deputy chair of the Toolangi/Castella CRC agreed with hindsight into the experiences of Black Saturday, getting to a refuge could be the biggest danger.
“The problem with this area is you have a scattered community along 10 or 12 kilometres, and unless you had a whole load of places (it won’t work).
“Even if the government provides the perfect refuge, you have to consider whether people can get there safely,” he said.
Upper Yarra resident Jeff Gill said there was a lot of hysteria during the fires, but people needed to have their own plan.
He said he had revised what he believed was a solid plan after the 2009 fires.
“We live in one of the most fire-prone areas and we can’t expect help, and we don’t expect any,” Mr Gill said.
He said on Ash Wednesday people were evacuated to the football oval. “It’s taken three years and so many committees and we only have one (fire refuge) in the state. Even the Warby oval didn’t meet the criteria (for a Neighbourhood Safer Place),” he said.
Joanne Spears said she wouldn’t leave her property to go anywhere else in Steels Creek in a situation such as the one that community faced on Black Saturday.
“I think it’s a minefield … in an area like Steels Creek you would not be here on a Catastrophic day, or you would have your own (refuge).
“I wouldn’t be encouraging people to be looking for a refuge,” she said.
Evelyn MP Christine Fyffe has been a strong advocate for emergency protection offered in the Bushfire Royal Commission’s recommendations.
“Community fire refuges will act as a contingency plan alongside Neighbourhood Safer Places and other bushfire shelter options,” she said.
But she advised: “People must plan well ahead whether they will stay or leave; refuges and NSPs are a last resort.”
In releasing the guidelines, Emergency Services Minister Peter Ryan said they would help to identify, establish, manage and maintain community fire refuges in high bushfire risk areas and fulfil a key recommendation of the Bushfires Royal Commission.
Community fire refuges are designated, purpose-built or modified buildings open to the public that could provide short-term shelter from a bushfire’s immediate, life-threatening effects.
“It has been critical to get the terms of the Community Fire Refuges Policy right – to create an environment in which community fire refuges can be established in the very high bushfire risk locations where other survival strategies are not possible or likely to fail,” Mr Ryan said.
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