The volunteer fire fighters deserve all of the praise and gratitude they have received for their fire fighting efforts, but we must not overlook the role of their preventative forecasting.
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The NSW Rural Fire Service control section accurately predicted the location and severity of most of the fires well in advance which allowed for evacuations and preparations never experienced on this scale in Australia.
It is impossible to assess the extent of the lives and property saved with this forewarning.
The fire chiefs predicted the fires by looking at areas that were forecast to experience the freak conditions of extremely high temperatures, very strong winds and very dry conditions, all occurring at the same time.
Our Prime Minister has now decided that the main remedy for this is more hazard reduction burning even though he has been advised that this will not solve the problem.
We must presume that this extensive hazard reduction is intended to be performed during the shrinking non fire seasons by the same volunteers that have sacrificed their families, jobs and properties to protect us recently.
It will not cost the government any money and shifts the blame to the states.
Twenty three former emergency service leaders tried to get a meeting in April and May 2019, to express their concern that Australia was under prepared for the extreme fire condition expected with warmer weather.
The Prime Minister was too busy to meet with them.
Forget the Royal Commission and start listening to the experts.
Kevin Wilkinson
Arakoon
