Thread: Code red in VIC tommorow

Originally Posted by loanrangie

Its really only those living in rural or bushy areas that need to be on alert, although on live in the green wedge i am not concerned, my parents on the other hand 10 mins away live on 5 acres surrounded by bush.

YES, People in Canberra thought the same thing a few years ago.

Just seems that some people think its right to stay in there homes and fight the fire. personaly if every one was out of the area then it would make the fire not a human threat and so firefighters would not need to risk themselvs to save others. then they could properly fight the fire rather than worrying about lives in the area. I dont care how trained and competent you are at fire fighting and how much water and equipnment you have to fight a fire its pureley not worth staying. if were sensible and thaught of others you would be getting the hell out of there and if you must help the CFA be doing it on there terms not being a vigalanty and going out on your own.

My two cents worth

Cheers

Sparks

For those that don't know me, I've been doing this for 15 years and the reason I mention that is so you don't think I'm talking crap. Also, my comments are based solely on NSW, but are very similar over Australia.

There are the 6 ratings in NSW:

Low-Moderate;
High;
Very High;
Severe;
Extreme; and
Catastrophic.

Now how do these relate to our advice to the community. Basically it is all contained in the RFS website, especially in the 'bushfire survivial plan'. Please take the time to have a read of it as it contains some really good information and amy answer a lot of your questions.

From my viewpoint there has been a number of changes that we've made to training over the last 10 years - which has incorporated lessons learnt from Sydney, Canberra, Victoria and numerous other fires. The ratings above have been given the most publicity, but the other areas are the danger of smoke (being unburnt fuel) and what we call the 'urban interface' - which is where the bush meets the towns/cities.

The police are the ones that make the decision to evacuate, under advice from us. Do they have the power to remove you - well that's better answered by the police. But I don't think I'd be arguing too much with them if they were telling me to move.

The biggest point I'd like to point out please - we've worked out how to rebuild homes, replace properties, clean up damage - but once you're dead that is nothing we can do.

Cheers
Chris

Originally Posted by loanrangie

Its really only those living in rural or bushy areas that need to be on alert, although on live in the green wedge i am not concerned, my parents on the other hand 10 mins away live on 5 acres surrounded by bush.

Embers can, and will fly many kilometres. It only takes one ember in leafy guttering and the fire has spread.

Besides, a ferocious enough fire will keep spreading in an urban environment too, going from house to house, particularly if in close proximity.

This is not directed at anyone specifically, to think you are safe just because you don't live right next to bushland is pretty naive in my mind. I'd just get out anyway, what is a day, or a couple of days away from home really worth if it has the potential to keep you and your family alive?

Seano

mmm Code Red. better look up our official family fire plan...

"Turn Air Con up a notch"

just went outside before, doesn't feel 40s yet. (in melb) have there been any reports yet of fires braking out?

Originally Posted by seano87

Embers can, and will fly many kilometres. It only takes one ember in leafy guttering and the fire has spread.

Besides, a ferocious enough fire will keep spreading in an urban environment too, going from house to house, particularly if in close proximity.

This is not directed at anyone specifically, to think you are safe just because you don't live right next to bushland is pretty naive in my mind. I'd just get out anyway, what is a day, or a couple of days away from home really worth if it has the potential to keep you and your family alive?

Seano

Yep and that is the point many miss, embers can start fires many kilometres ahead, so you dont actually have to be close to the main fire to be at risk. People should start preparing well ahead of the fire arriving.
We have been relativelly lucky in Australia not to have had fires in polpulous areas become super destructive. It is a matter of time though, just look at the US.
We still dont seem to learn though with the same mistakes and arrogance shown year after year.

Where is the fire?

This is all a load of crapp. We were affected from the fires last year in NE Victoria. I cannot see how see will work. Where are people to go? John Brumby's house?

Originally Posted by dickyjoe

Where is the fire?

This is all a load of crapp. We were affected from the fires last year in NE Victoria. I cannot see how see will work. Where are people to go? John Brumby's house?

That part is wholey and solely up to you. The advice on a Code Red (Catastrophic) day is to leave early, however you can only do that IF a fire starts. I personally don't agree with leaving because of the chance of it - UNLESS it involves the elderly, young kids, national parks, OR if there is only one way in/out of your place of residence.


The advice that is getting sent out, is for basically freak weather. In which case we will not be able to stop it at all, and may not even be able to save houses. Our whole aim will be to prevent loss of life until the weather changes to something that we can deal with.