Crime Scene Australia: The Australian Wildfires
With Australian wildfires claiming at least 171 lives, Australian prime minister, Kevin Rudd, declared the fire zone a “crime scene.” Police believe arsonists may be to be blame for the uncontrollable fires. Witnesses talk of makeshift morgues in the street.
But what is equally concerning about this horrific and devastating event is not necessarily how or why the fire was started, but rather why traditional warnings systems failed to work as planned.
John Handmer, a wildfire safety expert, tells MSNBC that getting out early is the best form of defense against spreading wildfires:
“Fleeing at the last moment is the worst possible option,” he said. “Sadly, this message does not seem to have been sufficiently heeded this weekend with truly awful consequences in Victoria.”
If research has proven the necessity of getting out early, was the message passed on to Australians facing the wildfires? If not, why? Did the fire move too quickly for evacuation warnings to be broadcast?
Australian officials are apparently blaming panic and the unprecedented speed of the fire, but the Prime Minister vows to find answers.
Stay tuned.
Zoe said on October 04, 2010 at 10:43 pm
I am an Australian and recently some terrible (but less devastating) bush-fires swept through near my area. People were told to evacuate their homes, but many did not because they wanted to protect their properties. Many waited until the fires were on their doorstep before evacuating.
Even with the knowledge they were supposed to leave they didn’t. I don’t think there are any amazing answers to this. People didn’t want to leave because they didn’t want to lose things they may have been able to protect - their homes and other property. The people who’s houses burnt down lost everything.
I find it unsurprising that in the Victorian bush-fires people ‘failed’ to react fast enough.