Ben Eltham from New Matilda has written an interesting and thought provoking piece, “Massive Failures In Bushfire Command” on the interim findings from the Bushfires Royal Commission:
“Initial reports about the report stressed that its recommendations were measured and that it did not explicitly lay blame. This is not the case. The report is scathing about the way the fires were handled”
The Age has created a stunning multimedia presentation about Marysville called, “Marysville - From the Ashes”.
Well worth a look.
It’s a shame that Sam the koala has passed away.
The reporting of her death has been very balanced, but this is my opinion, is going a bit over the top:
“…a symbol of hope for the survivors of the deadly bushfires that killed 173 people and left 7,500 homeless.”
Not many people will realise that Sam was a part of the Delburn Complex of Fires that occurred a week before Black Saturday.
I find it interesting that her death was announced by a law firm.
I understand the need to have information for the next fire season, but I think that providing a timer on the home page showing the number of seconds to the next fire season is a bit over the top.
Surely, just a timer with the number of days only would be sufficient?
CSESP Round 3 has been released. http://bit.ly/7Mdd6 Interesting funding outcomes. Emphasis seems to be on smaller vehicles and items.
It’s good to see that someone has been charged with the Delburn Complex of fires, and that their bail has been refused.
It’s a shame this person appears to be from one of the affected towns, Mirboo North.
Bushfires commission to examine mass evacuations:
“He said the commission would scrutinise the websites of fire-fighting organisations and assess ‘the ability to track fires at all’. Warnings needed to be accurate and timely, he said. ‘Underpinning such warnings is the ability for agencies to rapidly analyse on-the-ground intelligence, to monitor risks as they emerge and develop, predict future impacts and point to the best course of action.’”
This is very interesting. I have some concerns with the CFA’s web site when it comes to warnings and timely information.
(Via The Age.)
An interesting proposal has been raised from the UFU. I personally don’t think it’s a solution. Why? The problem has not been fully identified (yet).
Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s an interesting proposal, but one that needs to be put on the table will all ideas, thought out and rationally debated.
Via: ABC News
Update (26 Feb): The State government says that our current system is, ‟here to stay” and that there is not need to look at a reserve system.
This is just really unhelpful and spiteful. I understand that some of you are frustrated, but blaming and starting the pissing contest over the level of training really does not help anyone; and to the United Firefighters Union—who represent what they called ‟employed professionally” firefighters—wait for the Royal Commission.
From ‟We could have saved bushfire lives, frustrated MFB member says”:
‟We reckon we could of saved some of the houses and maybe that would of meant the death toll would of been a bit lower if we had been put on the ground straight away. This is what we do for living, we’re not volunteers, this is what we’re trained for.”
That’s just not helpful. Are you saying that because I was there and you weren’t that it cost lives?
Next time I’m in a burning house—or other structure—helping people out, I’ll be sure to inform them that someone much more professional and better trained would be doing a better job than what I am doing. I’m sure that will be very comforting to them.
Yes, we could have used the additional resources, and yes, they did arrive and help us out. And yes, it was an MFB Strike Team, with MFB people.
Finally, this quote also manages to belittle volunteers as well:
‟The taxpayer-funded firefighters, who are better trained than volunteers, say up to 1200 of them have sat around during, and since, the blazes of February 7 - while overseas and interstate crews have been flown in to help.”
I don’t have any issues with the UFU or the MFB crews, but I wish people would just stop at the stupid blame game, pissing contest and points scoring. I take umbrage with the comments being made above. Take out your frustration on management, but be careful with the language, volunteer who did all their best are listening to what you are saying!
Miranda Devine gets this weeks ‟Moron of the Week” for this woeful piece of drivel, ‟Green ideas must take blame for deaths”.
Not being content with waiting for the outcomes of the Royal Commission, Miranda not only starts the blame game but also takes a foray into hate mongering.
If politicians are intent on whipping up a lynch mob to divert attention from their own culpability, it is not arsonists who should be hanging from lamp-posts but greenies.
