The 2019-20 Black Summer Bushfires burnt over 17 million hectares across the country and killed 25 people, prompting the introduction of a new fire danger rating system in 2022. The subsequent coronial inquest heard that communities were left feeling isolated and vulnerable, and that better communication and warning systems were required after being impacted by power outages and damaged powerlines.

Communication remained an issue when the towns of Avoca, Beaufort, and Lexton, were evacuated during recent bushfires which burnt more than 22,000 hectares.

Jim Nolan, CEO of the Pyrenees Shire Council, which services parts of Western Victoria says many people rely on the VicEmergency app or the radio to stay updated on bushfires in their area. However, disruptions to internet connectivity and an older population pose challenges for communication.

“There’s less literacy in terms of that digital communication, so people rely on other forms of communication, which is also a challenge for the emergency services,” he tells upstart.

While most people heeded the warnings, scepticism around them was still a challenge within the community.

“[There was scepticism]  in terms of ‘Oh, yeah, they’ve been warning about this for ages, but you know, the last time we had one of these things it turned out it wasn’t really as bad as what they were making it out.’”

For Nolan, the Bayindeen bushfire highlights how important communication is, as “it could mean whether you survive or not in reality”.

One recommendation from the 2020 Royal Commission has been to simplify the information around bushfire risk. A simpler rating system, with “steps individuals and communities should take in response to each rating” was consequently introduced. Prior to the Black Summer bushfires, each state and territory had a different fire danger rating system which predominately appeared on signs along major roads.

The new fire danger rating system changed the previous six levels to four and each level has recommended steps to take based on bushfire risk.

• Moderate fire danger is the first level and recommends residents “plan and prepare” as most fires can be controlled.
• High fire danger ratings are in place when fires can become dangerous, and people should “be ready to act”.
• Extreme fire conditions are often dry, hot, and windy, meaning fires can spread quickly so you should “take action now to protect your life and property”.
• Catastrophic conditions are the most dangerous. If a fire were to start, lives are likely to be lost. On a catastrophic day, it is recommended “for your survival, leave bushfire risk areas,” according to the official CFA website.

Jo Gellatly, a spokesperson for the CFA, says the new fire danger rating system responded to Australians’ desire for simple, nation-wide, and action-oriented advice for fire danger.

“It is about making sure it’s a lot more consistent across all of the states,” she tells upstart. “So no matter where you travel or move around Australia [it’s] the same fire danger ratings that are communicated in the same way.”

Within the fire danger rating system, CFA personnel use a fire behaviour index which “is based on fuel, weather and [other] conditions” to better calculate the scale of a potential fire.

Gellatly says a catastrophic fire danger rating sits at the top of the fire index meaning firefighters and the community need to be prepared for the expected conditions.

“The protection of life and property is paramount…that includes firefighter safety as well as the public … that’s why [crews] do significant training on a yearly basis to make sure that they are able to recognise the risks for their own safety while they’re out there fighting fires,” she says.

There is also a “concerted effort” to ensure the community knows when there will be an extreme or catastrophic fire danger day through increased media coverage and roadside signs.

There have been two catastrophic fire danger ratings in Victoria since their introduction in 2022. The first catastrophic fire danger day saw two major bushfires break out in western Victoria, one in Pomonal and another in Dadswells Bridge. The Pomonal bushfire resulted in the loss of 45 homes and one commercial property while one property was destroyed in Dadswells Bridge.

“There is evidence that a lot of people did leave [Pomonal] which means that we hope that the message has actually got through and that’s why people have made those decisions,” Gellatly says.

The second day of catastrophic conditions came as a fire burnt out of control in Victoria’s west. More than 22,000 hectares were burnt in the Bayindeen bushfire which saw many townships forced to evacuate and several properties lost.

Jim Nolan says the council have been working with the community and the “30 or 40 most affected properties” in the wake of the bushfire.

“There’s a lot of people that were affected by this event that for them, this was a new experience, and one of the common things that I’ve heard from people is ‘Oh gosh, I thought I was prepared. I thought I had a plan. But in reality, I never really thought it was gonna actually happen to me.’ And then when they’re in a situation where it is them, they realise that actually, ‘I was pretty unprepared’,” he says.

Nolan says the significant emergency response to the fire likely saved lives.

“I think we can be really grateful for the work of the emergency services. There was a lot of equipment and personnel on this event, in terms of the aircraft and the ground forces, a lot of volunteer brigades doing some great work,” he says.

The fire danger rating system’s four day forecast, as well as the steps individuals and communities should take to inform themselves about the risk of fire, can be found on the CFA website.

Article: Tia Clarkson-Pascoe is a second-year Bachelor of Media and Communications (Journalism) student at La Trobe University. You can follow her on Twitter @tia_pascoe

Photo: Burnt forest by Martin Lopatka is available HERE and is used under a Creative Commons Licence. This image has not been modified.