It is extremely rare for people who are very
well prepared and practiced to die defending their homes.
The perception that people died in the Black
Saturday bushfires because they
‘stayed’, that is: defended or sheltered in their homes, is wrong.
There is no evidence from the Royal
Commission into the 2009 bushfires that anyone who followed proper safe practice
died.
Media and official statements that nearly a
quarter of the fatalities died because they tried to defend their home are a misinterpretation
of the research.
A group of eminent bushfire scientists who conducted
research into contributing factors found that very few of those who died had a well thought
out fire plan.
In fact, only 6.8% who died on Black Saturday
were considered to be ‘well prepared’. And in the context of the research, ‘well
prepared’ meant – had they done anything
before 1.30 pm on the day!
Essential Bushfire
Safety Tips 3rd
edition gives all the research data.
