8 thoughts on “95 homes lost at Yarloop – is it time for large water bombers to be managed by the RAAF ?”

1. I have watched the Waroona fire news for days and seen no sign of 4 engined aircraft. Have I missed something ? That map of the fire area fails to show that it started in a reserve just south of Dwellingup, then was pushed by easterly wind across the main road near Waroona.

2. Water levels low in town – fire hydrants not working –
   Also – “There has been a real lack of land maintenance around Yarloop by some of the private owners – once the fire got into that at the northern end of town, there was no stopping it.”
   Are they saying there was recent hazard reductions burns on crown land??
   WA fires: Authorities warned about Yarloop’s lack of water in 2015
   www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/wa-fires-authorities-warned-about-yarloops-lack-of-water-in-2015-20160108-gm1xn6.html
   Has anybody seen four engined water bombers ? Please post urls to photos etc.

3. Bushland extends right to the centre of town. What did they expect?

   Some one else to pay for their folly.

4. IMHO many suburban home owners are subsidising fire insurance for homes in more rural areas surrounded by bush. Maybe it is time for a much steeper difference in premiums to recognize the near certainty of fire risk in that if you want your house surrounded by bush at almost touching range – then it will be attacked by a bushfire – only the timing is uncertain. Similar situation with houses built on flood prone river & creek flats. Expecting insurance to cover them after repeated floods at the expense of people who more prudently build away from water-courses.

5. Wholeheartedly agree with you Warwick.

   What we need is mandatory fire suppression systems for all houses in bushfire prone areas. How much does a 5,000 litre rainwater tank, an NG generator and high pressure sprinklers cost?

   I’ve seen far to many houses in the SW often build with wood because it looks nice, with trees and dense bush meters away.

6. Use bigger water bombers to put out more fires so that the fuel can build until they can’t suppress it either. Not too smart. A study of early fire history of this country where indigenous people lived and survived by using fire, not by putting it out.

7. I am only talking about using the large aircraft to protect people. Of course more cool season hazard reduction burning should be done around communities to make them less flammable. However there are many green and emotional objectors to those cool season burns – despite screeds of evidence from experts and Royal Commissions etc. Lightning can start fires all over Australia at any time – here is the current satellite based Sentinel map of hot spots
   
   from GA.
   sentinel.ga.gov.au/#/main
   I doubt if fires set by indigenous people were ever more than a small fraction of lightning strike burns. IMHO indigenous people survived many thousands of years by being skilful nomads always prepared to move where conditions were better – but do not quote me.
   I have seen news accounts where fire brigades have been tasked to fight fire in remote bush nowhere near any risk to people. IMHO most remote fires should be monitored and left to burn out unless a community comes at risk due wind change etc.
   On Sunday night ABC TV news we heard that large water bombers were on their way west – is there any news of this from WA?

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