High fire risk..... Stay or go?

[bentnose]

even if you escaped the radiant heat and flames etc, I think you would also need an oxygen supply.
friends had a huge wine seller under their house stone and concrete. always said if a fire came that would be the safety bunker. well a fire did come and they decided to flee instead.
when they came back to inspect the smouldering ruins they discovered the stone in the walls of the celler had exploded.

[2010banditsa]

Yeah mate, not a burried shipping container or an old cellar or any of that crud, a proper bunker, air tight door, heat protection àn outside sensors, air supply, battery lights etc etc..... about 10k for small one from what i can tell as only 3 of us..... Surprised none of resident experts piped up yet 

[Desert lover]

We have friends who live in Warrandyte (Vic) in a heavily treed area.  They installed a bunker which has an oxygen supply.  The entrance is pretty close to the house but in a cleared area so can't be blocked by falling trees or debris.  Not sure what they paid.  I don't understand why so many people who rebuilt after the 2009 fires didn't also install a bunker as part of the rebuild.  To me it would be last resort as in if during the night, sudden outbreak etc.
 

[Mace]

For those really interested in the topic and who want a bit of further reading:

LESSONS LEARNT FROM THE BLACK SATURDAY BUSHFIRES.

http://www.afac.com.au/downloaddoc.aspx?q=4bbf01aa-670a-4a8f-bc69-4f9d656622a2

(oops, you need to be a member of AFAC to view.  If anyone wants a copy PM me with an email address.  Its a summary of VicPol investigations as to who died and reasons why.  Nothing gory, just a reasoned view of a lot of issues).


Cheers.

[gordo350]

We have friends who live in Warrandyte (Vic) in a heavily treed area.  They installed a bunker which has an oxygen supply.  The entrance is pretty close to the house but in a cleared area so can't be blocked by falling trees or debris.  Not sure what they paid.  I don't understand why so many people who rebuilt after the 2009 fires didn't also install a bunker as part of the rebuild.  To me it would be last resort as in if during the night, sudden outbreak etc.

A few people did put in some bunkers but they had to do it secretly because none of the councils would sign them off. At the time there was no regs concerning the legality of them and if you put one in the council wouldn't give you your C of Occupancy. Personally I think they are a good idea but they have to be done right.

[Mace]

A few people did put in some bunkers but they had to do it secretly because none of the councils would sign them off. At the time there was no regs concerning the legality of them and if you put one in the council wouldn't give you your C of Occupancy. Personally I think they are a good idea but they have to be done right.

I tend to agree, with a proviso, and risking being called a "resident expert" will offer the following.

The last paragraph of the AFACS document I linked above:

"And lastly, while on the face of it properly designed and situated fire bunkers seem to offer a failsafe,
last-resort option to residents living in bushfire-prone areas, this will not necessarily be the case. On
days like Black Saturday, it is essential that residents who are going to use a fire bunker enter it before
the fire strikes their property. The experience of the Black Saturday fires indicates that those who
attempt to defend their properties first and then seek refuge in a fire bunker may not be able to do so
for a range of reasons."

[Bird]

Personally I think they are a good idea but they have to be done right.

I agree with them being a good idea - to a point..
I think they would be brilliant for that overnight emergency last resort but I think they would cause a false sense of security for people to stay.  I still say leaving is by far the best option.


Having spoken to a bloke that stood in a pool with a family and a badly burnt/pretty much dead woman after a fire while waiting for an ambo, it wasn't a nice experience

http://www.theleader.com.au/story/1234238/heat-stirs-memory-of-tragic-bushfires/
Last week also marked the 19th anniversary of the 1994 bushfires which destroyed 104 homes in Como, Jannali and the Menai area.

Jannali woman Pauline Mary O'Neil, 42, died in the blaze as she ran from her house towards her backyard swimming pool.

Sutherland Shire RFS Inspector Martyn Kiellor said he remembered trying to put out a fire in a church on the corner of Bindea Street and Lincoln Crescent  when he got word that someone had been burnt in a pool nearby.

He stayed in the pool with Ms O'Neil's two daughters and partner and waited with them until an ambulance arrived.

Marty is still probably around these 4b forums as he's a sad landy fan...