Forces of nature combined with the carelessness of humans this week to cause tragic loss of life and property in more than 100 fires in south-east Australia. It was not, however, an unusual event. Every five years or so significant bushfires hit the nation. The causes are manifold: spring rain causing heavy undergrowth; failure to keep grass trimmed and undergrowth burned back in spring; careless smokers throwing away butts; lightning; careless campers and barbecuers; children playing with matches; car exhausts; and worst of all arson.
This year calls have been made to increase penalties for arson. It may make everyone feel good but it will not help much. Few arsonists get caught. Moreover, those cases where the arsonist is caught sometimes reveal peculiar mental elements to the crime: the desire for a revenge on society or just getting kicks. An increased penalty will not necessarily deter the crime. In any event, in cases where death occurs it is likely that present laws would enable murder or at least manslaughter charges to be brought where the prosecution can show the arsonist acted with reckless indifference to human life. Even if the arsonist is caught and a higher penalty applied, it will not help the families of victims or those who have lost property.
Preventative measures are of greater import. Clearly there is a price for Canberra’s green belts and native gardens in the suburbs. That does not mean that the green belts and the native gardens should go. Rather, Canberrans must acknowledge the danger and do something about it in the spring and early summer. It is not solely up to the ACT Government. It has a responsibility to keep excessive grass growth under control, but that does not mean residents should sit a whinge about “”why don’t they keep the grass cut”. Residents, especially those adjacent to the open space, can engage in a little self help — mowing and clearing where they can and keeping nature strips green and keeping dead leaves and bark away from houses and gutterings.
The situation is not totally bleak. After the Ash Wednesday and other major fires last decade the CSIRO and others did some worthwhile research into property losses. This research shattered some earlier myths. Previously, it was thought that people should evacuate and that there was nothing to be done about houses in the onslaught of the blaze. Now it is known that nearly all of the houses lost in fact survived the fire’s main front and only caught alight from dropping embers in the wake of the fire. People who refused evacuation were able to save their houses, by hosing down before and after the fire. Moreover, during the main wave of the fire the house provided reasonable protection.
Accepting the understandable anger and sadness of people who have lost loved ones and property, the response to fires this year should not be limited to mere catch calls for higher penalties for arsonists. Rather, we should accept that prevention is better than cure or retribution. Also, we should recognise and be grateful for the sacrifice and bravery of the firefighters, the vast majority of whom are volunteers, and ensure that the families of those who died are properly looked after.