Look at his property, he may have had a house in a bushy area but it would have been a house on a totally bald block.
Building houses to suit the area, using correct materials with good fire management and risk management is the key, not getting rid of evey tree on the block.
But then again, the weather that day was like nothing anyone has seen, once in a life time conditions, so who know's what would have happened other wise.
Of course clearing the trees helped save his house. Its only one part of good fire risk management. If anything should be learned here, its that more clearing on the windward side of the property would probably have saved the shed and cars as well.
Looking at how houses, and entire subdivisions for that matter, survive fires that occur on the urban wilderness boundary in the US should given plenty of other examples of what can be done to reduce property destruction.
Mr Sheahan's crime was trying to protect his family and his house.
I (and probably others) will be waiting for Mr. Brumby to publicly apologise to the Sheahans and ensure their conviction is quashed.
ronrumble41 2 years ago
Look at his property, he may have had a house in a bushy area but it would have been a house on a totally bald block.
Building houses to suit the area, using correct materials with good fire management and risk management is the key, not getting rid of evey tree on the block.
But then again, the weather that day was like nothing anyone has seen, once in a life time conditions, so who know's what would have happened other wise.
melbguy323 3 years ago
Let's hope its only once in a lifetime. *touches wood*
DeafFret 3 years ago
I'd say this guy is fairly lucky, I think simply clearing trees against a fire of this magnitude would have still failed many.
Fortunately most people realise that there is more to this issue than just concreting the planet.
ZombieAlbert 3 years ago
Of course clearing the trees helped save his house. Its only one part of good fire risk management. If anything should be learned here, its that more clearing on the windward side of the property would probably have saved the shed and cars as well.
Looking at how houses, and entire subdivisions for that matter, survive fires that occur on the urban wilderness boundary in the US should given plenty of other examples of what can be done to reduce property destruction.
pixman83 3 years ago