THE old scout motto of “Be prepared” certainly applies in the Australian bush fire season, and now it is even more a matter of life and death.
There is not any specific town bush fire plan, so all we can do is have our own survival plan for our own properties, although council is supposed to have a town emergency plan suited to dealing with everything from a tsunami to an alien invasion.
Those living outside town in rural areas know that if and when it is time to go, then we should head into town to a friend, relative or community shelter.
If you are already in town and whole streets start burning, then there is not much more that can be done except fleeing to your local Neighbourhood Safer Place.
But in either case, leaving early is most important as being on the roads when the firestorm hits is one of the most dangerous places to be.
I think lessons must being learned because in the latest Tasmania and now Coonabarabran fires while there has been significant property lost, there have been no deaths yet, fingers crossed!
