tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649507973626411498.post6838527945585905227..comments2024-03-04T19:26:00.689+08:00Comments on A WineDark Sea: What it was like on Isaac's Ridge that daysarah toahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12412812914705725798noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649507973626411498.post-22715075711002871862012-11-22T19:18:52.829+08:002012-11-22T19:18:52.829+08:00Yes, that last bit was very frightening. And so wa...Yes, that last bit was very frightening. And so was the bit about her sleeping with the window open. You do get very sensitised to smoke. If someone has a cigarette on this hill I know about it.<br /><br />Re compensation: it's often those who can't afford insurance that need compensation the most but probably don't get it. Money begets money alright.Dr Mad Fishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10274692672575145183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649507973626411498.post-32455521671797032192012-11-22T17:00:45.042+08:002012-11-22T17:00:45.042+08:00Thanks for both of your comments. It seems to be t...Thanks for both of your comments. It seems to be the season to be thinking about wildfires.<br />I think Michelle, that the main reason for the emphasis in departmental failings in Annie's letter was that it was a claim for compensation. That said, we do fall outside that safety net by living in the bush. Isaac's Ridge was a scary spot for a long time previously, which is why she spent so much time trying to do something about it, including asking the local fire chief to do a controlled burn there. But it wouldn't have made any difference anyway. I remember her sleeping with the windows open, so she could smell smoke if there was a fire around, and just get out. Staying was never an option.<br />One of the more frightening things about her letter, I thought, was the revelation that the authorities didn't even know her house was there until five days later.sarah toahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12412812914705725798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649507973626411498.post-72680844201919495312012-11-22T08:54:29.523+08:002012-11-22T08:54:29.523+08:00Scary stuff. We live on a hillside next to a bush ...Scary stuff. We live on a hillside next to a bush block - absent owners & hasn't been burnt off for years - when we built we had to address certain fire standards so we've been very aware of the potential risks & maintain a low garden zone around the house etc - but I have no idea how we'd go if a fire went through. <br /><br />I'd just finished reading an article in Insidestory, 'The disturbing logic of "stay or go" ' by Tom Griffiths, which is a fascinating and disturbing analysis of bushfire policies in Australia - and then your post ... reminders of just how dangerous bush fires are. Janine Raehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10115824424211831512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649507973626411498.post-2384014890496336562012-11-22T07:32:40.691+08:002012-11-22T07:32:40.691+08:00Good post - it raises some very topical issues. I ...Good post - it raises some very topical issues. I sympathise with Annie but unfortunately Margaret River was a real wake up call for everyone. Being obviously more paranoid I have never trusted the authorities to handle this. In truth it's just not possible for them to do so. If you want to live in such beautiful terrain with nature (often at less cost) you live by her rules. It's a risk we all take but we take it because we hate the 'burbs more. We like being a bit feral and that means you live outside of society's safety net. I know you are very aware of this ST. The issue of property owners not taking appropriate care of their properties is another issue and I agree, they need to me much more proactive and accountable. Many blocks on our hill are overgrown thanks to absent investors who help put my life at risk.<br /><br />Last weekend a policeman and a fireman appeared at my door. At first I thought my significant other had drowned himself. Rather, they were going door to door on the hill on which I live, amongst the karris, asking people about their emergency evacuation plans etc etc. They were nervous, I could tell. They know if a fire goes through this town there is one narrow bridge and a hell of a lot of panicked people. Like with Annie's property, escape routes are narrow and options are limited. Sure, the authorites are covering their arses but they are also trying to get through to people just how critical this issue is. It's too big for them as well.<br /><br />The fireman and the policeman were a bit overwhelmed by my detailed analysis of the risk and my options (poor guys had heaps of other people to see too). I have now moved my smaller art works to storage in Albany, this weekend I will be backing up my digital stuff on another hard drive, packing my journals in sealed boxes ready to move also. We have spent weeks burning off, the cars will be serviced, we have bags ready to pack and big plastic crates ready to go if we need to throw ouselves into the estuary (about 0.5 km to our backs) with 2 dogs, our papers and a few clothes. BUT, in a couple of weeks this town's population will swell to 15,000+, many of these people will be sharing this hill and its close environs. They have probably thought little about this and will simply add to the congestion of narrow roads if we all have to flee. <br /><br />I have been looking at other properties all year. If we get through the summer unscathed I will be doubling my efforts to get out of here - to a flat open paddock I/we can mow short and grow lots of vegies on. That's how strongly I feel about this issue.Dr Mad Fishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10274692672575145183noreply@blogger.com