Individual & Community Responses
Volunteer firefighting brigades are more common than what may be thought, and are extremely important in how bush fires are managed and controlled. In New South Wales, such a brigade is the Rural Fire Service, or the Country Fire Authority in Victoria. Many of these are formed as a response by individuals and communities to fires, and many of the volunteers are people powered by community spirit. Other organisations include Metropolitan Fire Brigades.
Numerous charities start appeals for donations for the victims of bushfires, human and non-human, including the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Vincent De Paul and RSPCA.
Many communities in Australia are quite sympathetic and giving, and will quickly and gladly donate money to the recovery of victims of bushfires. An example is the 2013 Tasmanian fires. Within 24 hours, more than 2500 people had donated $350 000 to the cause.
The community response to bushfires are dependent on volunteers. This ranges from organisations where employees are expected to volunteer, to informal groups made up entirely of volunteers, like local fireguard groups. The State Emergency Services (SES), for example, is an organisation made up entirely of volunteers, and have helped millions of people during natural disasters.
Probably the most obvious response from individuals is the realization to be prepared for bushfires, to which most will act. There are some effective ways to help protect your home from bushfires:
However, it isn't something that can be finished in a week or year, it's an ongoing process.
Numerous charities start appeals for donations for the victims of bushfires, human and non-human, including the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Vincent De Paul and RSPCA.
Many communities in Australia are quite sympathetic and giving, and will quickly and gladly donate money to the recovery of victims of bushfires. An example is the 2013 Tasmanian fires. Within 24 hours, more than 2500 people had donated $350 000 to the cause.
The community response to bushfires are dependent on volunteers. This ranges from organisations where employees are expected to volunteer, to informal groups made up entirely of volunteers, like local fireguard groups. The State Emergency Services (SES), for example, is an organisation made up entirely of volunteers, and have helped millions of people during natural disasters.
Probably the most obvious response from individuals is the realization to be prepared for bushfires, to which most will act. There are some effective ways to help protect your home from bushfires:
- clean gutters
- clear away plants around the home
- keep grass short and green
- fix shutters to the windows
However, it isn't something that can be finished in a week or year, it's an ongoing process.
State and Federal Responses (Government)
Government departments have been set up purely for the sole reason of the threat of bushfires. The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment are such examples.
The Bushfire Cooperative Research Center works to analyse every bushfire case, and determine the social, environmental and economical impacts of each.
Most of the time, the government will look into the cause of the fire, and in some cases, create laws and legislation to try and prevent bushfires from being caused by the same method again.
The government will also distribute some money to the victims of bush fires, to help them get back on their feet. However, it isn't necessarily a lot of money that they will be given, as there are lots of people to distribute money to.
Many departments of the government, like the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Education and Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources, work to help get the communities up and running again as quickly as possible. For example, the Tasmanian Government's Department of Education "Mobilized clean-up and rebuilding services to get the school back up and running as quickly as possible."(Tasmanian Government, 2014), in response to the 2013 Tasmanian Bush fires.
The Government also puts forward cases and recommendations to a Royal Commission, which they initiate, for the inquiry into a bush fire.
The Bushfire Cooperative Research Center works to analyse every bushfire case, and determine the social, environmental and economical impacts of each.
Most of the time, the government will look into the cause of the fire, and in some cases, create laws and legislation to try and prevent bushfires from being caused by the same method again.
The government will also distribute some money to the victims of bush fires, to help them get back on their feet. However, it isn't necessarily a lot of money that they will be given, as there are lots of people to distribute money to.
Many departments of the government, like the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Education and Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources, work to help get the communities up and running again as quickly as possible. For example, the Tasmanian Government's Department of Education "Mobilized clean-up and rebuilding services to get the school back up and running as quickly as possible."(Tasmanian Government, 2014), in response to the 2013 Tasmanian Bush fires.
The Government also puts forward cases and recommendations to a Royal Commission, which they initiate, for the inquiry into a bush fire.