Consequences Drive Collaboration
By Chuck Bushey

On August 19 the Victoria Bushfires Royal Commission handed down its interim report on the tragic and destructive bushfires of February. For those of you who have not had the chance to read it, the report is available on the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre Web site at www.bushfirecrc.com.

The interim report included 51 recommendations, which the Victoria government full supports. Victoria Premier John Brumby added that his government was being advised by local emergency services regarding which steps could be implemented before the onset of the next fire season, with others being rolled out later. These recommendations include:

• Establishing a fire-risk index providing clear information to the public.
• Creating guidelines for public broadcasting of this information.
• Developing a common alerting protocol designed to maximize saving of lives.
• Creating guidelines to assess if civilian evacuations should occur.
• Ensuring that the most experienced, qualified and competent people are in charge.
• Reviewing the fire refuge policy and auditing existing refuges.
• Reviewing guidelines on roadblock procedures.
• Amending laws to clarify who has the responsibility to issue warnings and information to at-risk communities.

The agencies responsible for implementing these recommendations have until September 30 to provide their plan to the Royal Commission. A delivery report that describes what progress has been made is dues March 31, 2010.

All of this sounds like an excellent example of government, civilian and nongovernmental-organization stakeholder cooperation. However, it is also an example of a combined natural and manmade calamity forcing groups to work together to research what actually happened, to thoroughly review existing policies and procedures as to what worked and what might not have worked, and then to implement needed changes. I applaud this collaboration of numerous agencies and organizations. However, while it is being driven by the best of intentions following the actual event, it is stressful beyond measure to all involved and – as would be expected – politically charged. In other words, this is both the worst of times and a consequence of events, despite Australia’s proud heritage of grassroots volunteerism in its fire organizations.

Many of the topics being debated in Australia are being discussed elsewhere around the world. The best-of-times solution for the rest of us would be to have strong collaborative efforts before a calamity. We need to thoroughly review the Australian findings and consider applying them to our own local situations if appropriate. We need to establish and implement priorities that keep the public informed with clearly understood wildland fire-risk assessments in all of its facets, including potential fire behavior, to the best of our professional and technical capabilities. We need to continue teaching everyone what they need to know to protect their lives, what they need to accomplish to protect their homes and property, and how to plan for and conduct safe community evacuations if truly necessary. We must build consensus with and at the local level.

Do not be afraid of participating in strong collaborative efforts evaluating ideas, implementing changes and monitoring effectiveness. Remember, you don’t have a strong collaborative effort if you seldom meet to discuss potential problems, solutions and goals. If you fail to sincerely collaborate with the public that you have promised to serve, you can be sure where the finger will point when a calamity occurs.