Moved to Melbourne - never realised how widespread bush fires could be :-(

[LostInAusNation]

We just moved to Melbourne a couple of months ago. I knew Victoria was a bush fire hot spot but I always stupidly assumed that "bush fires" were way out of the central area and into places further out. Well, we are only 40 minutes drive from the CBD and have been surrounded by fires for the last couple of days due to the awful heatwave.

I have to say, I have absolute respect for the fire fighters in the CFA. I can not believe the work they are doing, putting their lives on the line and keeping everyone safe.

I am really scared now though. Is it like this every year? Do you have a period of time where the whole of the state is on severe or higher fire ratings? Is it likely to happen again this summer???

My OH was desperate to move here with our very young family. We were so busy worrying about emigrating and visas/housing/money that we didn't even think about the reality of bush fires starting in the paddock across the road from our house. We live in a built up area, not out in the sticks but fires have been raging up and down bayside and close to the city so the reality it terrifying.

Can't you ask your neighbours if it is a common thing? They would know best I am sure. The bush fires would terrify me and the extreme heat of Melbourne (I'm in Sydney).

I would imagine it is something you get more accustomed to in time . Where my sister lives on Rhodes they have regular hillside fires and last time we went we were close to being evacuated ,I found it quite scary . Every time we left the house we had to make sure we took our passports just in case ! My sister and BIL on the other hand were a lot less twitchy and were more interested in filming the planes that were dropping the water ! Keep safe OP

We lived in Sydney the same distance from the CBD and had controlled burning take place on a bush reserve that bordered our house. It was fascinating to watch the "firies" go about it but also utterly terrifying at the same time.

After we moved in did we learn that some houses in our street had burnt down & had to be completely rebuilt from a bushfire that had started accidentally from some building work. So it doesn't have to be a "natural" bushfire either that can cause devastation.

I would feel slightly on edge if the weather was windy & hot & the warning signs by the side of the road would creep up in severity. It was also unnerving to see signs for "Final Refuge Point" around the place! We often could see smoke on the horizon but this was only for a short period each year. It wasn't on my mind the whole time & I guess it's something you learn to live with after some years, but much easier if you're brought up with it.

We arrived just before black Saturday five years ago. It was scary as I knew nobody and people on the news were talking about fire plans and I didn't know if I should turn left or right at the end of the street.

Last Christmas, or it might have been the one before, parts of Australia were on fire and other parts had tornados.

They got close last year certainly. There were lots of 'hot day timetables' at school and when the fire alarm goes the school evacuate to the hall and put down metal shutters.

Yes, our neighbours are all very aware and vigilant just now, posting on facebook etc if there's fires nearby to keep each other reassured but it is like you say - they just live with it. It is just so alien to me that I feel a bit stupid for not knowing having researched emigrating for so long and the areas to live in etc. I suppose the reason I never thought about having to have a Fire Ready plan in place or anything is because it must be just another thing Aussies already know all about and how to cope with it. They just get on with it but they are obviously very wary too.

The problem today is when you look at the fire rating is up at severe to extreme. The only next level to extreme is code red. I always thought if it got to severe you would just leave the house for the day and go somewhere in the CBD away from the high risk areas but the CBD is also in the SEVERE warning area so I suppose it is just not safe anywhere today. Here's hoping the forecast for tonight and tomorrow is right so the temperature with drop by HALF this evening.

Thinking of the fire fighters out there a lot today and worrying about everyone in this heat.

Thanks for the replies.

SavoyCabbage that is so scary. Especially when you think of your little ones in school and something like that happening. I guess they will cope better because they will be educated about it all but how scary.

We don't know anyone here really yet either but last night the whole place was getting really smokey and obviously people were out in the street trying to find out where it was coming from because the fire app on the phones was registering a lot of false alarms due to people dialling 000 due to the smoke and panic. Turned out to be a house being built that had gone up and the CFA were on it in no time. Smoke everywhere though. Then more smoke from a big fire down in Trafalgar that seems to be under control today. Praying that it doesn't get worse again this afternoon but it's looking like another day of fires.

Not mentioning any of this to my old Dad back in the UK though. They are all just like "Ooooo wish we had nice sunshine like you are getting"...

Yes, there are fires every year. But some years are worse than others, depending on a number of factors, including the 'fuel load' (how much dead vegetation has built up) and how much rain there has been that year (less rain, more risk of fire). In Victoria, the hot northerly winds will whip up the fires.

Any area of bush land or grass fields can catch fire. But it is unusual to get fires (and even rarer to get out of control fires) in the suburbs.

Sounds like you need a fire plan, and also advice on how to prepare your property to reduce risks.

A sad fact related to the present bus fires is that 12 of fires in the Melbourne were judged by the CFA to have been started deliberately.

The fire risk is just to tell you not to light any :0) the fire fighters will tell you if you need to get out. A web site has the degree of warning now.. Controlled, out of control. Watch and wait. Watch and act. Your fire plan... Simple. Get out. You need only your passports and kids.
I can't add a photo but we recently had a large bush fire 15 m from our back fence.. It was like a war zone. Fire choppers, film choppers, civi house protector engines, ses, it was amazing. We are lucky our block us cleared. One line if Palm trees were a worry but the fireys just told us if needs be they would run the truck over them and they would be gone. Long before they are alight!
Huge respect for the fire service.
Yes it was alien to us too.
Really it's bloody scarey if you have to go. But also it no different to a hurricane in the uk. Bad snow, cyclones, floods.... All of these things can damage your house.
You just leave when told to go. Unless your happy to stay. Our plan is that the kids and animals go. There's always a community centre if you don't know anyone and they will direct you there! We would go to grieves where there's room for the animals! then one of us will stay if its safe to do so. To help out to ensure the house isn't looted.

In the mid 90's my DH & I stood in our front garden & watched the flames in the national park. There were 4 streets & a railway line between us & the fire. Far enough away that it didn't get to us but near enough to be very scary & have us packing up essentials. There will be fires somewhere in oz every summer but each year varies in intensity depending on the conditions. I suppose growing up with it you are more use to it but it is still scary in a bad year. Hope you are ok & fires all stay under control.