MEDIA STATEMENT
Sunday, 31 January, 1000hrs
Fire research confirms Victorians listening but more need
to act
Emergency services are reminding people living in high risk areas of the importance of leaving early after
three new research reports released today showed that significant numbers still plan on staying at home
on Code Red days.
CFA and the Office of the Emergency Services Commissioner both recently commissioned research into
community attitudes towards bushfire preparation, warnings and actions. A third piece of research was
also commissioned by the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre into residents actions during the Black
Saturday bushfires.
The CFA report shows that more than 84 per cent of people living in high bushfire risk areas have a
Bushfire Survival Plan and Ninety-four per cent of people recognise that they need to be self-sufficient in
the event of a bushfire.
“This is to be welcomed” said Mick Bourke, Chief Executive Officer of the CFA. “But our research has
also highlighted that some sections of the community still need to recognise their risk and amend their
behaviour accordingly.”
“Almost one in three people surveyed (31.3 per cent) still plan to stay at home on Code Red days. This is
not good enough. We want everyone living in high-risk areas to understand the hazard that Code Red
conditions present and act to ensure their safety. Bushfires can kill and the only way to ensure your
safety is to be well away from the threat.”
“Most worryingly, 25 per cent of those who plan on staying in their homes on Code Red days say there
would need to be a fire before they considered leaving. This is not a plan. Being on the roads during a
bushfire can be the most dangerous place to be.”
“CFA, the Government and other agencies have gone to enormous lengths to educate people about the
dangers that can be posed on Code Red Days” added Mr Bourke.
A record number of Victorians have attended bushfire preparedness meetings this fire season with more
than 44,000 people taking part in Fire Ready or Community Fireguard meetings in the six months to
December. This has been underpinned by an intensive media awareness campaign around risks and
preparation for fire.
The Government has also gone to unprecedented lengths to communicate the importance of fire season
preparedness. For example 1.7 million copies of the official guide to the bushfire season were printed.
660,000 inserted in Sunday Herald Sun with articles focused on preparation and introduction of the Fire
Danger Ratings. 266,000 personally addressed Fire Ready Kits were mailed to 52 High Risk areas
incorporating the full CFA designed FireReady kit with eight brochures. Fire Danger Rating
advertisements have appeared extensively on TV, radio and in press. A Fire Action Week was organised
to draw attention to the issues. 1.6 million households throughout Victoria were mailed information on
Fire Danger Ratings including wallet cards.
“People must exercise personal responsibility,” Mr Bourke added.
“We must remind Victorians about the unprecedented ferocity of the Black Saturday bushfires. These
were exceptional conditions – the worst experienced in living memory – but bushfires on Code Red days
can still pose extreme dangers to the community.”
Notes to editors:
Three research papers have been released today. They are:
Behaviour and Intentions of Household in High Bushfire Risk Areas – a report for the CFA prepared by
Strahan Research
Strahan Research Pty Ltd were commissioned to undertake the survey and report findings to CFA on
community behaviour and intentions of households in high bushfire risk areas in relation to
understanding risk, undertaking preparedness and response during fire. The survey was conducted in
December by telephone using a sample of 400 households spread across the 52 High Risk
Townships/Zones in Victoria.
Key Findings:
Most people know that they need to be self sufficient in the event of a bushfire (94%);
Most respondents understand bushfire could impact their property (92.4%);
Over 84% of respondents had a bushfire plan and 92% of them had discussed it with the
household and 52% had practised it.
More needs to be done to cement the intent of Code Red Days, significant minorities are still
unclear of its status or required actions (21.7% and 23.8% respectively);
25% of respondents still say that they will do as much as they can to defend their property and
leave when threatened.
60.6% of respondents plan to leave their property on Code Red Days and 31.3% plan not to
leave. Of those staying, 25.3% will reconsider in the event of fire while 40% feel safe or prepared
to defend.
‘Where are they going?’ People Movement During Bushfires – a report prepared for OESC by Strahan
Research
The research was undertaken by Strahan Research with a sample of 600 households in the 52 identified
high bushfire risk townships for the Office of the Emergency Services Commissioner. It was done in early
November to understand what actions people were planning to take this fire season.
Key Findings:
15% of people have changed their plans since 7 February 2009
45% plan to leave on Code Red days and 48% say they will initially stay with their property (this
is similar findings to the research undertaken by CFA)
If there is a fire 48% believe it will take them 10 minutes or less to get where they want to go
While 45% of people surveyed said they will leave the fire-prone area, to places such as: with
relatives/friends outside area (45%), to Melbourne or provincial city (13%) or to a beach or
waterway (6%) - 9% of people still plan to go to a public place in the fire zone
On Code Red days 26% of people will wait to be advised when to go.
20% said Neighbourhood Safer Places are fundamental to their plan, this indicates an NSP is
their first option.
5% see NSPs as their 2nd option.
The Second Report on Human Behaviour and Community Safety – a report prepared by the Bushfire
CRC Research Task Force
Key Findings:
Respondents most commonly became aware of the presence of fire in their neighbourhood
through sensory cues in the environment such as smoke, embers or flames, etc, a warning from
a family member, friend or neighbour, or a radio announcement
72 per cent of respondents indicated that they expected to receive an official warning (from
authorities such as the CFA, police, other emergency services, or ABC Radio) if there was a
bushfire in their town or suburb. However, 63 per cent reported that they did not receive an
official warning. (Two thirds of respondents who did receive a warning reported that it arrived in
enough time respond safely.)
Contrary to anecdotal reports of insurance levels within fire affected areas, the majority of survey
respondents (84%) reported having house and contents insurance. Only 4 per cent said they had
no insurance at all.
An overwhelming 99 per cent of respondents were aware that 7 February was a day of Total Fire
Ban. However, the earlier interviews with residents found there was little connection between
awareness and appropriate action.
Respondents recognized temperature, wind and luck as some of the most important factors
influencing how their home/property was affected by the fires.
In the 12 months prior to the 7 February bushfires, the CFA ‘Living in the Bush’ workbooks, ABC
Radio, CFA Community Meetings, and television emerged as the major sources of information
about what to do during a bushfire, and how to prepare households for bushfire.
Respondents consistently indicated they would adopt a similar course of action in a future
bushfire attack. (77 per cent of respondents who left their homes before the fire arrived stated
that they would leave again if there was a similar fire, while 78 per cent of those who stayed to
defend their properties declared they would stay and protect their home from a similar fire in the
future.)
Download and view copies of the reports by following these links:
For further enquiries:
CFA media
03 5330 3124
NEWS 
