SIR, – The appalling loss of life and property in East Gippsland is made even more tragic because it was largely avoidable.
The fires that caused the destruction had burned for weeks unchecked before becoming a threat.
In a virtual repeat of the 2003 Canberra fires, a lack of effective suppression work during cooler conditions resulted in uncontrollable fires when the weather deteriorated.
Whether leaving these fires uncontrolled was a result of government policy or a serious lack of judgment on the part of senior management in Victoria’s fire services is an issue that needs a public inquiry. That inquiry also needs to ask why our fire agencies are prepared to drop hundreds of thousands of dollars of retardant on large fires – often with little effect – but are unwilling to spend a few thousand on ground applied retardant that would have effectively contained those fires with initial attack.