Fed: Bushfire chief warns against bush development
CANBERRA, Dec 9 AAP - NSW's bushfire chief has slammed homeowners who build housestoo close to bushfire danger areas, often using the wrong materials.
NSW Rural Fire Service commissioner Phil Koperberg also said rural building codes were too lax.
He rejected criticism that firemen did not do enough to save some of the homes lostin recent fires in NSW.
Mr Koperberg said the problem was that some houses in rural areas were built too closeto bush, were inaccessible, badly designed and made of the wrong materials.
"I am some sometimes surprised at the amount of risk that people attract to themselvesby being so close to very steep terrain which is heavily timbered," he said on ABC radio.
"It is not only that. It is also often a reluctance to sacrifice some of the amenityin order to safeguard oneself.
"Conversely I have to say I have spoken to many people who say look we enjoy livinghere and we know there is an attendant risk and we are prepared to take that risk."
Mr Koperberg said there was no question that building codes, design and material requirementsfor rural construction had been too lax.
"Without meaning to be critical of things done largely in ignorance, I and other firefighters have seen houses perched above bushland to the point where the canopies of thetrees were conveniently at the same level of one's deck so that you could enjoy the shadeof the tres and the afternoon sun," he said.
"What happens is that fire rages through the tops of these trees in the very severeconditions and they are only sometimes metres from the wonderful amenity of a timber deckand before you know it the rear of the house is on fire."
Mr Koperberg rejected claims there was not enough hazard-reduction burning before thefire season.
"No matter which way you look at it, 1.4 million hectares had the fuel reduced on itand yet we are still facing one of the most severe fire seasons we have seen because thedrought conditions, the fuel moisture deficiencies are such as to cause almost anythingto burn," he said.
AAP mb/sp
KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES NSW HOMES
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