The Jingellic fire captain has welcomed the royal commission into the bushfires saying a focus needs to be on reduction burns and increased air support.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Alby Maras said at the height of the bushfires in the Upper Murray the combination of conditions made the blaze "uncontrollable" and the inquiry is needed going forward.
"They definitely need to look at more reduction burns because when the fuel builds up and the conditions are just right with the wind and heat, the fire just takes hold," he said.
"In the terrain and environment we deal with up here there I think there needs to be more air support during these times as well. There is not much you can do from a truck when it gets going in the bush."
IN OTHER NEWS:
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the scale of the Black Summer bushfires presented new challenges for government, which required a detailed national inquiry.
"My priority is to keep Australians safe and to do that, we need to learn from the Black Summer bushfires how nationally we can work better with the states and territories to better protect and equip Australians for living in hotter, drier and longer summers," he said.
"The inquiry acknowledges climate change, the broader impact of our summers getting longer, drier and hotter and is focused on practical action that has a direct link to making Australians safer.
"That's why we need to look at what actions should be taken to enhance our preparedness, resilience and recovery through the actions of all levels of government and the community."
The inquiry will have a specific focus on preparedness for future bushfire seasons with the report due by August 31.
