Australia i a "sun burnt country" ie old arid continent with impoverished soils......fires are a natural part of this continent . There a records in soil core sample and upturned rock layers with black lines indicating major fire events, in the past.
If there is any positive to be salvaged out of all of this, its that the burnt 4.9m hectares will not burn again for some time.....mother nature taking care of business.
Fire chief is right to an extend hazard reduction is not the only answer, Where communities are built. and type of construction used and ongoing maintenance. are equally important in any consider risk mitigation process.
