The Social and Political Environment
The Stay-or-go policy in Australia is often associated with the saying, “houses protect people and people protect houses” (Australian Fire Authorities Council, 2001, Handmer and Tibbits 2005). This policy is based on evidence from past fires and research which indicates that last minute evacuation (e.g. - being trapped in a vehicle) is the primary reason for fire related deaths in Australia and should be avoided (Packham 1995; Krusel and Petris 1992). Additionally, research on building performance during a bushfire has shown that if fire protection efforts in and around the structure have been implemented and then able-bodied residents should stay with their homes to put out spot fires from embers and for their own safety (McArthur 1968; Wilson and Ferguson 1984, Gledhill, 2003). In a study conducted by Wilson and Ferguson (1984) following the Ash Wednesday fires, residents who stayed with their houses had a 90% chance of saving their homes where as the residents who evacuated had a mere 30% chance.
For further information on Stay-or-go policy in Australia, please see (searchable bibliography coming soon):
Australian Fire Authorities Council, 2001. Position paper on community safety and evacuation during bushfires. www.ausfire.com.
Gledhill, J.H., 2003. Community self-reliance during bushfires: the case for staying at home. In: Third International Wildland Fire Conference and Exhibition, 3-6 October 2003, Sydney.
Handmer, J. and A. Tibbits (2005). Is staying at home the safest option during bushfires? Historical evidence for an Australian approach. Society, Safety and Bushfires - Research from the Australian Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre 6(2): 81.
Packham, D. R. (1995). Evacuation in wildfires; the Australian experience. Wildfire June 1995: 24-30.
Wilson, A.A.G., Ferguson, I.S., 1984. Fight or flee? - a case study of the Mount Macedon bushfire. Australian Forestry 47 (4), 230-236.