Opinion | California, We Feel Your Pain Here in Australia

Australia’s deadliest fires occurred in 2009 in Victoria, my adopted home state and one of the most vulnerable to bushfires. On a single day, 400 distinct blazes ignited. The thousands of firefighters deployed to fight them were overwhelmed; more than 2,000 homes were destroyed, 173 people were killed and hundreds were injured.

Victoria’s premier at the time, John Brumby, responded decisively. He warned the public in advance, accepted help from other Australian states and the military, set up relief centers, quickly made financial assistance available and visited hard-hit communities. He initiated an inquiry to identify ways in which the state might better prepare for and respond to fires. Sixty-seven recommendations were ultimately made, and Mr. Brumby heaved huge amounts of money and political capital into their speedy application.

Fire authorities in Victoria now assess properties by their “bushfire attack level,” a six-tier scale of risk. There are statewide restrictions on which building materials can be used and a range of rules to make sure that vents, porches, patios, windows and underfloor spaces comply with fire safety standards. Fall short, and a construction permit will be refused, you won’t be able to move in, or the structure may even be torn down. Property owners are also responsible for clearing vegetation around structures to serve as firebreaks.

In California, controlled burns face legal, environmental and liability constraints. In Victoria, the government must meet targets to reduce combustible grasses, brush and dead vegetation through burn-offs, and there is a growing recognition of the value and wisdom in traditions of intentional burning practiced by Indigenous Australians to manage the land. Emergency management services in Victoria are centralized, with just three statewide fire services covering urban, rural and forest areas. In a crisis, they default to a unified command. And where California has relied on evacuations and reactive accommodations, Victoria maintains a network of purpose-built community fire refuges, relief centers and designated “last resort” zones. Government-issued apps also provide immediate threat warnings.

Did developers push back on the reforms, as they have in California? Of course they did. Did homeowners grumble about their obligations? Yes, and they still do.