The #bushfiresRC report has landed, will thread some of it below

Absolutely huge (600 page) document, a comprehensive and forensic account of an unprecedented summer across Australia. There are 78 recommendations in total. Chair Mark Binskin writes: "Unprecedented is not a reason to be unprepared. We need to be prepared for the future"

"The 2019-2020 bushfires...started in Australia’s hottest and driest year on record, with much of the country that
burnt already impacted by drought. The Forest Fire Danger Index was the highest since national records began" #bushfireRC

"We heard harrowing personal accounts of devastation & loss. Over 24m ha were burnt. Many Australians were impacted, directly or indirectly, by the fires. Tragically, 33 people died & extensive smoke coverage across much of eastern Australia may have caused many
more deaths"

"Over 3,000 homes were destroyed. Estimates of the national financial impacts are over $10 billion. Nearly three billion animals were killed or displaced and many threatened species and other ecological communities were extensively harmed" #bushfireRC

"Every state and territory suffered fire to some extent. The fires did not respect state borders or local government boundaries. On some days, extreme conditions drove a fire behaviour that was impossible to control" #bushfireRC

"Thousands of Australians – locals & holidaymakers – became trapped. Communities were isolated, experiencing extended periods without power, communications, & ready access to essential goods and services, or access to cash or EFTPOS to pay for their most basic needs" #bushfireRC

"Australia wide, there was significant community loss, devastation of wildlife & adverse health impacts. These losses were exacerbated by severe hailstorms, and floods in some areas that were just starting to recover from the fires. Then #COVID19 hit" #bushfireRC

"Recovery will take years. We heard stories of bravery & camaraderie – & luck. It was a true ‘campaign season’. The season commenced in July 2019 & was not declared over until 31 March 2020" #bushfireRC

"The tremendous professionalism of Australia’s firefighters and emergency services personnel, both
career and volunteer, demonstrated true Australian spirit in responding to the bushfires. Likewise, local communities pulled together in relief and recovery efforts" #bushfireRC

Binskin writes that the #bushfireRC was asked to look to the future, "a future where such events will, regrettably, be more frequent & more severe. Consecutive & compounding natural disasters will place increasing stress on existing emergency management arrangements"