Tina Petroff, Ocean Shores
In response to Christina Henry (Letters 5 February). Each state has its own fire authority to fight fires. Any person with some common sense could have predicted catastrophic fires if, as I believe, you don’t have any prescribed burns or mitigating maintenance in the National Parks.
My husband has been a NSW firefighter for 23 years and I listen to the frustrations from firefighters. If you need to blame a politician, then blame former Premier, Bob Carr, it was he (with the Greens) who changed the governing authority to National Parks (NP). I don’t think NP have the same level of training as firies, yet they override fire authorities.
All firies have been angry and frustrated by this change. This takes control away from the fire authority, the specialists who put their lives on the line to protect residents, homes, and manage the lands.
One particular forest fire that one of our local stations was called to in the Little Kuringai National Park, found that up to six homes/dwellings were in danger and needed back burning to protect the homes.
To undertake this work, firefighters have to make the request to NPs. The request was denied and crews were sent back to their station. Half way home they were called back by NPs to protect the same dwellings, but on arrival most of those homes were burnt to the ground.
Supporting the many true Aussies who are rebuilding their homes, farms and businesses, in whatever way you can, is the best way to help them recover. Your doom and gloom is not helping.
♦ Ed note: for a scientific explanation of the effectiveness of hazard reduction burning see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
