Bunker mentality

By Tania Martin
THE SHIRE of Yarra Ranges has called for fire bunker standards to be fast-tracked, fearing residents are building their own death traps.
Lyster Ward councillor Samantha Dunn said at a meeting last Tuesday (13 October) that there needed to be action now.
She said fire bunkers were the key concern for residents in the Dandenongs and Yarra Valley.
“I am really concerned about this. We know out of Black Saturday that seven people died in fire bunkers in three different locations,” Cr Dunn said.
“We are really concerned that community members are installing bunkers in the belief that these will actually protect them.”
“But there is no way of actually knowing whether they will protect our communities or if they will survive in these bunkers,” Cr Dunn said.
Cr Dunn said the State Government needed to take action now to implement some kind of standard.
“We are not moving quickly enough and the demand is there now – people are building now,” she said.
“My fear is it’s at their peril and they will perish if there is an emergency. I think guidelines and regulations need to be developed as a matter of urgency.”
Cr Dunn believes people will start installing bunkers with no regulation or guidelines. “It won’t provide them with the protection they think it will and they will perish,” she said.
“We urgently need to progress this issue and the State Government needs to move on this quickly because it’s affecting our community here and now.”
Chandler Ward councillor Graham Warren said bunkers were the key issue in the Dandenongs.
He has been inundated with calls from residents regarding the issue.
“People are very vulnerable up there and these things can kill you too,” he said.
Cr Warren knows all too well the dangers of bunkers.
He told the council that his uncle had died in what was thought at the time to be a safe bunker during the 1939 Black Friday fires.
“It’s concerning that people are putting in homemade bunkers and we have all these people running around saying their bunkers are safe and will withstand fires,” Cr Warren said.
“All they will end up doing is killing people, many won’t survive … we need to stop people panicking and putting something in that’s going to kill them rather than save their lives.”
A State Government spokesman said the government was working on a submission to the Ministerial Council which was looking at a national approach for standards.
The Mail contacted the Building Commission but was unable to get a response before going to print.
However, building commissioner Tony Arnel spoke about the issue on the ABC during a live broadcast at Emerald.
He told the audience that the standards would be available early next year but was unable to release anything sooner.
Mr Arnel said there were a number of issues for people to consider when installing bunkers.
He said there was no one size fits all solution and people considering installing a bunker should get independent advice from a qualified engineer.
Monbulk MP James Merlino said it was a great concern and has warned that residents need to make sure bunkers are of the highest standards and quality.
He said one of the crucial issues was the need for a reliable oxygen source.
“If you don’t get a bunker right there are no second chances in a bush fire,” he said.