Plate 1: People sheltering on the Mallacoota Jetty from the fire. (BBC 31 December 2019)
As Victoria enters 2026 and five years on from the Mallacoota fire and having regard to the many fires currently burning in parts of Australia it’s timely to look at what we learned from that fire.
Click here for The Howitt Society’s response to the Mallacoota fire
Referring to people waiting on the Mallacoota Jetty, no doubt there would be holiday makers in locations across Victoria who would have been spooked by what was happening and maybe placed themselves in danger leaving the area. The catastrophic rating serves only to frighten people not familiar with fires in country Victoria.
What have we learned? Not a lot considering the two fires in 12 months affecting Pomonal on the eastern side of the Grampians.
In addressing this question it’s important to understand the risk posed to communities and the natural environment. It’s also important to understand who has responsibility and accountability for mitigating the threats to community safety — ultimately there is always an individual responsible for decisions, actions or oversight.
It’s also important to understand that the following is not a criticism of the fire services volunteers and various paid personal involved in the firefighting or providing on-ground support.
Plate 2:
Plate 2: Southern end of the Grampians in the Mirranatwa Gap area (Flinn 6 October 2025)
Plate 3: Southern end of the Grampians in the Mirranatwa Gap area (Flinn 6 October 2025)
To set the record straight, following is a link to The Howitt Society’s Values — the postings here may be wide-ranging but ultimately, they all refer to the existential harmful effect of wildfire on neglected government administered forests and National Parks i.e. social, economic and environmental values in Victoria.
Our values
Hence our Mission Statement:
Pursue Effective Management of the Australian Bush
Another wildfire disaster was the Wye River-Separation Creek fire that had been burning for several days in late 2015 and eventually, being Christmas Day, devastate much of those two communities.
Some in these communities sought a Coronial Investigation into the fires but the Coroner was having none of that — see Plate 7 below.
Coronial Investigations are conducted to identify improvements needed to improve performance and prevent such occurrences in the future. Internal reviews by government agencies by nature are not independent of government bureaucracy — particularly by bureaucrats having skin in the game — or political interference.
Plate 3: Scorched tree canopy in Wye River following the fire (Stoios 2015)
Plate 4: Spot fires burning around houses in Wye River (Stoios 2015)
Plate 5: Ember-ignited fires slowly taking their toll in Wye River (Stoios 2015)
Plates 4 and 5 provide important information on fire behaviour i.e. it’s not unusual for lack of canopy fire in eucalypts while spot fires spreading amongst houses.
Plate 5 is somewhat unique in finding its way into the public domain — it was taken above the fire and shows embers igniting dwellings while leaving trees and shrubs untouched.
Plate 6: Statement by Coroner declining to investigate the Mallacoota fire.
Click here for Coroner McGregor’s Finding in full
Plate 7: Statement by Coroner declining to investigate the Wye River fire. Note the sub-para highlighted with yellow.
Click here for Coroner Judge Hinchey’s Finding in full
Judge Hinchey’s Finding an interesting if not disturbing read.
Click here for the IGEM’s website You decide for yourself if the IGEM is truly independent.
Plate 8: The wheel goes around and around but nothing ever changes (@Facebook Carly 190126)
Plate 9: Extract from "Reframing Rural Fire Management" Report of the Special Inquiry into the January 2016 Waroona Fire.
Click here for Waroona report in full
Click here for Premier Barnett rejecting request for a broader inquiry on the Waroona fire
Plate 10: Extract of media story that needs no explanation
Click here for Media story on distressed Yarloop residents in full
Plate 11: Yarloop hotel prior to the fire (Google Earth)
Plate 12: Yarloop hotel burning
Plate 13: Aerial photo of part Yarloop showing lost dwellings and unburnt garden shrubs
Plate 14: Statement in a Channel 7 posting attributed to the Victoria Police Chief Commissioner (130126)
Plate 9 refers to an individual fighting to return to his property, not an uncommon challenge. With due regard to the Office of the Chief Commissioner, is the current incumbent qualified to support such a broad-brush instruction?
Plate 15: Government of Victoria
Which leads to the image in Plate 15, with the question, is leaving early always the safest option or could it lead to otherwise avoidable loss or damage?