The last couple of years have shown a disturbing trend.
Bushfires, once thought of as only a threat to those who lived in the bush, have threatened towns and suburbs during the worst of the bush fire season.
It appears that people are moving further from the cities each year.
The new suburbs and outer areas of country towns are developing faster than the local infrastructure can support.
There are so many more areas where the housing sprawl is creeping closer to the bush.
The local roads are undeveloped, and clearing is not complete.
There are pockets of scrub and undergrowth where sparks from fires can take hold.
The drought of the last ten years has left the bush tinder dry and ready to burn.
There is also the trend for city people who move to the bush to plant many shrubs around the house and to let the trees overhang the roof.
It looks very pretty but in a high bushfire risk region it is a death trap.
Many do not understand the importance of reducing fuel around their homes.
This has led to disaster, with the loss of many lives last summer.
The roads are also a concern.
Many people are not aware of the risk of being delayed in traffic or caught behind a broken down vehicle and they leave their escape to the last possible instant.
It is recommended that if you plan to evacuate, you should do it early and leave the roads clear for emergency vehicles.
The support services, fire fighters, police and ambulance are overstretched trying to cope with the ignorance, the dry conditions and the lack of services like water and power.
If you are living in or plan to move to a bushfire prone region, please read all the information the fire departments give away fro free and follow their suggestions.
It could save your life.