Bushfire-proof houses

[Jovial Monk]

As well as having solid-metal (iron) shutters overlapping on all sides windows and doors, maybe homes in eucalyptus forests need sod roofs?

Remember that I reported that he roof cavity was a fatal weakness in houses in bushfire areas? Sod roofs would keep out embers from the roofspace!

I know boxy, slack-arse moderator, just forbid people building in eucalypt forests: OOPS Australia is a free country! But $$$, do re mi, a good convincer!!

[freediver]

Rather than living in a mud hut, you just need to build a fire shelter out back. Like a besser block brick shithouse, but big enough to fit the family and the dog inside with a bit of breathing room. Probably smaller than those public toilet blocks. That way you can stay behind and fight the fire to protect your house, but if it turns nasty you can retreat to the shelter.

[boxy]

I know boxy, slack-arse moderator, just forbid people building in eucalypt forests: OOPS Australia is a free country!

I don't know what my moderation has to do with your bleat, but in what Australia do you live? Free country, pfft, not in this context. Councils all over the country have all sorts of regulations on what and where you are allowed to build even a cubby house for your kids, or which direction your house should face, what colour the roof should be... should I continue!

[Postul8]

as much as I love the bush, there's no possible way I'd live cheek-by-jowl with dry-land sclerophyllous forest. I feel for those who lost life & property, but if they weren't aware of the risks then they had no place living where they did. If they were aware of the risks, then I'm afraid my sympathy level drops away to donut level. As to bushfire bunkers, I'd be much more inclined to have local planning authorities scrutinised and regulations severely amended. Clear felling of dry-land timber within 100 metres of any habitation or utility infrastructure should be mandatory. Those semi-suburbs like Kinglake, which was a purpose built satellite town, were simply disasters waiting to burn. Suburban streets in the Australian bush just don't compute.