Australian Case: Black Summer Bushfires

The extreme Black Summer Bushfires in 2019–2020 originated in the Blue Mountains near Sydney and spread throughout several rural regions within New South Wales, increasing the country's vulnerability to severe fire incidents. In response, initiatives were launched to create and disseminate retrofit guides to mitigate risks associated with property protection. These efforts were financially supported by government agencies and resulted in the development of various methodologies and national programmes adhering to the building standards. However, the predominant extent of damage to residential structures was observed in dwellings built prior to the 1990s, before improved building codes for bushfire resilience were introduced. Further, 34% of Australians over 65 live in rural and remote areas, with a higher risk of bushfire exposure. Elderly Australians face multiple challenges, such as health status and mobility limitations, communication barriers, and access to resources that impede their capacity to engage in home retrofitting and property maintenance activities, especially in the absence of a centralised resource to guide the improvement of bushfire resilience. The multiple case study methodology was employed in this research, explicitly emphasising two geographic areas: the Bega Valley Shire in New South Wales and the Noosa Shire in Queensland. The data collection included focus groups, site visits, and interviews, which helped develop the tailored bushfire retrofit assessment toolkit. These methods were utilised to investigate various dimensions, including personal heritage considerations, accessible design principles, building and construction, and landscape. The findings form the foundation for informed decision-making and proactive measures to safeguard vulnerable individuals in fire-prone areas.