The worst bushfires in Australia's history, some of which may have been caused by arsonists, continue to consume the southern state of Victoria. Police estimate the death toll to reach over 300.  Over seven hundred and fifty houses have been destroyed, leaving 5,000 people homeless.

The NSW (New South Wales, Australia) Rural Fire Service (RFS) (Granville, NSW, Australia), the world's largest fire service, was established by an act of parliament in 1997, as the successor to the long-standing bushfire brigade. The NFS now consists of 2,100 volunteer rural fire brigades with a total membership of just over 70,000. Salaried staff is employed to manage the day-to-day operations of the Service.

The NFS's "Leave Early or Stay and Defend" policy trains homeowners in how to fight wildfires threatening their homes. Bushfires can be chaotic, noisy, and frightening experiences. Families should carefully weigh up the decision to stay and defend their property against fire, or leave early and relocate to safety. It is vital for each family to make this decision based on their own personal circumstances. Whatever each family decides, they should plan for it and provision before the bushfire season begins.

Officials claim that this policy has been demonstrably successful in saving both lives and property in Australia. The policy has become most talked-about strategy in the firefighting world as Australian fire officials travel worldwide explaining their ideas to officials seeking better ways to deploy fire crews.

The United States has looked into adopting Australia's "Leave Early or Stay and Defend" policy, with seven counties in Southern California actively discussing a hybrid policy that allows people to either evacuate or stay and fight the flames threatening their homes.

Related Links:
NSW (New South Wales, Australia) Rural Fire Service