Poor bushfire preparation a danger in Darwin rural area, say fireys, as residents express frustration over backburning

BUSHFIRES NT claims some Top End residents put firefighters at risk last week because they hadn’t properly maintained their properties.

BUSHFIRES NT claims some Top End residents put firefighters at risk last week because they hadn’t properly maintained their properties.

However, some Lake Bennett residents say unnecessary backburning has damaged their properties.

Bushfires NT executive director Collene Bremner yesterday said firefighters had been left in dangerous situations because residents hadn’t properly maintained their properties.

“They’ve been at times quite frustrated, saving people’s blocks who haven’t helped us to help save them,” she said.

“Landholders and landowners really need to help us help them and obviously not put our firefighters at risk.

“We need to urge people to prepare much earlier, it’s too late this time of year.”

A bushfire threatens homes and properties in the idyllic Lake Bennett region last week. Picture: Che Chorley

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However, Lake Bennett resident Janine Sutter said locals were never warned about backburning that damaged their properties, despite significant firebreaks being in place.

“We’re angry because not one person was informed and they refused to acknowledge us, and they said they were under orders,” she said.

“We have had massive firebreaks for 20 years. The evidence is there is not a single bit of burn on our fire breaks.

“We’re expected to repair and find another $5000 to fix all of this stuff which they lit on purpose.”

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But Ms Bremner said firefighters had taken the right precautions and actions given the unpredictable nature of last week’s fires.

She said firebreaks wouldn’t always stop fire but firefighters used them to access properties safely.