The Wangary fire (January 10-11 2005) in South Australia
was a severe, shorter duration fire and the most devastating to hit
South Australia since the Ash Wednesday fires of 1983.
It claimed nine lives. Six of these fatalities were women and
children fleeing the fire in vehicles.
The researcher lived in the fire affected region for two
months, conducting interviews with families who experienced the
Wangary fire.
The data acquired from these in-depth interviews is being
analysed with a specific focus on household
decision-making: What are the decision-making
processes in families under crisis?
This research project uses a qualitative methodology to
explore family dynamics and the types of decisions made under
duress. It delves into decision-making and the
assumptions that underpin the ‘prepare stay and defend or go
early’ policy with the crisis decision making of
familiesthreatened by fire.
Acknowledging and understanding how families make
decisions in critical times can help shape future education
programs and contribute to the modification, application and
implementation of the ‘prepare, stay and defend
or go early’ policy.
Project Link: C6 - The
'stay-or-go' policy
