Dear Is Mise,

This is Richard Cook's place. He was named in the article as wanting more fire breaks. Click on satellite view to see how much forest is around his house.

http://www.google.com/maps/place/66+Silent+Grove+Rd,+Torrington+NSW+2371/@-29.3096588,151.6882574,637m

I'm trying to understand what this bloke wants. It seems he is calling for fire breaks further away from his property so he can enjoy having forest surround his own place. He built in an incredibly vulnerable position with trees right up to his place. How is that kind of thinking the fault of environmentalists?

Scroll down to see Thomas Evean's place. His block had tall trees around his house as well.
http://www.cessnockadvertiser.com.au/story/6592006/fires-uncleared-ruins-spark-mental-health-crisis-say-residents/

I do sympathise with these residents as losing your home would be devastating. However are we going to end up with highly cleared forests just so people can feel a little safer in homes surrounded by their own eucalyptus?

Steele,

You've shot the messengers now how about addressing the alleged problems?

Dear Is Mise,

Easy. Don't allow people to build hard up against eucalyptus forests.

Steele,

I quite agree and at the same time allow people to clear those dangerous trees from anywhere near their houses.
In a fire, a eucalypt is akin to a fair size tin of kero!!

There was a bit in the Telegraph today about proposed legislation in Queensland that addresses the problem and among other things recommends the planting of fire retardant trees.