SR,
You said "It was later determined the flames had been that fierce around his home they had stripped the oxygen from the air to such a degree he suffocated."

I call bull. Fire needs three things to exist Fuel, heat and Oxygen. It is called the fire triangle, eliminate one of those and no fire. A fire cannot be so severe that it depletes the surrounds of oxygen and a victim dies from lack of oxygen.

You show your ignorance.

Dear HenryL,

This was in the same fire and the victim was out in the open and did not have a burn on his body.

http://youtu.be/dpvM6FoUwMI?t=4425

He was likewise deemed to have suffocated. So now you go tell this widow and the coroner your theory. You go tell them they are ignorant.

Strewth! Me showing my ignorance? Mate I was going to write that you sir are not only ignorant but a fool and one of the worst kind because your foolishness may well cost lives.

However you may be someone who accepts the facts when placed before them and adjusts their thinking accordingly.

But a small word to the wise, you really shouldn't go labeling someone as ignorant so quickly. Doesn't leave you too much room if proven otherwise.

So you're a Victorian Steely, that does explain a lot.

However for a Victorian to start trying to tell anyone else how to handle fires is the height of arrogance. Goes with ignorance I guess. When we consider your entire fire authority, from the commissioner down was found so incompetent that they should have faced criminal negligence charges, I would expect any Victorian with a shred of decency to be very quiet on the subject.

Not so you of course, which tells us even more.

Steele,

One of the most important thing in a fire bunker is an independent air supply for that period when the fire may sweep over.

This is easily done by having a number of tubed truck tyres (on rims) and inflating them as much as they can safely stand.
The air in them is not nice to breathe but will sustain life, I've tried it and 'Yuck!!"

"The 19 firefighters who were killed last weekend in an Arizona blaze died of burns and inhalation problems, according to initial autopsy findings released Thursday. Cari Gerchick, a spokeswoman for the Maricopa County Medical Examiner's Office in Phoenix, said the Hotshots died from burns, carbon monoxide poisoning or oxygen deprivation, or a combination of the factors."

Another theory is that their ignorance and incompetence choked them as they followed UN and Green orders to stop thinking

Dear Is Mise,

Indeed. Although it seems according to some people it would be impossible to suffocate in such circumstances.

My understanding is that Victoria has the only set of standards for fire bunkers in Australia. They must be airtight and have enough air for the occupants to survive for at least an hour. In such a structure independent air supply would not be vital. However I know a few people on bush blocks without fully sealed bunkers and they all have scuba setups.

Dear Hasbeen,

Mate if I had the slightest inkling that you had the faintest idea of what you were talking about I might ask why. But I don't so I won't.

But just for your edification here is a list of major bushfires in Australia since settlement. Note there is not one Queensland fire which made the list.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushfires_in_Australia