Fed: Fires could have been contained within first 24 hours=3
Mr McLeod said a plausible case could be argued that the long drought, build-up offuel levels, presence of commercial plantations and the dangerous weather conditions allcombined to make it nearly impossible to contain or extinguish fires before they reachedCanberra, regardless of the efforts of firefighters.
"The inquiry considers, however, that there was a chance to extinguish the fires ifthe opportunity to put them out in the first 36 to 48 hours after the lightning strikeshad been grasped more vigorously," he said.
"The ACT fire authorities are criticised for not coming to this realisation quicklyenough and for failing to immediately attack the fires with all the aggression they couldmuster.
"Had this occurred - while the inquiry is not in a position to conclude unequivocallythat it would have made a difference in the absence of the fullest response that was potentiallyavailable - the doubt remains that the fires that originated in the ACT could have beenstopped.
"There would be little ground for criticism if, despite no effort being spared duringthose critical first days, the fires had in fact proved unstoppable. Unfortunately, inthe inquiry's judgment, this was not the case."
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KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES ACT FINDING 3 CANBERRA
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