The Royal Commission into the conduct of the response to the fires still has a long way to go but, so far, the evidence from participants suggests a complete breakdown in communications and coordination at almost every level; the awesomeness of the predictions (as well as the fact that almost all fire behaviour variables were well off their various scales, meaning the various fires' behaviours were essentially unpredictable) was not fully realised nor properly communicated, radio systems were separated between agencies and urban and rural areas of particular agencies, vital messages were not communicated until after their window of effectiveness had passed.

These are just some of the conclusions available from basic news reports of the Commission's proceedings.

Cheers, Rowan