It was a frightening time.

On a hot, gusty day in January 2003, I found myself on the hill behind my Canberra home, watching as billows of black smoke rolled through neighbouring suburbs.

Many of my friends and family members were left scrambling during the Canberra bushfires of 2003, which destroyed almost 500 homes and claimed the lives of four people.

This summer, Australia is bracing for what could be a challenging fire season. The official spring outlook warns of a “heightened risk of fire” across many states and territories, driven by a combination of dry conditions and increased fuel loads.

Following the cataclysmic Black Summer bushfires, the 2020 Royal Commission raised disaster communication as a persistent challenge. It recommended making disaster information more tailored and consistent.

The revised national Australian Fire Danger Rating System activates on days with high fire risk, and encourages people to monitor conditions and official sources for warnings. But my research suggests informal communication channels are just as important.

Through the grapevine

For decades, Australia’s emergency authorities have relied on a traditional crisis communication model – agencies send messages and the public receives them.

The 2020 Royal Commission underscored communication as a key concern, calling for improved information flow from officials to the community.

However, my conversations with disaster survivors reveals people........

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