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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Australia probes Victoria fires | Australia probes Victoria fires |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A public inquiry has opened in Australia to look into the bush fires in Victoria state in February - the worst in the country's history. | |
| The Royal Commission is considering the official response, and whether warning systems in place were adequate. | |
| The panel will also look at a controversial plan to change the law to force people to leave their homes when bush fires approach. | The panel will also look at a controversial plan to change the law to force people to leave their homes when bush fires approach. |
| More than 170 people were killed and 2,000 homes destroyed by the blazes. | More than 170 people were killed and 2,000 homes destroyed by the blazes. |
| The first witness to give evidence at Monday's hearing in Melbourne is Victoria's chief fire officer, Russell Rees. | |
| Commission members were expected to ask him when warnings were issued to endangered communities. | |
| The BBC's Nick Bryant in Sydney says the flames moved at such a frightening speed that the warnings broadcast over local radio stations came after the flames had passed through. | The BBC's Nick Bryant in Sydney says the flames moved at such a frightening speed that the warnings broadcast over local radio stations came after the flames had passed through. |
| Unaware of the intensity of the fires, residents could not make an informed decision about whether to flee or stay to protect their homes. | Unaware of the intensity of the fires, residents could not make an informed decision about whether to flee or stay to protect their homes. |
| One area the commission will focus on is whether to bring in mandatory evacuations similar to those in other fire-prone countries. | One area the commission will focus on is whether to bring in mandatory evacuations similar to those in other fire-prone countries. |
| But the proposed change would meet fierce opposition in bushland communities, our correspondent says. | But the proposed change would meet fierce opposition in bushland communities, our correspondent says. |