When the Sky Turns Hostile: Tornadoes, Bushfires, and the WHS Lessons We Keep Relearning

When the weather turns violent, Australia witnesses nature's ability to shatter our systems. Last weekend gave us two reminders: a tornado-like storm that tore through Melbourne’s western suburbs and a fast-moving bushfire near Drake in northern NSW. Both events put emergency crews, utilities, and local responders under extreme pressure. The message is clear for those of us in WHS and emergency leadership: moments like these test our readiness.

Melbourne’s West: Tornadoes and Powerlines

On 26 Oct 25, a severe thunderstorm system ripped through Victoria, hitting hardest in Werribee, Melton and nearby suburbs. The Bureau of Meteorology later confirmed strong evidence of a tornado. The State Emergency Service logged more than 600 calls for help, with over 260 reports of building damage and more than 25,000 homes without power.

Flying debris, torn roofs and downed power lines turned suburban streets into hazard zones. Crews were still working days later to restore power and clear fallen trees, creating a complex interface between emergency responses, utilities, and public safety.

Operational lessons:

• Treat all downed lines and roof structures as live until confirmed safe.

• Enforce exclusion zones and coordinate with energy providers before clearance.

• Assign accredited personnel for chainsaw work and monitor fatigue.

WHS takeaways:

• Apply rapid dynamic risk assessments throughout the shift.

• Require engineer inspection before re-entry to unstable roofs or debris zones.

• Use active controls to manage the public interface, not just tape or cones.

Sugarbag Road Fire: When Heat Meets Wind

While Victoria was drying off, northern NSW was confronted with an extreme situation. The Sugarbag Road fire near Drake ignited on 27 Oct 25, burning through about 53 hectares between Drake and Tabulam. At its peak it carried a Watch and Act alert as winds pushed flames towards rural properties.

RFS aircraft fought hard until winds grounded them, leaving ground crews to hold containment lines amid smoke, heat and fatigue. The fire was finally contained at Plumbago Creek after a long night on the line.

Leadership lessons:

• Establish disengagement triggers based on wind, an ember attack, or communication loss.

• Enforce hydration, rotations, and mental reset breaks.

• Maintain one clear information channel to reduce confusion.

WHS takeaways:

• Match PPE to exposure conditions, including particulate masks and fire-rated gear.

• Track rest cycles and body temperature for all field staff.

• Include heat stress and respiratory checks in post-incident reviews.

What These Events Tell Us

Disaster does not discriminate. Wind, fire or flood – each exposes how fragile control can be. For businesses and agencies, the test is not just response speed but system integrity.

• Do your teams know their escalation triggers?

• Can they shut down safely under pressure?

• Do they have authority to pause operations when risk overtakes control?

These questions separate resilient systems from reactive ones.

WHS under pressure is not about heroics. It is about preparation, discipline, and leadership, which hold shape when everything else does not.