But when the Black Saturday fires killed 173, his family and home survived while his neighbours died - so LIAM SHEAHAN asks, why can't we control our own homes?

Liam Sheahan was fined $50,000 by his local council for illegally clearing trees
His decision was vindicated when his house remained after Black Saturday fires
Every other home at Strath Creek, in central Victoria, was destroyed in the blaze
Mr Sheahan, 64, believes property owners should be allowed to clear their land
As fires rage in NSW, politicians refuse to discuss if preparations were adequate
By Josh Hanrahan For Daily Mail Australia - Published: 14 November 2019
A Black Saturday survivor whose home was the only one standing after the bushfires raged because he illegally cleared his land, says property owners should be allowed to take matters into their own hands if authorities don't act.
Liam Sheahan cleared trees and shrubs within 100 metres of his home in the hills at Strath Creek, central Victoria, in 2002 to create a firebreak in case bushfires ever hit.
While Mr Sheahan thought that was a 'common sense' decision, the local council did not, taking him to court where fines and legal costs left him $100,000 out of pocket.
However his decision to clear the land was vindicated on February 9, 2009, when his property was still standing after Black Saturday bushfires devastated the tiny town.
Mr Sheahan recounted his experience as debate rages in both New South Wales and Queensland about whether adequate hazard reduction and backburning has been performed in national parks, following 'catastrophic' fires in both states that left four dead and destroyed more than 150 homes.
Mr Sheahan firmly believes if he hadn't done his own 'illegal' hazard reduction before Black Saturday, his family would have died.
'When people move to the bush it's not so that they can clear it. We had a beautiful house with trees all around,' Mr Sheahan told Daily Mail Australia.
'We didn't want to cut everything down. We didn't do the Queensland solution which is to clear the entire block, but we just cleared the immediate yard around the house.
'On Black Saturday, after the fires came through, we were the only home left standing.
The fires at Strath Creek claimed one life, and 11 people died at nearby Hazeldene.  
Hollywood legend Russell Crowe was also vindicated by his decision to take matters into his own hands this week when his home at Nana Glen, outside Coffs Harbour, in NSW, came under threat from the raging infernos.
The actor posted a photo of his home to Instagram on Thursday, saying: 'We cut this firebreak 10 years ago. It did its job exactly.' 


Liam Sheahan (pictured) decided to clear trees and shrub around his home in the hills at Strath Creek, central Victoria, to create a break in case of a fire. He was fined $50,000 for illegally clearing trees by his local council, but was vindicated when his house survived Black Saturday

Devastating fires across much of Victoria on February 9, 2009, claimed the lives of 181 people. Mr Sheahan and his two children, who all volunteered for the CFA, were able to stay and save their home as a wall of fire beared down. Their house was the only one in the area left standing. (A fire truck is pictured on that day in the Bunyip State Forest near the township of Tonimbuk)