VICTORIANS who are living in high fire danger areas are ignoring new guidelines according to News Limited surveys.

These reports suggest that the majority of the 52 most prone places for fire in Victoria have dismissed the guidelines and recommendations from the bushfires royal commission.

It’s amazing how after last year’s Black Saturday events – not even 12 months since the event – that people are still taking this for granted.

News Limited papers said the reports, compiled by the Country Fire Authority, Emergency Services Commissioner and RMIT University, revealed almost half of people in the state’s highest fire risk areas would not leave their home on a catastrophic, or code red, fire danger day.

They show only 15 per cent had changed their bushfire survival plans after Black Saturday and almost one third did not understand the national warning system introduced last year.

One quarter of those surveyed would stay in their homes on code red days and only leave if they saw fire, while 78 per cent who stayed to defend their homes on Black Saturday said they would do it again.

People in these areas have seen the effects of last year’s disaster. It gained world recognition.

Still, some people believe they have more to worry about.

But what’s more important than protecting yourself and your family. Keep a look out particularly on total fire ban days.