Those people should be pointed out that it is even more chic to have a sort of embankment surrounding their house, filled with water, like a medieval castle. Then you have at least water to extinguish a fire nearby.
And as the story of the three little piggies teached us: do not build a house of straw or wood, build with stone.
And when you know there's yearly bush fires, do not have trees near your house, burn them youself -warm your house in winter with them- before they burn you!