Hmm, it's a tough one. Were there more deaths because warning systems weren't as good back then or because more has been learnt? Also, we wouldn't have been as aware of how much people have exacerbated the conditions and would likely have just put it down to natural events back then.
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Same issue as now in some ways - people waited till the last possible moment to leave and then the wind changed and it was suddenly too late to leave. There WERE plenty of warning, then and now. Back then it was attributed to poor back-burning and firebugs, much the same as now. I remember it like it was yesterday and the smell of gumleaf smoke takes me back instantly.
EVERY Australian rural home within known fire regions should have an underground fire bunker. Really. We talked about it back then. With adequate drinking water and supplies. Lord knows the Americans manage this quite well in hurricane areas and have it sorted.