Australia Fires Part 2

[bunyip]

I love the irony of putting North American firefighters on planes to travel half way around the world to fight forest fires that are believed to be the cause to Global warming. Are there no Countries a little closer willing to help out or is it just an ill thought out virtue signalling exercise?

It is reciprocal but it is disappointing that some closer countries are conspicuous by their absence despite receiving $$$$millions in foreign aid (not NZ).

 

[aczlan]

I love the irony of putting North American firefighters on planes to travel half way around the world to fight forest fires that are believed to be the cause to Global warming. Are there no Countries a little closer willing to help out or is it just an ill thought out virtue signalling exercise?

As I understand it, there are few countries who have a significant quantity of wildland firefighters like we do in the US and people and equipment go both ways (as Australian wildfire season is during the US winter and the US wildfire season is during the Australian winter).

Aaron Z

 

[craka]

I recently listened to a short presentation (on line) by a fellow named Tony Heller. Never heard of him prior.

He showed that much more severe and extensive fires have happened in Australia in not so distant past years. Like 1937 or so.

The point was made that fuel load is the entire story. Large fires can not become the "New Normal", there will be insufficient fuel for quite some time.

Yep really intense ones back in 1851 too. Whilst I'm not totally convinced the humans are creating global warming, I don't necessarily disagree that the world may be warming, but a lot of what happens is also influenced by the sun and other cosmic influences. Unfortunately I believe there is a mantra he to blame everything on "climate change", there use to be in decades gone past a lot more cool burns over a more vast area. Some of these places now burning wouldn't have had a fire go through in 30-50years as a lot are national parks now, which have for what is worth have be locked up in the 'act' of conservation. Legislation was introduced over 30years ago that have hampered when, what and how controlled burns can now be done. So yes the fuel on the ground is the issue. Australia has always had fires, indigenous people used to do cool burns over vast areas small parts at a time, and often to maintain the bush and to stop large fire outbreaks.

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^
I was reading about that last week. Australia's indigenous people have a solution for the country's bushfires. And it's been around for 5, years - KESQ
That wasn't exclusive to Australia, either; our American Indians used to burn on a cycle also, as it enhanced the game population.

 

[bunyip]

eucalypts need fire to release seeds from the pods, gumnuts, to germinate.

 

[Alien]

One fire that began north of Perth was caused when a wheel came off a boat trailer and the sparks started the grass burning. Poor guy tried to put it out with water but it got going too fast. It burnt a huge area and at least one home before they got it under control. The boat owner was devastated as he felt responsible. Can't help accidents.

 

[Alien]

^^^^
I was reading about that last week. Australia's indigenous people have a solution for the country's bushfires. And it's been around for 5, years - KESQ
That wasn't exclusive to Australia, either; our American Indians used to burn on a cycle also, as it enhanced the game population.

This is a bone of contention as I have lots of fallen rubbish that needs cleaned up but we are not allowed to do so. A low level fire on my property would be welcome as far as I'm concerned but unfortunately it wouldn't stop there.

 

[wingn]

There is a lot of stuff made up about controlled burns in Australia (at least in Victoria). According to the CFA, provided a burn is done outside the fire danger period then as long as some common sense rules are followed there is no particular problem.

Before burning off:

- Check and follow local regulations or laws set down by CFA or your local council
- Notify neighbours at least two hours before starting the burn
- Notify the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA) on 1800 668 511
- Check the weather forecast for the day of the burn and a few days afterwards
- Check the fuel moisture conditions
- Establish a fire break of no less than three metres cleared of all flammable material
- Make sure there are enough people to monitor, contain and extinguish the burn safely and effectively.


(Burning Off - Country Fire Authority)

I am a CFA member and have attended a number of controlled burns, some on private land, some on public land.

A major problem with controlled burns is that the weather in Victoria has made it hard to find safe times to do a burn, especially over large areas. While spending more money would help, the current drought has made the available ‘windows’ for doing burns limited.

A more practical issues is that the authorities have decided that fire breaks should be slashed at the beginning of the fire season rather than at the beginning of summer. Again with the current drought this has caused some issues. For example on the recent French Island fire the access track had not been slashed which made access difficult and potentially dangerous.

 

[kevin37b]

A fire like that starts with lightning , smoking , arson or other means . Fire breaks are a joke at 3 meters with wind . The fuel was there for the fire , mostly deadfall and dead trees . A dozer or hoe is lots easier to run without a fire in front or behind you . You have to eliminate the problem before you have it . Just my thoughts . Kevin .

 

[Wagtail]

Very sad news that 3 American firefighters were killed water-bombing a fire in the Snowy Mountains.

RIP and thanks for their service.

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The latest: Three US firefighters die after air tanker crashes in southern NSW | SBS News
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And more information: We’re for Sydney | Daily Telegraph