How do we deal with bushfires in a warming climate?

Smurf1976 said:

I think we should at least start by abolishing the concept of a "shutdown" over the Christmas - January period. It's an antiquated concept that doesn't really fit with the modern world even without the fires so it's time for it to go.

That doesn't preclude anyone taking a break but it does mean no shutdowns and forced breaks as such, thus meaning fewer people would in practice take holidays at that time.

Logically it should have some economic benefits too with better utilisation of assets in the tourism industry and without the interruption to business in general.

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basilio said:

Following the science on CC .
How a climate change study from 12 years ago warned of this horror bushfire season
The Green Wattle Creek Fire in December. Source: AAP

In 2008, the Garnaut Climate Change Review said Australia would face a more dangerous fire season by 2020.

As the nation's horror bushfire season shows no sign of abating, a landmark 2008 report that warned of these looming conditions is once again in the spotlight.

Twelve years ago, economist Ross Garnaut led an independent study of the impacts of climate change on the Australian economy.

READ MORE

Canberra smoke shuts government agency responsible for emergency management
The Garnaut Climate Change Review's final report said projections of fire weather "suggest that fire seasons will start earlier, end slightly later, and generally be more intense".

"This effect increases over time, but should be directly observable by 2020."

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/how-a-c...ars-ago-warned-of-this-horror-bushfire-season

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Smurf1976 said:

There’s multiple factors here.

Climate change is one. Inadequate land management is another. Humans doing stupid things starting fires either intentionally or accidentally is another. Inadequate fire fighting resources is another.

The big problem, which will quite likely lead to woefully inadequate measures being implemented to prevent a recurrence, is the tendency for purely political purposes to focus on one cause and ignore the rest.

The whole thing needs to be looked at. It needs to be done independently of politics using a strictly scientific approach to determine what’s required.

Then hand the politicians a single package proposal to vote yes / no on with no ability to amend the details given they’re not even close to being experts on even one relevant factor.

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• 30 bushfires burning in the far north, central, southeast and Central Highlands.

• 2.5m hectares burned.

• 48 homes confirmed destroyed.

• 32 bushfires burning, in the Goldfield-Esperance region, Wheatbelt, Pilbara, Perth region and southeast.

• 1.7 m hectares burned.

• Three home confirmed destroyed.

• 14 bushfires burning across the state’s north, east and south.

• More than 32,000 hectares burned.

• Two homes confirmed destroyed.

• 20 people dead, two missing.

• 130 bushfires burning on the South Coast, Snowy Mountains, Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Mid North Coast.

• Almost five million hectares burned - equal to the metro areas of the five mainland state capitals.

• 1,588 homes confirmed destroyed but number expected to rise.

• Two people dead.

• 14 bushfires burning in Gippsland, northeast and alpine regions.

• More than 1.2 million hectares burned.

• More than 200 homes confirmed destroyed but number expected to rise.

• Three people dead.

• Five bushfires burning (four on the mainland, one on Kangaroo Island).

• About 270,000 hectares burnt.

• 161 homes confirmed destroyed.
• https://www.theguardian.com/austral...tralia-sa-rain-news-latest-australian-updates

Smurf1976 said:

The whole thing needs to be looked at. It needs to be done independently of politics using a strictly scientific approach to determine what’s required.

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kahuna1 said:

I am sure you may have seen my response to the Climate denial site about 1974/75 fires.

Whilst massive, it was after a flood and over vast regions of inland Australia which went berserk post the wettest years rains early 1974. That summer late 74 into early 75 most of the NT and part of Qld and WA were burnt on a massive scale it was ... well as a direct result of rain !! And it was a grass-fire in the hottest and most remote deserts in Australia with not many residents, even less water and no serious effort was taken to put it out.

It by size was the largest ... but not at all relevant given widespread desert flooding and cities and towns that flooded in 1974.

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Macquack said:

You suggested response is not working in regards to climate change mitigation. All the experts are being ridiculed.

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sptrawler said:

I thought I read the Victorian fires from several years ago caused many more deaths?

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sptrawler said:

And your solution is?
FFS
What is wrong with you people?

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