Key Takeaways
- Bushfires have been ravaging parts of Australia, with 20 homes destroyed in NSW and 19 in Tasmania since the start of December.
- The 2019-20 bushfire season, known as black summer, was one of the most catastrophic in Australia’s history, and experts warn that similar conditions could happen again due to climate change.
- The NSW Central Coast and other areas are experiencing extremely dry conditions, making them more prone to bushfires.
- Experts warn that communities not previously thought to be at risk of serious bushfires are increasingly likely to be affected due to temperature increases and changed rainfall patterns.
- The continued crawl of the urban fringe into bush and parklands has added another risk, with quick, short, sharp fires possible in bush areas within suburbs.
Introduction to the Bushfire Season
The recent bushfires in Australia have been a stark reminder of the devastating 2019-20 bushfire season, known as black summer. The season was one of the most catastrophic in Australia’s history, and experts warn that similar conditions could happen again due to climate change. The NSW Central Coast and other areas are experiencing extremely dry conditions, making them more prone to bushfires. For Robin and Paul McLean, the reality of the bushfire season hit close to home when they received a text at 3am on a Sunday, warning them that a fire was encroaching on their Lake Macquarie home. Their adult daughter, who is confined to her bed due to disability, has her own evacuation plan, but in this instance, there was no time to leave.
The Spread of the Fires
The fire spread quickly, with embers landing everywhere, and the McLeans were forced to take shelter. The fire was enormous, and the McLeans were grateful for the efforts of the firefighters who worked to save their home. The suburb of Redhead, where the McLeans live, was lucky to have escaped without any properties being destroyed, but other areas were not so fortunate. Since the start of December, bushfires at Koolewong and Bulahdelah in NSW have destroyed 20 homes, while wind-driven fires at Dolphin Sands in eastern Tasmania have razed 19 houses and damaged dozens more. The smoke haze from the fires has also been a concern, with Sydney and parts of the east coast experiencing poor air quality.
The Impact on Local Communities
The bushfires have had a significant impact on local communities, with many people forced to evacuate their homes and seek shelter elsewhere. Debbie Shaw, a resident of Redhead, was on holiday when she received a call from a neighbor warning her that firefighters were trying to save her house. She was unable to return home immediately due to the roads being closed and the danger posed by the fire. Tim Boland, who has just moved into a property he spent 14 years building at The Branch, near Bulahdelah, is also concerned about the bushfires. He thinks they would be safe to stay and defend their home, but his land is as parched as he has ever seen it. The community is coming together to support each other, with local pharmacy owner Sonia Donaghy organizing a fundraiser to thank the firefighters for their efforts.
The Role of Climate Change
Experts warn that climate change is playing a significant role in the increasing frequency and severity of bushfires in Australia. Charles Sturt University associate professor Paul Read, the director of the Future Emergency Resilience Network (Fern), says that Australia will have to deal with conditions akin to black summer more frequently due to global heating. The continued crawl of the urban fringe into bush and parklands has added another risk, with quick, short, sharp fires possible in bush areas within suburbs. Jim McLennan, an adjunct professor at La Trobe University’s School of Psychology and Public Health, says that communities which were not previously thought of as being at risk of serious bushfires are increasingly likely to be affected, as temperature increases and changed rainfall patterns leave vegetation more ready to burn.
The Need for Vigilance
The Australian and New Zealand Council for fire and emergency services’ (AFAC) seasonal bushfire outlook, released late last month, projected a heightened risk of fire this summer in large parts of NSW, Victoria, and Western Australia. However, the outlook also warned that communities in areas forecast as having a "normal risk" should remain vigilant. The NSW Central Coast and the areas of Tasmania’s east coast that have burned over the past week were not identified as high risk, but the fires have still had a significant impact on local communities. The chief executive of Natural Hazards Research Australia, Andrew Gissing, says that on bad fire days, quick, short, sharp fires can occur in bush areas within suburbs, including parks, golf courses, and grasslands. As the bushfire season continues, it is essential for communities to remain vigilant and take steps to prepare for the risk of bushfires.