THE south-west is facing a potentially “major” fire season after below average rainfall and above average temperatures during spring, a leading bushfire research agency says.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Bushfire and Natural Hazards Co-operative Research Centre (BNHCRC) has re-issued its outlook for the 2014-15 fire season on the back of drier conditions across the state during the transitional season.
The organisation is now predicting an “above normal” fire potential for all Victorian districts other than the Mallee and East Gippsland.
The initial outlook, released in September, suggested most of the state would face a normal bushfire threat.
The re-issued outlook highlights shorter-term rainfall deficits in the far south-west and Otway Ranges, where there are areas of tall forrest with no recent history of fire, as one of the factors for upping the region’s fire potential.
CFA region five operations manager Richard Bourke said the upgraded outlook was because grasslands had started to dry out earlier than in previous years.
“That’s obviously due to the low rainfall and warmer temperatures, but it means there is fire fuel for longer than normal,” Mr Bourke said.
“That’s why we have introduced the fire danger period earlier and the BNHCRC have upgraded that outlook.
“We aren’t expecting our fire season to be much different from previous years. What it comes down to, as always, is how many extreme fire danger days we get, with low humidity and strong, hot winds.”
A report from the Climate Council also called on the Victorian government to dramatically increase the state firefighting resources.
The report, titled Be Prepared: Climate Change and the Victorian Bushfire Threat, also says extreme fire weather had increased over the past 30 years, with fire seasons starting earlier and lasting longer.
The report’s author, Professor Lesley Hughes, said Australia would need to dramatically increase firefighter numbers to deal with the increased risk.
“By 2030, it’s estimated Australia will need to double the number of professional firefighters from 2010 levels,” Professor Hughes said.
“It would adequately address the greater fire threat resulting from an increase in population and vulnerable assets in bushfire-prone areas, and a warming climate.”
