The future of fire in Australia

‘The intact canopy of an unburned forest keeps the understorey cool and damp. 
By contrast destroying the canopy which all fires do, heats up the air in the forest, dries out the understorey, promotes the growth of weed grasses and native grasses and opens up the forest. 
The wind which normally does not penetrate below the canopy now exposes the whole forest to hot dry winds, and as most know the best way to get a really good fire going is to blow on it.
In the Kimberley for instance the almost complete destruction of the forest that used to cover the entire area has resulted in much greater extremes of temperatures. 
In the summer all of the ground is now exposed, most of this is rocky. These rocks heat up in the full sun and don't cool down until abut 3am.
This raises summer temperatures to very high levels. 
If you look around the world, forests in similar latitudes have average daytime temps of around 32 degrees C. In the Kimberley its not uncommon for summer temps to be well into the 40s and conversely in winter, without the blanketing and insulating effects of the forests, nighttime temperaturess are far lower than they would normally be.’ (‘Abcian’)

Experiments in small locations are needed for alternatives to burnoffs.

We need ways to catch and utilise all the valuable ingredients of smoke that currently contribute to pollution and greenhouse gases, and spread problems among human populations and crops.

‘Wendy’ writes: ‘Slashing, mulching, community fire guard where the whole community watches out for suspicious activity or gives early warning, are all excellent ways of protecting from wildfire. I also applaud all the efforts to get people to leave early on extreme fire days as this is the only way to protect human life in the bush in those exceptional conditions.’

Such preparations would add to our GDP in more constructive ways than car accidents and legal suits. Our inventions could be exportable.

The building industry could go for better and safer housing for everyone, rather than continually lobbying for a greater population than can be soon supported by our desertifying lands, varying climate and water supplies (unless and until there are breakthrough inventions), All housing within a possible fire risk area should have the basic design and features that are known to reduce flammability. Cellars in at least one house in a street could be designed as shelters that could resist the oxygen-deprivation of fireballs.

Fire-proof containers could be marketed for safe keeping of treasured family memorabilia and records.

Reserves, parks and other bush areas need consideration for ways that can provide refuge for wild-life and not destroy the wide-range they need in order to preserve the biodiversity of their genes.

People who love the bush should be discouraged from building in it or near it. If they do, more of it must be cleared and control-burned so that houses and people may be safe.

Children and teenagers must learn to love the bush, and discouraged from the excitement of fires through TV and video-games. Turning the culture and its entertainment away from pleasure in destruction to pleasure in construction. Children in schools can do projects on bushfires which emphasise the wild-life, the problems of re-building afterwards, and ways to prevent disasters - but downplaying the temptation of dramatic pictures and stories of fires themselves. They can learn to appreciate and love nature outside computer rooms. They can be given opportunities for adventure and excitement and enterprise that are constructive. Their schools can be made places of happy co-operation, with no child a miserable loner.

More public prominence and admiration should be given to scientists, inventors and naturalists. The Australian Woman's Weekly asked 50 eminent Australian men to nominate the year's ten eminent Australian women. As I recollect, all the '50 eminent men' except one scientist and one environmentalist were entertainers, sportsmen, writers or politicians, and all the 'eminent women' were likewise. No other reasons for eminence in Australia, to help build our country!

The media can ask the public for suggestions and ideas in all these topics, and documentary programs made which show examples, which are also available as video in libraries.

We must recognise that fire and flood are always possibilities in our country, and be prepared for them.