Australia's burning
#183
Re: Australia's burning
There are numerous reasons for the current situation. They include:
Bottom line at present though is - no single cause, no easy fix. A combination of events, weather, personal actions - all resulting in an unforseen state of affairs.
(I should add that any posts I make about the current situation are personal, and are not expressing any official views)
- the drought
- recent extreme heat accompanied by strong winds
- continuing lack of rainfall to put out fires
- dry lightning - storms with no rain
- arsonists
- carelessness by people in the open camping etc
- local rules which do not allow land clearance around homes
- people lighting fires on their land without permits in dangerous conditions
- hazard reduction burns getting out of control (called other things in some states)
- lack of hazard reduction burns (for numerous reasons)
Bottom line at present though is - no single cause, no easy fix. A combination of events, weather, personal actions - all resulting in an unforseen state of affairs.
(I should add that any posts I make about the current situation are personal, and are not expressing any official views)
This post seems like a very sensible analysis.
Climate change, which is a fact, needs to be reckoned with and quickly. Unprecedented heat and drought are a fact, and while I'm sure there are better "management techniques", this one can't be managed away. The source of the problem needs to be tackled, and Australia is not and should not be alone in this. I do realize that this is a statement of the bleeding obvious of course.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-h...bushfires-bad/
Thoughts from Chicago also. Good luck to you all and be safe.
#185
Re: Australia's burning
Of course humans are having an impact on these fires - some f**ckers are starting some of them!
#186
Re: Australia's burning
Personally I do agree with the aircraft issue, Aus should be able to utilise the aircraft a lot sooner and having some based here would solve part of that problem. Its an issue I feel Emergency Management Australia and the state governments should investigate earlier. However there is also the issue that the aircraft have to be able to fly - many of the NSW fires, and also some of the earlier Queensland ones, could not be fought with aerial support because they just could not operate in the conditions. The strong winds,and the amount of ash in the sky, are some of the reasons for this.
And on occasion all aircraft have been grounded due to thoughtless people flying drones in the area.
(personal opinions only)
And on occasion all aircraft have been grounded due to thoughtless people flying drones in the area.
(personal opinions only)
I fly drones - sometimes outside of the envelope - but anyone flying one near a fire is a prick and should be locked up if caught
#187
Re: Australia's burning
Maybe someone could start up an aircraft factory in Australia to produce water-bombers, and sell them to other countries to help offset the cost of a new, larger domestic fleet. The Russian BE-200 amphibious tanker is one that checks a lot of boxes, and the parent company is open for business.
#188
Re: Australia's burning
We usually have forest fires here in BC each Summer, but due to the Canadian winter, they are all 100% extinguished by November/December due to snow fall.
What is the worst case scenario for the fires in Australia? If human intervention fails, will they eventually go out due to the cooler weather or is Australian winter in that region hot enough for them to continue burning?
We thought we had it bad in 2018, christ that was nothing compared to what I see in the news happening in Australia right now. Stay safe and wear a mask, the smoke is awful for you.
What is the worst case scenario for the fires in Australia? If human intervention fails, will they eventually go out due to the cooler weather or is Australian winter in that region hot enough for them to continue burning?
We thought we had it bad in 2018, christ that was nothing compared to what I see in the news happening in Australia right now. Stay safe and wear a mask, the smoke is awful for you.
#189
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,787
Re: Australia's burning
I agree that some of the conditions have made it difficult to fly but the military fly planes (some of them massive like the C-17) at low altitude at night and/or in bad weather. Maybe the water bomber guys and CASA need to take some of that on board. My son just showed me a video of that DC-10 doing a retardant drop - what a sight
I fly drones - sometimes outside of the envelope - but anyone flying one near a fire is a prick and should be locked up if caught
I fly drones - sometimes outside of the envelope - but anyone flying one near a fire is a prick and should be locked up if caught
#190
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,787
Re: Australia's burning
We usually have forest fires here in BC each Summer, but due to the Canadian winter, they are all 100% extinguished by November/December due to snow fall.
What is the worst case scenario for the fires in Australia? If human intervention fails, will they eventually go out due to the cooler weather or is Australian winter in that region hot enough for them to continue burning?
We thought we had it bad in 2018, christ that was nothing compared to what I see in the news happening in Australia right now. Stay safe and wear a mask, the smoke is awful for you.
What is the worst case scenario for the fires in Australia? If human intervention fails, will they eventually go out due to the cooler weather or is Australian winter in that region hot enough for them to continue burning?
We thought we had it bad in 2018, christ that was nothing compared to what I see in the news happening in Australia right now. Stay safe and wear a mask, the smoke is awful for you.
#191
Re: Australia's burning, from Fire to Political crisis..
As an outsider many miles from the crisis in Australia, I can only express my deep sympathy for the Australian people at the moment. Just like many other countries, it seems some kind of major incident needs to occur in order to display how incompetent and uncaring the current generation of politicians really are. I watch the news and see the flames and remains of people's homes..it really is quite upsetting. You certainly have a lot of support from around the world and with the well known resilience you will get through it. Let's hope the fatalities are kept to a minimum. Best wishes from the Netherlands.
Since there is no way I can say it any lovelier than this, can I add my best wishes from France !
Please stay safe all of you, a house one can rebuild, a life not !
#192
Re: Australia's burning
And I truly hope it will come very soon in buckets.
May I ask, are you really not allowed to clear your land around homes ?
Here in the South of France it's obligatory to keep 50 m clear from high dry weeds and burnable rubbish around your house, and if necessary, one can oblige the neighbour to do his bit,
Stay safe !
May I ask, are you really not allowed to clear your land around homes ?
Here in the South of France it's obligatory to keep 50 m clear from high dry weeds and burnable rubbish around your house, and if necessary, one can oblige the neighbour to do his bit,
Stay safe !
#194
Re: Australia's burning
And I truly hope it will come very soon in buckets.
May I ask, are you really not allowed to clear your land around homes ?
Here in the South of France it's obligatory to keep 50 m clear from high dry weeds and burnable rubbish around your house, and if necessary, one can oblige the neighbour to do his bit,
Stay safe !
May I ask, are you really not allowed to clear your land around homes ?
Here in the South of France it's obligatory to keep 50 m clear from high dry weeds and burnable rubbish around your house, and if necessary, one can oblige the neighbour to do his bit,
Stay safe !
These are the regulations for our local council: Trees and Vegetation on Private Land
When a permit is required
Trees and vegetation are protected under legislation and planning policies. You will need a permit from Council to:
Remove or prune a tree that is 4 or more metres in height and/or has a crown spread of more than 4 metres.
Remove or prune any mallee formed Eucalyptus species, irrespective of size.
Clear natural vegetation or regenerating indigenous vegetation including shrubs and ground layer vegetation.
Clear vegetation affected by a complying development certificate.
Remove trees or clear vegetation within a heritage conservation area, on heritage listed properties and on land which an Aboriginal object is located or the land is an Aboriginal place of heritage significance.
Remove or prune any mallee formed Eucalyptus species, irrespective of size.
Clear natural vegetation or regenerating indigenous vegetation including shrubs and ground layer vegetation.
Clear vegetation affected by a complying development certificate.
Remove trees or clear vegetation within a heritage conservation area, on heritage listed properties and on land which an Aboriginal object is located or the land is an Aboriginal place of heritage significance.
Exemptions are in place so that backyards are free from weeds and hazards.
Exemptions are listed in:Part C5: Development Control Plan 2015
Local Land Services Act
Land Management (Native Vegetation) Code
State Environmental Planning Policy (Vegetation in Non-Rural Areas)
You will need to read these documents to ensure that the removal and / or pruning works meets the criteria. The Rural Fire Services (RFS) 10/50 scheme also allows property owners to clear trees within 10 metres of a home or underlying vegetation (other than trees) such as shrubs within 50 metres of a home, without seeking approval. These rules only apply if the land is identified as being eligible.
For us, the next few days are forecast to be cooler, with the chance of light rain on a couple of the days. Then back into the 40s - rinse and repeat for several weeks. The RFS will continue their sterling work through the cooler periods, trying to create and shore up containment lines to protect us from the Gospers Mountain fire to the NW, the Grose Valley fire to the west, the Ruined Castle fire to the SW and the Green Wattle Creek fire to the south, which is the main danger with ember attack while we have southerly winds for the next few days. Our local RFS is incredible at keeping us all up to date, with updates on FB, regular community interactions at the local shopping centre and also meetings at the station.
This is all particular to my own locale - the horrific fires burning down on the SE coast of NSW, and those in Victoria and South Australia, and the fires still burning up on the NE coast of NSW and in Queensland. may have very different circumstances and require different management techniques.
#195
Re: Australia's burning
Thanks for all this info, very informative ! I will read the articles tomorrow.
Interesting to compare the different ways of dealing with problems all over the planet.
I hope the rain will be enough to take the heat of this situation (no pun intended).
It seems there's a lot organized where you are !
I saw the temperature in Penrith possibly reaching 48.9 today ... Pewww.
We had 44 during this summer (just 2 days though) and that was horrible.
As always, stay safe !
Interesting to compare the different ways of dealing with problems all over the planet.
I hope the rain will be enough to take the heat of this situation (no pun intended).
It seems there's a lot organized where you are !
I saw the temperature in Penrith possibly reaching 48.9 today ... Pewww.
We had 44 during this summer (just 2 days though) and that was horrible.
As always, stay safe !