Its been a quiet bushfire season so far, but Shane Fitzsimmons was still making the news – for all the wrong reasons. This is one of a number of stories from across the state in our News Roundup.
News Roundup 23rd February
A Question of Burning Urgency
Of all the factors that contribute to the intensity of a fire (temperature, wind speed, humidity, topography, fuel moisture and fuel load), only fuel load can be readily modified by human effort, but bearing in mind that since the industrial revolution it is now clear that humans have also modified the world’s temperature, and action on emissions may eventually assist to bring this down.
Citation: Emergency Leaders for Climate Action
Fire and Blame
As bushfires peaked in the Australian summer of 2019-20, we heard a lot of the myth of climate change as the prime cause of the flames’ spread and severity. In this article, Christine Finlay addresses climate change and a second myth, mostly promoted by politicians and leaders of bushfire management organisations: that an appropriate response is to promise a thorough review of bushfire management (via royal commissions or otherwise) while pre-emptively pouring yet more taxpayer dollars into fire-fighting organisations and aerial firefighting, in particular. This is the latest instance of a repeated pattern, more likely to worsen rather than improve the situation.
Mullins has gone too far
AFAC’s CEO Stuart Ellis, in a well balanced piece, corrects a number of ex-APAC CEO Greg Mullins incorrect statements on hazard reduction and climate change.
It is most refreshing to see such clarity of view on the importance proper land management and effective fuel reduction has to play in managing the environment for climate change.
Thank you Mr Ellis!
Management of National Parks adjoining private land
I am writing to support the NSW Farmers proposal for grazing to be re-introduced into Crown Lands including National Parks.
I believe this need only be applied in marginal areas around National Parks which cannot be protected from fire by graded fire breaks. Many National Parks boundaries are on very steep and inaccessible areas thereby making fire and stock control very difficult.
News Roundup Australia Day January 26th
Our first News Roundup for the year features some defence force photos of the fire their helicopter started un the Orroral Valley. One of many stories from around the state.
Peak View Bushfire Memorial Poem
On Saturday 23 December 2021 a memorial was held at Peak View for the American air crew of ‘Bomber-134’
The day marked the one-year anniversary since the water bomber flown by Captain Ian McBeth, first officer Paul Hudson and flight engineer Rick DeMorgan Jr crashed while fighting a bushfire at Peak View, north-east of Cooma
The Peak View Bushfire Memorial Poem was written and delivered on the day by Peak View RFS member Ernie Constance.
Cobargo is haunted and scarred, but worse … forgotten
The people who lived through the fires are confronted with their changed landscape every day – but they would also like the rest of Australia to remember those traumatic events.
People are still recovering and rebuilding, people who haven’t even started rebuilding yet.
People are still living in tents.
News Roundup 20th December
Two stories on Victor Steffensen feature in our News Roundup this week. Really hope you have enjoyed this series this year. We’ll be back again in 2021.
The Utter Failure of Yet Another Bushfire Panel
Roger Underwood’s outstanding article on the Bushfire Royal Commission’s complete failure to address the root cause of the problem … prpoer fuel management.