Australia - Victorian Bushfires

The cost in terms of life and economic loss has not been finalised however one week later the current tally from the Victorian bushfires reads with a sobering level of seriousness - 1,831 homes destroyed; 181 lives lost to date; 455,000 hectares burned plus the large financial cost which sits behind these figures. Running in parrallel to the current debate on whether the fire control policy of consistent backburning in Winter has been properly followed and the 'Leave early or stay and fight' is now valid, the question arises again as to whether these fires represent the impact of global warming. The UK Government's commissioned international committee report states that Southern Australia will experience higher temperature for longer periods and greater periods of drought. The possibility of larger and more intense fires in Australia needs to be recognised and changes are needed to reflect the new environmental reality. Patterns of settlement; forest management, water conservation should all be reassessed and altered to suit the new climatic patterns arising.