Fire has played a pivotal role in almost all landscapes across Australia for millions of years. The continent of Australia is a cultural and natural landscape: it has been shaped by First Nations peoples for many hundreds of generations. Colonisation disrupted this long management and now settler society is trying to understand how fire should be used in the landscape to manage it for biodiversity and cultural benefits, asset protection, and human safety.
One key tool used to manage fire risk is fuel reduction (or hazard reduction) burning. While often presented as a panacea for fires, it requires a complex and nuanced application to be safe and effective. In many situations it can make fire risk worse. Many vocal proponents of fuel reduction burning see it as a blunt instrument that can - and should be - applied across all forested landscapes frequently. As we know, the natural world is a complex place. When using a tool with such large implications as fire, we need an equally complex approach rather than a blanket ‘we must burn the bush’ mantra.
As we head into the warmer months, we will explore some of the issues at play as we, as a society, grapple with how to respond to and manage fire in a time of climate change.
Context to fire seasons
There is no doubt that climate change is driving more intense fire seasons. The world has warmed as a result of human activity and now all fire events occur in a warmer environment. This is well documented, and climate change is leading to longer fire seasons, with more frequent dry lightning storms in some areas. We have known this for years. Back in 2008 the Garnaut Climate Change Review's final report, said that predictions "suggest that fire seasons will start earlier, end slightly later, and generally be more intense” and that "this effect increases over time, but should be directly observable by 2020." In 2023 it is clear that this is already happening.
More recently, the Emergency Leaders for Climate Action noted that:
‘Australia’s Black Summer fires over 2019 and 2020 were unprecedented in scale and levels of destruction. Fuelled by climate change, the hottest and driest year ever recorded resulted in fires that burned through land two-and-a-half times the size of Tasmania (more than 17 million hectares), killed more than a billion animals, and affected nearly 80 percent of Australians. This included the tragic loss of over 450 lives from the fires and smoke, more than 3,000 homes were destroyed, and thousands of other buildings. While unprecedented, this tragedy was not unforeseen, nor unexpected.’
The influence of climate change has also been acknowledged in recent investigations into the 2019/20 Black Summer fires. For instance:
The Bushfire Royal Commission was explicitly asked to look at mitigation options, but not drivers of global heating. In spite of this, it found that further warming of the Australian climate over the next 20 years “appears to be inevitable,” it said, meaning that catastrophic bushfire conditions will become more common and traditional bushfire protection models and firefighting techniques will be “less effective”.
The NSW Bushfire Inquiry found that “climate change as a result of increased greenhouse gas emissions clearly played a role in the conditions that led up to the fires and in the unrelenting conditions that supported the fires to spread” and “The season showed us what damage megafires can do and how dangerous they can be for communities and firefighters. And it is clear that we should expect fire seasons like 2019-20, or potentially worse, to happen again.
And in Victoria, the Inspector-General for Emergency Management was charged with investigating Victoria’s preparedness for the fire season, and response to fires clearly identified climate change as being an issue of significance. The IGEM report noted that:
'The past is no longer a reliable guide to the influence of climate and weather upon bushfires into the future. Climate change is influencing the patterns of natural hazards globally. In Australia, increases in temperature and changes in rainfall patterns are contributing to an increase in extreme fire weather across much of the country. In south-east Australia there have been long-term decreases in rainfall. The bushfire season in the 21st century begins earlier and ends later.'
We are pleased to see that, since the 2019/20 fire season there is much more coverage in the mainstream media that makes the links between climate change and worsening fire seasons, including coverage of the terrible northern hemisphere fire seasons in the northern hemisphere during 2021 and 2022. However, climate deniers are unable to accept this particular reality, and are trying to deflect the public debate into a ‘blame’ frame which lets the fossil fuel companies and their backers in government off the hook. It also plays on people’s natural fear of wildfire to try and wedge the community away from environmental voices into a right wing world view that sees the solution to bad fires as primarily being fuel reduction burning.
Bushfires and the culture wars
Once bushfires are raging, the ‘it’s the greenies’ fault because they stopped us from doing fuel reduction burns’ line will be wheeled out by many voices and amplified on social media and the Murdoch press.
Another favourite angle pushed by conservative media is that the fires are the fault of arsonists. While arson is a serious problem, it is only responsible for a small proportion of wild fires. Focusing on the threat of arson leads to break down of community cohesion and so is inherently destructive. It is also patently untrue to claim that arson is a major cause of fires in Australia.
Others will claim we should increase logging of native forests or allow cattle grazing on public lands. These demands usually come from people or organisations with a vested interest in seeing such an outcome, and don't stand up to scrutiny.
It’s worth preparing yourself for these arguments. Here is our perspective on fires, arson and fuel reduction.
Bushfires and climate change
Check here for some notes and links about the connection between climate change and fire risk.
How will climate change impact on emergencies in Victoria? This is a summary of climate change impacts from the 2020 report Review of 10 years of reform in Victoria's emergency management sector.
Fire and First Nations people
We encourage continued state government support for Cultural Burning programs.
The Victorian Traditional Owners Cultural Fire Strategy outlines six core principles that underpin cultural burning practises in the state. We would encourage the state government to continue to develop cultural burning programs with traditional owner groups. Groups that are already engaged in Cultural Burning programs, such as the Dja Dja Wurrung in Central Victoria, could be resourced to share knowledge with other traditional owner groups.
Cultural burning is not the same as fuel reduction burning.
What should we do?
How do we respond to longer, more intense fire seasons?
Of course, we need to act decisively to reduce Australia’s contribution to climate change. Without co-ordinated global action to radically reduce emissions, we will face ever worse fire seasons.
But even with meaningful climate action, we are locked into many decades of climate change. It is clear that we need additional resources to fight the fires that will come in future seasons. Here are some of our ideas:
1/ ideas for fighting fire and managing landscapes
Here is a list of proposals from Friends of the Earth Melbourne. These are specific proposals for Victoria.
2/ additional fire fighting teams
The Victorian government already funds a large firefighting force through Forest Fire Management Victoria, or FFMV. This includes crews who have special training and are tasked with working in remote areas like our national parks. The government has increased funding for firefighting efforts. However, it is essential that we commit to creating additional remote area crews.
Victoria needs a new volunteer remote area fire fighting team, as NSW, the ACT and Tasmania already have.
We should be opening up volunteer opportunities for people based in large cities to get involved in firefighting efforts.
The federal government should establish a national remote area firefighting force which can be deployed as needed across Tasmania and mainland states when World Heritage and National Parks are at risk. This was recommended by a Senate inquiry after the devastating fires in Tasmania of 2016.
3/ we need additional aerial support
With fire seasons getting longer and more intense, we will need more planes and helicopters to fight fire. At present, most of these are leased, either within Australia or from overseas. Details here.
The recent Bushfire Royal Commission report recommends the creation of a national aerial firefighting fleet, which can then be allocated to the states "according to greatest national need". As fire seasons get longer in both the northern and southern hemispheres, it is essential that we build a publicly owned air fleet of Large Air Tankers (LATs) and Type 1 helicopters. At present we only own one LAT - the remainder are leased internationally.
Please sign our letter to the PM urging him to establish a national, publicly owned fleet.
4/ protect threatened ecosystems
Our report An Icon at Risk (available here) highlights the threats to a range of fire sensitive communities, including peatlands, Snow Gums and Alpine Ash. The report calls on the state government to:
- assess whether Snow Gum woodlands require the same level of direct intervention that Alpine Ash currently receives through reseeding and other recovery programs
- rapidly develop a plan to assess and manage the scale of dieback of Snow Gum woodlands due to damage caused by beetles
- ensure fire sensitive communities such as peatlands, Snow Gums and Alpine Ash can be protected from future fires through adequate resourcing of ground and air fire fighting capacity
You can add your voice to this call via this letter to the Environment Minister.
Other ideas
Over June and July 2020, Emergency Leaders for Climate Action (ELCA) hosted Australia’s first virtual bushfire and climate change summit to coordinate a national response to the Australian climate and bushfire crises. The 2020 National Bushfire and Climate Summit brought together hundreds of participants from across the country, and the world, to share their experiences, and to formulate recommendations to address the worsening risk of devastating bushfires fuelled by climate change. The Australian Bushfire and Climate Plan is the culmination of that effort.
The Australian Bushfire and Climate Plan provides a broad plan and practical ideas for governments, fire and land management agencies and communities to help us mitigate and adapt to worsening fire conditions.
The plan’s 165 recommendations include many measures that can be implemented right now, to ensure communities are better protected. They cover response to fire, readiness for fire, and recovery and resilience.
Our stories
We will be sharing a series of stories through summer, looking at land management, firefighting, community resilience, and much more. Newer material is towards the end of this section.
Fire News. A weekly update on all things fire - produced through the 2021/22 season. Covering current fires, fire and climate, First Nations, community and biodiversity resilience. DEC 2021 onwards. (Link).
2022
Climate change and the Victorian Alps - preparing for the fires of the future
September 2022. Friends of the Earth and Upper Ovens Valley Landcare Group teamed up to host a forum called ‘Climate change and the Victorian Alps - preparing for the fires of the future’, which was held as part of the speakers’ program for the 2022 Victorian backcountry festival at Mt Hotham on September 2. This post includes a summary from the 4 speakers at the forum.
https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/climate_change_and_the_victorian_alps
As the northern hemisphere burns, what are the lessons for Australia?
August 2022. Takeaways from the most recent fires in areas like California and Alaska. Intense burning in the west has led to ecosystem collapse which has left behind barren landscapes. We can learn from these fires in the northern hemisphere to prevent devastation in Australia.
https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/northern_hemisphere_fires
Fires are getting worse. We need extra firefighting capacity to stop small ones becoming blazes.
April 2022. There are many things we need to do to be ready for the climate change driven fires of the future. Here is one of them: Victoria should set up a volunteer remote area firefighting team, which can work alongside the government paid fire crews. This would increase our capacity to stop lightning strikes from turning into massive blazes.
https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/fires_are_getting_worse
IPCC Climate report warns of fire threat
March 2022. This report looks at the observed impacts and predicted future impacts of climate change on fire regimes across Australia. An increase in temperature as well as the intensity and prevalence of fire will impact biodiversity especially in the high alpine.
https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/ipcc_climate_report_warns_of_fire_threat
Longer fire seasons are putting our national parks at risk
January 2022. The increase in the length and intensity of bushfire season demands an increase in volunteer and career firefighting resources. This source introduces new ways to structure the firefighting crews so that the demand is met during moments of emergency.
https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/longer_fire_seasons_are_putting_our_national_parks_at_risk
2021
Fire News
December 2021. This newsletter provides weekly news updates that will be posted through the 2021/22 fire season. This issue gives an overview of the fires that continue to burn throughout the winter in the western United States. It also outlines first nations’ approach to fire culture and fire use.
https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/fire_news
Climate change and the rise of the mega fire
December 2021. A lengthening of the fire season towards Autumn and Winter along with an increase in fire activity in cooler and warmer regions have led to an increase in Australia’s forest fire activity. This source includes reporting by scientists concerning the factors that drive the intensity and force of forest fires.
https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/climate_change_and_mega_fires
Fire Policy for the 21st Century
September 2021. The Victorian government is holding an independent investigation into the 2019–20 fire season looking at Victoria's ‘preparedness for, and response to, the current fire season, as well as review Victoria's recovery effort’. This source includes recommendations as to what efforts the government should prioritize.
https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/fire_policy
Make a submission about the impact of the bushfires on forests and wildlife
August 2021. Logging continues at a devastating scale right now. This source provides ways to make your voice heard and stand up for the surviving forests and wildlife by making a submission to the Major Event Review on the impact of the bushfires.
https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/make_a_submission_to_the_mer
Living with fire in the Pyrocene
August 2021. First Nations peoples have managed the landscape with fire for many hundreds of generations. This source describes how colonization disrupted this long term management and now settler society is trying to understand how fire should be used in the landscape to manage it for biodiversity, asset protection, and human safety.
https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/living_with_fire_in_the_pyrocene
Getting ready for the next big one
July 2021. The next fire season will be with us soon enough. This source describes some lessons from the destructive bushfire season in 2019/20 as well as other areas in the western United States
https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/getting_ready_for_the_next_big_one
An Icon at Risk: new and emerging threats to the Victorian High Country. This report from Friends of the Earth has a strong focus on the threat posed to alpine and sub alpine environments by climate-driven fire seasons. July 2021. (Link).
Getting ready for the next Big One. A look at what the 2021 fire season in the northern hemisphere means for firefighting efforts in Australia. August 2021. (Link).
More firefighters needed to protect Victoria's snow gums, report recommends. ABC story on our Icon at Risk report. August 2021. (Link).
Are we losing the iconic Snow Gum? IUCN Mountain Protected Areas bulletin. September 2021. (Link).
Climate change and the rise of the Megafire. looking at recent CSIRO research, which shows that climate change has driven a ‘significant increase’ in Australia’s forest fire activity over the last three decades. DEC 2021. (Link).
2020
No Salvage Logging in Victorian Forests
June 2020. Salvage logging sets forest regeneration back by decades, and for about 40 years these areas of forest carry an increased risk of canopy burns. In addition, animals that miraculously escaped the fires, if they are not killed in the logging process, are unlikely to return to logged areas for up to 180 years, if ever.
https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/no-salvage-logging
13 things Victoria could do to prepare for next summer’s fires
April 2020. The 2019/20 bushfires have been described as ‘the worst bushfires in our history’. Now the Victorian government is holding an independent investigation into the season. This source describes how to make a submission to parliament about the parliament’s preparedness for the bushfires.
https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/igem_inquiry
No salvage logging
February 2020. The ecological devastation of the Victorian bushfires has been clearly laid out in a leaked report which warns that some species are likely to already be extinct as a result of the fires. This source outlines the report’s findings.
https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/no_salvage_logging
School Strike 4 Climate announces bushfire vigil
January 2020. School Strike 4 Climate (SS4C) have announced a vigil in Melbourne to show solidarity and with all those affected by the bushfire crisis and pay our respects.
https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/bushfires_vigil
How to support fire emergency efforts
January 2020. All those affected by the bushfire—the firefighters, first responders, community members, and wildlife — are front of mind for us. This source provides an initial list of ideas about how to help affected communities.
https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/fire_emergency
Victorian bushfire relief and recovery
January 2020. With fires devastating communities and landscapes in East Gippsland, northeast Victoria, southwest Victoria, southern NSW, and across many other parts of the country, it has been a somber start to the year. This source provides a list of ways to give to communities needing relief after the bushfires.
https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/vic_bushfire_relief_and_recovery
A volunteer fire fighting force for Victoria. Both NSW and Tasmania have volunteer teams who work with career firefighters to stop fires in remote areas like national parks. We think it's time Victoria set up a team. Details here.
Living in the Pyrocene. Podcast of Dirt Radio (3CR community radio program). Friends of the Earth campaign coordinator Cam Walker and Megan Williams talk about the increasing intensity and frequency of fires at home and overseas. What might come from the bushfire royal commission and what needs to be done mitigate and adapt in this changing world. OCT 2020. (Link).
A statement with Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action, to mark the release of the final report of the Royal Commission into the fires. OCT 2020. (Link).
A continent that burns. And a world that’s getting hotter. Welcome to the Pyrocene. Arena magazine, OCT 2020. (Link).
Older stories
Gondwana lost. Tasmania's tragedy touches us all. A response to the devastating fires of 2016. Wild magazine. 2016 (Link).
