Ruqayyah Snyder
Australia's wildfires in 2019-2020 were among the worst in the country's history, with millions of acres burned, dangerous air pollution, and countless animals killed. While wildfires in Australia can be caused by lightning strikes, sparks, or cigarettes, human activity has also been a significant factor. Climate change has contributed to hotter and drier conditions, making the country's fire season longer and more dangerous. Additionally, the disruption of traditional burning practices and unrestrained logging have increased the country's vulnerability to wildfires. In the 2019-2020 season, human-caused arson was also a factor, with 24 people charged in New South Wales for deliberately starting bushfires.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Human error | Accidental causes include cigarettes, escaped burn-offs, campfires, sparks from equipment or powerlines |
| Deliberate causes include arson | |
| Climate change | Global warming is making bushfires burn more intensely and frequently |
| Climate change is causing hotter, drier conditions, making the country's fire season longer and more dangerous | |
| Persistent heat and drought | |
| Natural weather phenomenon, such as the Indian Ocean Dipole, can cause hot, dry spells across the country | |
| Fire management practices | Hazard reduction burning |
| Fire suppression | |
| Disruption of traditional burning practices | |
| Introduction of unrestrained logging | |
| Removal of mature trees, triggering shrub regeneration which is a greater fire fuel hazard |
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What You'll Learn
Accidental fires from cigarettes, campfires, sparks, etc
Australia has always had a "fire season", but the 2019-2020 fires were worse than usual. While some fires are caused by natural phenomena, such as lightning strikes, others are started accidentally by people.
Accidental fires are often caused by cigarettes, campfires, sparks, or equipment. For example, a cigarette butt that is not properly extinguished can smoulder and ignite dry leaves or grass. Similarly, sparks from campfires or poorly maintained equipment can cause fires if they come into contact with flammable materials. Power lines are also a common source of sparks that can start fires. Escaped burn-offs, or controlled fires that spread beyond their intended area, can also be included in this category.
In the case of the 2019-2020 Australian bushfires, it was found that 47% of fires with known causes in south-eastern Australia between 1997 and 2009 were due to such accidental causes. This is a significant proportion, highlighting the role of human activities in contributing to the occurrence of wildfires.
It is worth noting that the impact of these accidental fires is influenced by various factors, including climate change. Warmer temperatures, drought, and low soil moisture create conditions that fuel wildfires, causing them to spread more rapidly and extensively. The combination of these factors with strong winds and high temperatures can quickly turn small accidental fires into major disasters, as seen in the devastating 2019-2020 Australian bushfires.
To prevent and mitigate the impact of accidental fires, it is crucial to prioritize fire safety practices and public education. This includes proper disposal of cigarettes, responsible campfire management, and regular maintenance of equipment to prevent sparking. Additionally, adapting to changing climate conditions by implementing effective fire management strategies and reducing greenhouse gas emissions can help minimize the frequency and intensity of wildfires.
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Deliberately lit fires, including arson
In New South Wales (NSW), the fires burned through more land than any other blazes in the past 25 years, and it was the state's worst bushfire season on record. The NSW Rural Fire Service referred numerous individuals to the NSW Police, and 24 people were charged with arson, allegedly starting bushfires. Queensland police reported that 114 fires were "deliberately or maliciously lit". These deliberately lit fires contributed to the massive blazes that devastated large swaths of the country, with the fires in NSW burning over 4 million hectares.
The role of arson in the Australian wildfires has been a subject of debate and misinformation. Some individuals and businesses with interests in industries like logging and grazing have used the fires as an argument to open up protected lands to these activities, claiming that reducing fuel loads is necessary to prevent future fires. However, evidence suggests that fuel loads played a minimal role in the 2019-2020 fires. Additionally, false claims have been circulated, particularly on social media, to undermine the link between the bushfires and climate change, with some claiming that arson was the primary cause.
NSW police have taken legal action against individuals for fire-related offenses, including deliberately starting bushfires. The human factor in the Australian wildfires highlights the need for improved fire management practices and a better understanding of the role of climate change in intensifying and prolonging the fire season. The combination of human actions and natural factors, such as persistent heat and drought, have contributed to the devastating impact of the Australian wildfires, leading to losses of habitat and wildlife, as well as human lives, and significant economic consequences.
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Climate change
Australia has always had a fire season, but the 2019-2020 fires were worse than usual. Scientists say that global warming is making bushfires burn more intensely and frequently. A study by the University of Oxford found that the 2019-2020 bushfires were made 30% more likely by climate change. The study questioned whether and to what extent human-induced climate change altered the likelihood and intensity of fire weather risk, as well as two key components of fire weather: high temperatures and lack of rainfall.
The study used four climate models to calculate the change in probability of a Fire Weather Index (FWI). The results showed that the probability of a measurement as high as seen during the 2019-2020 bushfires has increased by at least 30% since 1900 due to anthropogenic climate change. When projected into the future, the models simulate that an FWI at the 2019-2020 level would be at least four times more likely with a 2 degrees Celsius temperature rise, compared to 1900.
Vegetation growth is affected by the global increases in carbon dioxide that are driving climate change, as well as changes to rainfall patterns. Dry fuel burns more easily than wet fuel, and climate models have predicted that New South Wales (NSW) will experience warmer, drier periods of weather. These conditions will dry out the vegetation, increasing the fuel dryness and bushfire risk.
The disruption of traditional burning practices and the introduction of unrestrained logging have also made many areas of Australia more prone to extensive wildfires, especially during the dry season. A 2017 study found that the removal of mature trees by Europeans since they began to settle in Australia may have triggered extensive shrub regeneration, which presents a much greater fire fuel hazard.
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Logging and grazing
Logging
A 2001 study found that the disruption of traditional burning practices and the introduction of unrestrained logging meant that many areas of Australia became more susceptible to extensive wildfires, especially during the dry season. The study highlighted that the removal of mature trees by European settlers since their arrival in Australia may have triggered extensive shrub regeneration, providing a much greater fuel source for fires.
This assessment is echoed by scientists and conservationists who, following the 2019-2020 bushfires, criticized the recommencement of logging in the state of Victoria. They argued that logging makes forests more vulnerable to fires and drew a direct correlation between the logging industry and the severity of the previous bushfire season.
Additionally, salvage logging, which involves clearing away burnt trees and logs, can further impact the ecosystem. While a burnt forest can provide shade, moisture, and shelter for animals struggling to recover after a bushfire, removing this habitat through salvage logging can be detrimental.
Grazing
Grazing has also been implicated in exacerbating the impact of wildfires. The introduction of gamba grass, a pasture grass imported to Queensland in 1942 and planted on a large scale from 1983, has been identified as a significant factor. This grass can fuel intense bushfires, leading to long-term environmental damage and loss of tree cover.
Climate Change
While logging and grazing practices have direct impacts on the severity and frequency of wildfires, it is important to recognize the role of climate change in creating optimal conditions for wildfire spread. Warmer temperatures and drought conditions result in drier vegetation and lower soil moisture, providing ample fuel for fires.
The combination of these factors with strong winds and high temperatures allows small fires to quickly transform into major disasters, causing extensive damage to ecosystems and wildlife.
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Fire suppression
The Aboriginal use of fire was so widespread that virtually every early explorer in Australia mentioned it. James Cook, for instance, called Australia "This continent of smoke". However, when control was taken from the Aboriginal people and given to Europeans, disaster struck.
To address the problem of wildfires, state and federal governments have initiated inquiries after major bushfires. A 2010 parliamentary report stated that between 1939 and 2010, there had been at least 18 major bushfire inquiries. Another report, published in 2015, stated that there had been 51 inquiries into wildfires and wildfire management since 1939. Many of these inquiries have recommended "hazard reduction burning" to reduce the available fuel and set targets for burning a certain percentage of forests each year to mitigate the risk of wildfires. However, planned burns are challenging to execute safely, and many investigations have found that these targets are rarely met.
In addition to hazard reduction burning, Australia has implemented several other measures to combat wildfires. The Australian Fire Danger Rating System, adopted in September 2022, provides an efficient and easy-to-understand way to communicate fire danger to the community. It is broken into four levels, each indicating the necessary actions and danger levels. Australia also utilises remote monitoring of wildfires through the Sentinel bushfire monitoring system, which uses satellite data to help firefighting agencies assess and manage risks. Drones, or UAVs, are also employed as a tool for combating fires.
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Frequently asked questions
Some human activities that have contributed to the Australian wildfires include unrestrained logging, the removal of mature trees, and fire suppression instead of traditional burning practices.
Climate change and global warming have led to hotter, drier conditions, making the country's fire season longer and more dangerous. The 2019-2020 wildfires released approximately 350 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change and creating optimal conditions for wildfire spread.
The immediate effects of the Australian wildfires include the displacement of thousands of residents, the deaths of countless animals, and dangerous air pollution. The long-term effects include negative impacts on local ecosystems and the destruction of natural habitats, which may take over 100 years to recover.
Humans have responded to the Australian wildfires through rescue and evacuation efforts, international fundraising, and the provision of donated food, clothing, and livestock feed to affected areas. There have also been inquiries and reports initiated to address the problem and improve wildfire management.
