Flourish eMag Dec 24 - final - Flipbook - Page 17
Why are bushfires
becoming more frequent?
How you can prepare for
the bushfire season
In recent years, bushfires have become more
regular during the summer months. They9re
catastrophic and decimate land and property.
Lives are also put at risk, and tragically,
people have died during bushfire events. In
2019/20, during the bushfires known as
Black Summer, 35 people lost their lives
when the country was encapsulated in
smoke and flames. Nearly 19 million
hectares was burnt, and almost 3 billion
animals were affected – according to WWF
Australia.
When we need to ready ourselves for the
bushfire season, think PAR: Plan, Act, and
Recover. That means preparing yourself for a
bushfire, knowing what you should do when
a bushfire hits, and knowing how to recover
after the bushfire is tamed and extinguished.
Here9s some helpful tips you can use
provided by the ABC:
As the climate crisis worsens, the Climate
Council say scientists predict bushfires will
become a year-on-year staple of Australia9s
summer. They are projected to worsen
before they get better unless radical action is
taken to curb climate change. In fact, a 2019
research paper by the Climate Council found
that:
There9s an increased risk to people and
property due to bushfire conditions.
Bushfire seasons are now longer.
The cost associated with fighting a fire is
increasing.
Climate change has been proven to
exacerbate bushfire conditions.
Plan
Make an action plan including what
you9ll do if a bushfire hits, your place of
refuge, and what will trigger you to leave
(for example, the fire danger rating is
extreme). Also, have a backup plan in
case things don9t go as expected.
Frequently monitor fire danger ratings,
research what each rating means, and
understand which rating indicates you
need to leave.
Keep an eye on Australia9s Warning
System. There are three levels:
1. Advice: there9s a hazard in your area that
you need to watch. However, you9re not
in immediate danger.
2. Watch & Act: Your life and property are
at risk, and you need to take action.
3. Emergency Warning: When the threat
level is at this stage, you are in danger
and need to act promptly and
immediately without delay.
Prepare a survival kit that includes
medical supplies and necessities. Store it
in an easily accessible place.
Some areas may be at more risk than
others, especially in regional settings, so
know where your 8safe place9 is. That
being your local meeting or evacuation
points.
