Australians are being urged to prepare for a vastly different bushfire season as the effects of La Niña are felt across the country.
The Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre (BNHCRC) has published its seasonal bushfire outlook, Australian Seasonal Bushfire Outlook: December 2020 – February 2020, finding that grass and crop fires were expected to be an area of concern over the summer months.
Minister for Emergency Management, David Littleproud said people should remain cautious this summer as grass and crop fires were fast moving and could spread rapidly when fanned by strong winds.
“These conditions mean that our communities should be continuing to come together to prepare for the risks facing us over the coming summer,” Mr Littleproud said.
“While the south east and north west of the country have experienced much needed rain, this has led to grass growth, which will dry out as it gets warmer,” he said.
“On the other hand, Western Australia has missed out on this rainfall and conditions are set to be very dry.”
Mr Littleproud said people on the east coast would need to stay alert as normal fire conditions were still expected for much of the forested areas.
“While last year’s fires burnt through millions of hectares, there is significant area that was not burnt,” the Minister said.
He said the Australian Seasonal Bushfire Outlook: December 2020 – February 2020 could be used by fire authorities to make strategic decisions such as resource planning and prescribed fire management to reduce the negative impacts of bushfire.
“It is extremely important that you are prepared and have an evacuation plan, and to think about what you need to take with you,” Mr Littleproud said.
“Talk to your neighbours, ask them about their evacuation plan and let them know about your plan,” he said.
The BNHCRC’s four-page Seasonal Bushfire Outlook can be downloaded at this PS News link.
