Mitigating bushfires: How AU & US towns are reducing risk

There have been many bushfires that have had major impacts on towns and cities, indeed many that were bushfire disasters. However, there have been many cases where prescribed burning, mechanical treatments/thinning, active management options and grazing have resulted in reduced impacts on towns and cities or in some cases stopped bushfires completely. 

This is an especially good outcome considering the mostly small areas and scattered locations of bushfire mitigation often used across Australia, including prescribed burning, mechanical treatment and grazing, in most Australian states.

The full review is included here.

A number of these bushfire case studies are outlined within Section 2 in Australia, covering 25 case studies. The author appreciates the fact that a number of these case studies were written up, in some cases a number of case studies together. A number of these bushfire case studies are outlined within Section 3 in the US, covering 9 case studies.

Valuable lessons captured from the case studies and identification of potential opportunities for the future are outlined in Section 4.1 to 4.8. Key lesson areas highlighted in those sections, there are many lessons and opportunity areas.

Failure to fully utilise the benefits of economic returns on investment in disaster mitigation and preparation is to Australia’s loss. The current inefficiency of what is happening in relation to Australian bushfire disaster funding and management is highlighted in Section 4.7.

It would be valuable for bushfire personnel, communities and politicians to consider these lesson areas and the many opportunities available to improve community and firefighter safety and budget efficiency opportunities.

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Source & image credit:John O’Donnell