Author Archives: fobif

Fire 3: the human factor

Posted on 24 February, 2020 by fobif

Here’s a factor which should not be forgotten: human causes of fire. We’re not talking only about arson: carelessness or sheer ignorance are factors. The fire which seriously threatened the Canberra suburbs recently was caused by an army helicopter…And it … Continue reading →

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Fire 4: here’s a side issue that’s not a side issue

Posted on 24 February, 2020 by fobif

We know the land is getting drier—well, most people know. Some politicians and commentators think this is just a passing phase. The rest of us have to deal with it, now. On this matter it’s worth quoting some draft findings … Continue reading →

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Here’s an interesting rainfall figure

Posted on 9 December, 2019 by fobif

As a follow up to our note on the BOM/CSIRO local climate guides, we’ve come across a Bendigo Advertiser 1991 table of rainfall in Bendigo over the period 1863 to 1990. The average annual rainfall over that 127 year period … Continue reading →

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Another pic to add to our road maintenance portfolio

Posted on 9 December, 2019 by fobif

We’re constantly and boringly on at DELWP and Parks Victoria about their road maintenance practices, which as often as not consist of gouging a few extra inches out of the bush. It’s not often we see them gouging a bit … Continue reading →

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Fire 1: here we go again. Will controlled burning solve our bushfire problem?

Posted on 2 December, 2019 by fobif

Serious bushfires still burning in NSW have brought out some familiar discussion themes. Like this one: if only there had been more fuel reduction burns, these fires wouldn’t be so bad. And: the reason we don’t have enough reduction burns … Continue reading →

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Fire 2: what about, er, human nature?

Posted on 2 December, 2019 by fobif

Another, very serious challenge is the human being. Readers of last Tuesday’s Midland Express will have noticed a depressingly familiar theme on the front page: the number of fires caused by human ignorance or mismanagement. And two people have been … Continue reading →

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Meanwhile, on the ground: fuel reduction at Spring Gully

Posted on 2 December, 2019 by fobif

DELWP conducted a fuel reduction burn in the area south of Jacobs track, along the Vaughan Chewton road in the week beginning November 18.  The fire was lit on the 18th before the dire weather forecast for the following Thursday … Continue reading →

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Fuel reduction: a bit of ancient history

Posted on 2 December, 2019 by fobif

On the subject of fire safety and ecological health, here’s a look at the past: “In 1970 the Australian Conservation Foundation released a reasoned manifesto on ‘bushfire control and conservation’ that encapsulated the sentiments and logic of environmental critics (of … Continue reading →

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It’s a miracle! Scott Morrison was right! And wrong! At the same time!

Posted on 2 December, 2019 by fobif

The early start to the bushfire season has generated a debate about the connection between climate change and bushfires. This is another debate we can expect to sputter on over summer. It’s important to be clear about what the argument … Continue reading →

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So: how’s the climate here?

Posted on 2 December, 2019 by fobif

The Bureau of Meteorology and the CSIRO have released a series of local climate guides summing up the changes in the last few decades around Australia. The guide for North Central Victoria can be found here. It reveals that average … Continue reading →

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