Hit it hard and fast...

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Re: Hit it hard and fast...

Postby Gadgetgeek » Thu 25 Apr, 2019 7:42 pm

Dry and "blue-sky" lightning is not unheard of where I grew up on the Canadian prairies, but it is received like a tale of having tea with BigFoot to many very experienced Australian bushwalkers. As far as intensive management, ecosystem regeneration and study, there are a lot of Australians studying wildfire, as are many in Europe, Canada and the US. Not all lessons can be transferred, but many can, and each leads to new knowledge. The skills are far from lost, but its a matter of having both the resources to manage those fires, the teams on the ground being able to manage the fuel load, and to be honest the PR people to sell the changes in policy to the public. I've met many people who've never roasted a marshmallow who seem to be wildfire experts.
I recently saw an article that suggested that the aerial attack of the Camp fire was not effective, but kept up for PR. This may or may not be the case, but I had always been lead to be believe that once a fire was going that hot, aerial attack was going to be pretty limited in effect, and retardant drops were better suited to directing a fire-line and keeping the front broken up. But here in lies the issue, there is good science, and good knowledge out there, but I'm only one degree from a lot of loggers, and wildfire fighters, and even I probably have more than half of it wrong. Public education does need to be factored in.
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Re: Hit it hard and fast...

Postby Happy Pirate » Sat 27 Apr, 2019 6:19 pm

There are certainly plenty of armchair experts who are loud and aggressive but their opinions only serve to muddy any issue.
There are no hard and fast rules - each fire has a unique set of circumstances and actions can be criticized post - event when they were the most reasonable choice at the time.
Then there is the huge issue of fire management for safety vs ecology vs forestry - three competing interests with very different agendas.
Last edited by Happy Pirate on Sun 28 Apr, 2019 12:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Hit it hard and fast...

Postby wildwanderer » Sun 28 Apr, 2019 11:06 am

Happy Pirate wrote:Then there is the huge issue of fire management for safety vs ecology vs forestry - three competing interests with very different agendas.


I wish another factor would be considered. wrecking citizens weekends and potentially reducing their lifespan by constantly inhaling smoke from the numerous hazard reduction operations that now seem to occur every second day in Sydney during the non summer months.

Outdated fire managment technique and making living in our cities torture.. :x and its pointless because the chances of stopping a big fire (that would be house/life threatning) with hazard reduction is close to zero. Backburning works.. hazard reduction doesnt. Yes im senstitve to smoke.. cant even step outside my door today without my eyes buring/nose completely blocked.. :evil: and I dont live anywhere near where they are burning..
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