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Tracking firefighters in Tasmania

For vegetation fires, what activities does a volunteer tanker-based firefighter do in an average day’s work? A question that is the focus of the study being undertaken by Bushfire CRC researchers Dr Brad Aisbett and PhD student Matthew Phillips from Deakin University, assisted by the Tasmania Fire Service (TFS), Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service and Forestry Tasmania.

Fire Weather Workshop - fire potential high into 2007

Above normal bushfire potential is predicted for much of Australia over the coming months, according to the first national assessment from climatologists, meteorologists and fire agency staff.

Tree decline

Eucalypts are arguably the defining feature of Australia’s flora. There are more than 800 species of eucalypts and their range in Australia extends from sub-alpine areas, through wet and dry coastal forests, to temperate woodlands and the arid inland. There are only about 12 species of eucalypt that occur naturally outside Australia, and only two species are not found in Australia.

Fire, drought and climate change - exploring the unholy trinity

The mysteries of climate change are being explored across the high plains and mountain forests of Australia through a study trying to unravel the complex interaction among water yield, fire, drought and long term changes in climate.

Underestimating speed and overestimating distance of a wildfire - avoiding entrapment and burn-over

Many wildland firefighter deaths and injuries in Australia and overseas have resulted from firefighters being surprised and overtaken by a fast-moving fire - both on foot and in vehicles, in both grass and forest environments.

Firefighters and the human factor

Investigations into accidents or near miss events on the fireground mostly focus on finding out the details of what happened, with relatively little consideration given to the thoughts and mental processes driving the firefighters’ decisions.

High country bushfire lab

A unique mobile laboratory is measuring greenhouse gases in Australia’s high country. The fully-self contained laboratory is housed within a 4WD vehicle and trailer and includes sophisticated scientific equipment that takes continuous measurements of CO2, CH4 and N2O emissions 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Review prompts change to smoke alarm advice

A research review commissioned by the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre has identified some important differences in the performance of different types of smoke alarms.

Tue, 13/08/2013

An incredible journey

Posted: 10 years 5 months ago

After 11 years, we are about to enter the last month of your Bushfire CRC. It has been an incredible journey since 2003.

For me, what has stood out the most, notwithstanding the ground breaking research, is the culture change the industry has undertaken throughout this period. At the heart of this has been the close partnership between the Bushfire CRC and AFAC. The...

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Gary Morgan

CEO

Bushfire CRC

Tools available into the future

Posted: 10 years 5 months ago

There is only a month left of the Bushfire CRC, but there is plenty of activity going on. The Research to Drive Change series has been launched, with two successful online forums held. Keep your eyes peeled to the...

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Nathan Maddock

Communications Officer

Bushfire CRC

Recent FireNotes

Model Pinpoints Factors Driving Extreme Bushfire Behaviour

Fire Note 137: In the 2003 Canberra bushfires, a number of unusual fires were observed in which bushfire spread sideways in a diagonal or crosswise direction to...

Assessing Smoke Exposure from Bushfires and Prescribed Burns

Fire Note 136: This Fire Note reports in more detail on the smoke dispersion modelling work undertaken as part of the Fire Impact and Risk Evaluation...

New Modelling Methods to Estimate Smoke Exposure

Fire Note 135: This Fire Note details research that estimates toxic emissions commonly encountered by firefighters extinguishing fires in semi-rural communities...

Anxiety and Worry Linked with Lower Bushfire Preparedness: Study

Fire Note 134: This Fire Note outlines research undertaken within the bushfire-prone communities of Roleystone and Kelmscott in the Perth Hills, about 45 minutes...

National study profiles bushfire preparedness

Fire Note 133: The national research featured in this Fire Note investigated the community and householder characteristics that contribute to bushfire preparedness in...

Prepared for action: new tools and insights

Fire Note 132: Offers a new way of thinking about bushfire preparedness and its measurement. The study defines preparedness in terms of three householder goals: stay and defend...

Study captures insights on bushfire risk and response

Fire Note 131: In October 2013, bushfires swept across parts of New South Wales, leaving a trail of destruction and loss. The NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) commissioned the...

Fire In the landscape, assessing the impact

Fire Note 130: Features the findings of four research projects on the impact of fire on water quantity and quality, as well as changing carbon stores (above and below the ground...

LATEST NEWS

Cars put to the test in bushfire conditions

Bushfire fatalities have long been a major concern for fire agencies and it has been the death of people in vehicles that has come under particular attention in recent years.

Mallee bushfires - Ngarkat burns attract widespread research

The mallee and heath landscape of Ngarkat Conservation Park in south-eastern South Australia has been deliberately set alight in one of the largest and most comprehensive fire research exercises undertaken in Australia.

Changes of wind and fire

Wind change matters to fire managers. It can change bushfire activity in a moment, shifting the flank of the fire to the fire front, suddenly putting fire fighters and communities at risk. A change in wind can also change the rate of fire spread, increase the quantity, distance and direction of downstream spotting, and change the safety status of residents and townships in a flash.

Managing the Bushfire Risk

A perennial challenge in the management of fire is to strike a balance between the relative costs of bushfire mitigation, and the related losses incurred by the community.

Fire fighter volunteers - How can we keep them, and keep them safe?

La Trobe University scientists are playing important roles in the new Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) established to improve all aspects of preventing and fighting bushfires. The Federal Minister for Science, Peter McGauran, launched the new CRC—one of a number financed by the Federal Government to bring together researchers in many organisations working in the same field— in Melbourne on 9 December.

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