Nature of Bushfires
Bushfires are natural hazards. However, since almost every time there is a bush fire it affects pretty much everything, it is most commonly known as a natural disaster.
There are 4 types of fires; back burning, grass fires, house fires and bush fires, with bush fires being in a league of their own.
They are out of control back burning, but don't put themselves out like grass fires and cannot be contained like house fires. Bush fires are definitely the most deadly and dangerous type of fire in the world.
Bushfires in Australia are quite severe, as eucalyptus trees contain massive amounts of oil in their leaves, which burn fast, extremely flammable and become incredibly hot. A common characteristic of bush fires are being slow but hot. They're erratic and unpredictable, and can easily change direction at any given time.
They are characterized by being common in dry areas with dry tinder and undergrowth. Even though they can be found in grasslands, they are most common in eucalyptus bushland, something common to Australia.
Crown fires are a sub type of bushfire; where bushfires get so hot that they jump and move through the tree-tops.
Bush fires tend to be more intense because of all the eucalyptus oil in the leaves. Once it reaches boiling point, it explodes and spreads the fire.
Australia have a couple things that make it the country most prone to bushfires:
Sadly, Global warming is causing the frequency and severity of bushfires in Australia to increase dramatically, which more chance of extreme fire risk.
There are 4 types of fires; back burning, grass fires, house fires and bush fires, with bush fires being in a league of their own.
They are out of control back burning, but don't put themselves out like grass fires and cannot be contained like house fires. Bush fires are definitely the most deadly and dangerous type of fire in the world.
Bushfires in Australia are quite severe, as eucalyptus trees contain massive amounts of oil in their leaves, which burn fast, extremely flammable and become incredibly hot. A common characteristic of bush fires are being slow but hot. They're erratic and unpredictable, and can easily change direction at any given time.
They are characterized by being common in dry areas with dry tinder and undergrowth. Even though they can be found in grasslands, they are most common in eucalyptus bushland, something common to Australia.
Crown fires are a sub type of bushfire; where bushfires get so hot that they jump and move through the tree-tops.
Bush fires tend to be more intense because of all the eucalyptus oil in the leaves. Once it reaches boiling point, it explodes and spreads the fire.
Australia have a couple things that make it the country most prone to bushfires:
- Eucalypti litter being coarse and decaying slowly, meaning that after several years there will be enough build-up to fuel and spread the next fire.
- The bark of many types of trees are flammable and loosely attached, making it ideal for flames to carry across and spread.
Sadly, Global warming is causing the frequency and severity of bushfires in Australia to increase dramatically, which more chance of extreme fire risk.
Location
Bushfires are mainly located inland, away from the coast. However, in Australia, pretty much everywhere is vulnerable. The fire seasons vary in the location of the area.
The hotter seasons in Australia are when bush fires occur the most. For a majority of southern Australia, the danger period is summer and autumn. In New South Wales and southern Queensland, the bush fire risk is usually in spring and early summer. The Northern Territory has most of its fires in winter and spring.
The whole of Australia is vulnerable to bush fires due to the hot climate, low rainfall and natural vegetation that can be used as fuel.
The bushfire threat occurs at different times of the year, due to latitude. Temperature and climate are influenced by latitude. In the northern areas of Australia, the dry season makes fires more common in the months of winter and spring. In the south, fires are more common in the summer, where it gets extremely hot.
The hotter seasons in Australia are when bush fires occur the most. For a majority of southern Australia, the danger period is summer and autumn. In New South Wales and southern Queensland, the bush fire risk is usually in spring and early summer. The Northern Territory has most of its fires in winter and spring.
The whole of Australia is vulnerable to bush fires due to the hot climate, low rainfall and natural vegetation that can be used as fuel.
The bushfire threat occurs at different times of the year, due to latitude. Temperature and climate are influenced by latitude. In the northern areas of Australia, the dry season makes fires more common in the months of winter and spring. In the south, fires are more common in the summer, where it gets extremely hot.