Grasslands a huge bushfire risk
Monday, 29/08/2011
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The Bushfire Co-operative Research Centre warns conditions are right for a huge bushfire season through inland Australia.
While the La Nina weather pattern brought drought-breaking rains, it also helped grasslands grow to shoulder height.
That means a lot of fuel growth all the way from WA’s Kimberley to the Victorian Mallee.
Gary Morgan, from the Bushfire CRC, says it’s the grasslands at risk this year, rather than the forests.
“We’ve gone from a El Nino to a La Nina. In an El Nino, the forested estate of Australia becomes very dry,” he said.
“When we go to La Nina, we have more rainfall, and that heavy rainfall means the forested environment is less likely to have average to normal fire activity.”
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