Goodnight.

https://www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au/map/Pages/default.aspx

https://m.gympietimes.com.au/news/fire-update-seven-crews-fighting-cooloola-campgrou/3589464/

News services don’t seem to have much on the topic since 7 pm. I guess they don’t chase news on Sunday nights.

PermeateFree said:

mollwollfumble said:

sibeen said:

It always surprises me the people who want to stay and fight. In Victoria a lot of people changed their mind after Black Saturday. Now the general feeling is ‘run away’. Give it twenty years or so, the memories will fade, and people will want to stay and fight.

Before Black Saturday, CSIRO was advising people to stay and fight. And it was the right advice, until the Greens got voted in to the local councils.

The CSIRO advice didn’t take into account that the councils run by the Greens had stopped backburning and were fining people $20,000 for the simple act of clearing a firebreak around their house.

Without backburning and firebreaks, a huge loss of life was inevitable.

I think you have distorted the situation. The $20,000 fine was for someone who cleared his entire block of trees, it was not simply clearing a firebreak around the building. If these people are so frightened to live in the bush, then they should live in a city, instead they move to a pleasant treed area with wildlife and destroy it to make it just like the city.

A person who was fined $20,000 later said it was the best investment in his life. His house was the only one in his neighbourhood to survive the Black Saturday fire. The fine should have been on those people who didn’t clear the trees around their house.

mollwollfumble said:

PermeateFree said:

mollwollfumble said:

Before Black Saturday, CSIRO was advising people to stay and fight. And it was the right advice, until the Greens got voted in to the local councils.

The CSIRO advice didn’t take into account that the councils run by the Greens had stopped backburning and were fining people $20,000 for the simple act of clearing a firebreak around their house.

Without backburning and firebreaks, a huge loss of life was inevitable.

I think you have distorted the situation. The $20,000 fine was for someone who cleared his entire block of trees, it was not simply clearing a firebreak around the building. If these people are so frightened to live in the bush, then they should live in a city, instead they move to a pleasant treed area with wildlife and destroy it to make it just like the city.

A person who was fined $20,000 later said it was the best investment in his life. His house was the only one in his neighbourhood to survive the Black Saturday fire. The fine should have been on those people who didn’t clear the trees around their house.

The point is though that clearing around the farmhouse is one thing but filling the forest with city dwellers is different.

mollwollfumble said:

News services don’t seem to have much on the topic since 7 pm. I guess they don’t chase news on Sunday nights.

Skeleton staff only on weekends.

mollwollfumble said:

https://www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au/map/Pages/default.aspx

https://m.gympietimes.com.au/news/fire-update-seven-crews-fighting-cooloola-campgrou/3589464/

News services don’t seem to have much on the topic since 7 pm. I guess they don’t chase news on Sunday nights.

The short Gympie Times article is about the nearest fire to us. The photo is of the Tinnanbar Fire, which had potential to destroy a nearby (65 km by road, 15 km by crow) village but didn’t, with the brilliant work of the firies.

>The CSIRO advice didn’t take into account that the councils run by the Greens had stopped backburning and were fining people $20,000 for the simple act of clearing a firebreak around their house.

comic imaginings of issuing koalas with fire extinguishers

transition said:

comic imaginings of issuing koalas with fire extinguishers

LOL.

There is a scene in the 1980 movie “The Gods Must Be Crazy” where a rhino acts as a “self-appointed fire prevention officer” of the bush. Noticing that a human has started a small camp flame, the rhino rushes in and quickly stamps it out. (You might’ve seen an homage to the scene on an episode of “The Simpsons” when a stampeding rhino changes course to put out a fire.) All this makes sense — as everyone knows — because rhinos have a strict “safety first” motto. Clearly, they’re the right animal to have by your side when you’ve set the roast on fire in the oven, but a real drag during your bonfire. Do not invite the rhino to your Guy Fawkes Night bash.

Only one problem. While this behavior is the stuff of legend, it seems to be strictly myth. And in fact, the legend is possibly quite different from the one that entertains us on the screen. In a 1974 survey of scientific literature on the rhinoceros, there is a mention of the Burmese belief that the rhino was attracted to campfires. But it’s important to note that these tales are pretty much just that: stories passed along by indigenous groups. Nobody has actually seen rhinos attack a fire with any gusto.

On the web you can find cartoons of animals holding fire extinguishers. Lion, hippo, donkey, cow, but not a koala.

From 25 minutes ago.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-03/queensland-bushfire-crisis-continues-into-second-week/10573460

It is set to be another heavy day for firefighters in Queensland with more than 100 bushfires burning across the state, and very hot conditions exacerbating the fire threat.

The main area of concern today is around Deepwater and Baffle Creek in Central Queensland and at North Stradbroke Island.

Yeah, the smoke around here is from the North Straddie Fire.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-03/paul-sherwen-dies/10576320

Fuckity fuck

sibeen said:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-03/paul-sherwen-dies/10576320

Fuckity fuck

Very sad, now he & Phil will never narrate the Tour again. I was lamenting their absence with each Tour and now it’s all over.

I would have thought he was older than 62. Wonder what happened.

sibeen said:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-03/paul-sherwen-dies/10576320

Fuckity fuck

Never heard of him until now.

Never heard of the stingray zookeeper victim until he died either.

Bubblecar said:

sibeen said:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-03/paul-sherwen-dies/10576320

Fuckity fuck

Very sad, now he & Phil will never narrate the Tour again. I was lamenting their absence with each Tour and now it’s all over.

I would have thought he was older than 62. Wonder what happened.

I’m tipping cancer. Ex pro cyclists have a +8yr life expectancy, so he’s a long way below the curve.

mollwollfumble said:

PermeateFree said:

mollwollfumble said:

Before Black Saturday, CSIRO was advising people to stay and fight. And it was the right advice, until the Greens got voted in to the local councils.

The CSIRO advice didn’t take into account that the councils run by the Greens had stopped backburning and were fining people $20,000 for the simple act of clearing a firebreak around their house.

Without backburning and firebreaks, a huge loss of life was inevitable.

I think you have distorted the situation. The $20,000 fine was for someone who cleared his entire block of trees, it was not simply clearing a firebreak around the building. If these people are so frightened to live in the bush, then they should live in a city, instead they move to a pleasant treed area with wildlife and destroy it to make it just like the city.

A person who was fined $20,000 later said it was the best investment in his life. His house was the only one in his neighbourhood to survive the Black Saturday fire. The fine should have been on those people who didn’t clear the trees around their house.

Living within a natural environment makes a life worth living and is worth the risk of wildfires, which I might add for most, would be extremely low. Why don’t these people go and live in a paddock instead of ruining the environment for everyone and everything else. They obviously have no idea of what they are missing and deserve no better.

> Living within a natural environment makes a life worth living

If it doesn’t have massive bushfires, it’s not the natural environment, is it.

Every year, about 1/5 of Australia burns. More often up north, less often down south.

—————
3 hours ago. Courier Mail.

PREPARE TO LEAVE: Lowmead; Captain Creek

STAY INFORMED: Round Hill; Oyster Creek; Northern Curtis Island; Eungella (including Dalrymple Heights, Broken River, Eungella Crediton); Mount Fox; North Stradbroke Island; Undullah; Deepwater; Baffle Creek; Rules Beach: Winfield; Cooloola; Karara; Rungoo; Carmila; East Feluga; Edmonton

115 fires still burning in Queensland. 527,000 hectares destroyed across the state.

Two more central Queensland localities have been told to prepare to leave as unpredictable conditions pose a challenge, for residents of Lowmead and Captain Creek by the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services at 10.45am and 2.50pm respectively, with the QFES saying conditions could worsen.

The blaze on Stradbroke Island could spread to Russell Island today because of a forecast wind change.

https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/weather/bushfires-central-queensland-residents-told-to-leave-stradbroke-island-blaze-could-spread/news-story/967168fe0324dd67c6a6ce21fa6a6f96

mollwollfumble said:

> Living within a natural environment makes a life worth living

If it doesn’t have massive bushfires, it’s not the natural environment, is it.

Every year, about 1/5 of Australia burns. More often up north, less often down south.

—————
3 hours ago. Courier Mail.

PREPARE TO LEAVE: Lowmead; Captain Creek

STAY INFORMED: Round Hill; Oyster Creek; Northern Curtis Island; Eungella (including Dalrymple Heights, Broken River, Eungella Crediton); Mount Fox; North Stradbroke Island; Undullah; Deepwater; Baffle Creek; Rules Beach: Winfield; Cooloola; Karara; Rungoo; Carmila; East Feluga; Edmonton

115 fires still burning in Queensland. 527,000 hectares destroyed across the state.

Two more central Queensland localities have been told to prepare to leave as unpredictable conditions pose a challenge, for residents of Lowmead and Captain Creek by the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services at 10.45am and 2.50pm respectively, with the QFES saying conditions could worsen.

The blaze on Stradbroke Island could spread to Russell Island today because of a forecast wind change.

https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/weather/bushfires-central-queensland-residents-told-to-leave-stradbroke-island-blaze-could-spread/news-story/967168fe0324dd67c6a6ce21fa6a6f96

I think you purposely ignore information and just promote your own regardless. Most bushfires are started by lightning strikes and most of those would be grass fires, nevertheless I would be most interested to know more about your quote of “Every year, about 1/5 of Australia burns.” Personally, I don’t believe it.

mollwollfumble said:

> Living within a natural environment makes a life worth living

If it doesn’t have massive bushfires, it’s not the natural environment, is it.

Every year, about 1/5 of Australia burns. More often up north, less often down south.

—————
3 hours ago. Courier Mail.

PREPARE TO LEAVE: Lowmead; Captain Creek

STAY INFORMED: Round Hill; Oyster Creek; Northern Curtis Island; Eungella (including Dalrymple Heights, Broken River, Eungella Crediton); Mount Fox; North Stradbroke Island; Undullah; Deepwater; Baffle Creek; Rules Beach: Winfield; Cooloola; Karara; Rungoo; Carmila; East Feluga; Edmonton

115 fires still burning in Queensland. 527,000 hectares destroyed across the state.

Two more central Queensland localities have been told to prepare to leave as unpredictable conditions pose a challenge, for residents of Lowmead and Captain Creek by the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services at 10.45am and 2.50pm respectively, with the QFES saying conditions could worsen.

The blaze on Stradbroke Island could spread to Russell Island today because of a forecast wind change.

https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/weather/bushfires-central-queensland-residents-told-to-leave-stradbroke-island-blaze-could-spread/news-story/967168fe0324dd67c6a6ce21fa6a6f96

We are certainly staying informed about the Cooloola fire. They had a water bomber working on it today, which I think has suppressed it a bit. We’ll be sleeping with the outside light on again tonight, in case the Police need to tell us to go.

Lots of tiny pieces of white ash covering every surface in the house. After the fires are finished, we’ll have to do another spring clean. Only finished the last one last week…

https://newatlas.com/autonomous-air-tanker-firefighting/53029/

No new news.

mollwollfumble said:

No new news.

I knew that.

mollwollfumble said:

No new news.

We had a good lot of rain this afternoon and evening – possibly 25 mm. Hopefully that’s extinguished the fire near here. It’ll take a few days to know, I guess. They downgraded the fire warning from yellow to white.

The rain was quite widespread over the eastern part of southern to central Qld.

Read all about each fire here:

https://www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au/map/Pages/default.aspx

Michael V said:

mollwollfumble said:

No new news.

We had a good lot of rain this afternoon and evening – possibly 25 mm. Hopefully that’s extinguished the fire near here. It’ll take a few days to know, I guess. They downgraded the fire warning from yellow to white.

The rain was quite widespread over the eastern part of southern to central Qld.

Read all about each fire here:

https://www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au/map/Pages/default.aspx

Yes. Throughout N and Central Qld the fires have been downgraded due to rain.

https://www.news.com.au/national/queensland/fire-threat-in-queensland-eases-thanks-to-rain/news-story/27968ec8f51e08198bc15a823d3452ff

The gold coast fire is no longer a threat.

Stradbroke fire blog.
https://news.redland.qld.gov.au/2018/12/north-stradbroke-island-fire-rolling-blog-latest-update/

12.00pm Thursday 6 December 2018

Overnight crews continued to extinguish residual hot spots and were able to report the fire intensity is low. Patrols and monitoring will be ongoing as the fire will continue to smoulder in the south-eastern end of the swamp over the next week.

So it looks like it’s all but over.

Michael V said:

mollwollfumble said:

No new news.

We had a good lot of rain this afternoon and evening – possibly 25 mm. Hopefully that’s extinguished the fire near here. It’ll take a few days to know, I guess. They downgraded the fire warning from yellow to white.

The rain was quite widespread over the eastern part of southern to central Qld.

Read all about each fire here:

https://www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au/map/Pages/default.aspx

The only serious fire now is SSW of Brisbane, and there’s no immediate threat.

Now it’s time for the other states.

http://myfirewatch.landgate.wa.gov.au

sarahs mum said:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-06/extreme-heatwave-from-northern-wa-to-melbourne-adelaide/10590776

—-

47. Far out.

mollwollfumble said:

sarahs mum said:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-06/extreme-heatwave-from-northern-wa-to-melbourne-adelaide/10590776

—-

47. Far out.

Took the dogs to a park in Esperance two weeks ago and met a woman from Tasmania with a long haired collie like dog. They were going to stay with a brother in Kununurra (far northern WA). I hope they were not planning on staying in this heat, although I suspect it was a Christmas Holiday type trip.

PermeateFree said:

mollwollfumble said:

sarahs mum said:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-06/extreme-heatwave-from-northern-wa-to-melbourne-adelaide/10590776

—-

47. Far out.

Took the dogs to a park in Esperance two weeks ago and met a woman from Tasmania with a long haired collie like dog. They were going to stay with a brother in Kununurra (far northern WA). I hope they were not planning on staying in this heat, although I suspect it was a Christmas Holiday type trip.

Poor doggo.

sarahs mum said:

PermeateFree said:

mollwollfumble said:

Took the dogs to a park in Esperance two weeks ago and met a woman from Tasmania with a long haired collie like dog. They were going to stay with a brother in Kununurra (far northern WA). I hope they were not planning on staying in this heat, although I suspect it was a Christmas Holiday type trip.

Poor doggo.

*considers a second gin.

sarahs mum said:

sarahs mum said:

PermeateFree said:

Took the dogs to a park in Esperance two weeks ago and met a woman from Tasmania with a long haired collie like dog. They were going to stay with a brother in Kununurra (far northern WA). I hope they were not planning on staying in this heat, although I suspect it was a Christmas Holiday type trip.

Poor doggo.

*considers a second gin.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-07/indian-ocean-dipole-dominant-cause-drought/10571802

sarahs mum said:

PermeateFree said:

mollwollfumble said:

Took the dogs to a park in Esperance two weeks ago and met a woman from Tasmania with a long haired collie like dog. They were going to stay with a brother in Kununurra (far northern WA). I hope they were not planning on staying in this heat, although I suspect it was a Christmas Holiday type trip.

Poor doggo.

Speaking of poor doggies and sorry for the sadness of it all, but it proves that it doesn’t have to be very hot to kill an animal in a car.
An offenders dog was locked in a car for two hours the outside temperate was 27 and it died from heat stress

Bogsnorkler said:

Nails it

Ian said:

Bogsnorkler said:

Nails it

:)

What should we chat about today? Too warm to light the fire, but still nice to sit next to it.

OCDC said:

What should we chat about today? Too warm to light the fire, but still nice to sit next to it.

The human fascination with flickering flames.

OCDC said:

What should we chat about today? Too warm to light the fire, but still nice to sit next to it.

captain_spalding said:

OCDC said:

What should we chat about today? Too warm to light the fire, but still nice to sit next to it.

Can I talk to you about Jesus?

party_pants said:

captain_spalding said:

OCDC said:

What should we chat about today? Too warm to light the fire, but still nice to sit next to it.

Can I talk to you about Jesus?

No.

party_pants said:

captain_spalding said:

OCDC said:

What should we chat about today? Too warm to light the fire, but still nice to sit next to it.

Can I talk to you about Jesus?

Yes. But I’d prefer to talk about fire.

I happened to notice some fire danger areas in Melbourne parks. Lots of unburned dead material in the undergrowth.

Whatever happened to the satellite images that we used to see in previous years?

Lower than average rain here over all five of the past five years. But not very low.

Rain here past few days is the heaviest we’ve had this year.

So what does all this rain imply for fires later in the season?

mollwollfumble said:

party_pants said:

captain_spalding said:

Can I talk to you about Jesus?

Yes. But I’d prefer to talk about fire.

I happened to notice some fire danger areas in Melbourne parks. Lots of unburned dead material in the undergrowth.

Whatever happened to the satellite images that we used to see in previous years?

Lower than average rain here over all five of the past five years. But not very low.

Rain here past few days is the heaviest we’ve had this year.

So what does all this rain imply for fires later in the season?

Here in the tropics it means a big fire season about next September.

mollwollfumble said:

party_pants said:

captain_spalding said:

Can I talk to you about Jesus?

Yes. But I’d prefer to talk about fire.

I happened to notice some fire danger areas in Melbourne parks. Lots of unburned dead material in the undergrowth.

Whatever happened to the satellite images that we used to see in previous years?

Lower than average rain here over all five of the past five years. But not very low.

Rain here past few days is the heaviest we’ve had this year.

So what does all this rain imply for fires later in the season?

Fire risk tends to be a bit of a Hanrahan situation…

Good winter and spring rains means more growth in the understorey and therefore more fuel to burn in summer when it dries out. Lack of rain dries out the fuel load so it burns more vigorously. Seems like there is no ideal weather pattern that makes for a reduced fire risk.

Tamb said:

mollwollfumble said:

party_pants said:

Can I talk to you about Jesus?

Yes. But I’d prefer to talk about fire.

I happened to notice some fire danger areas in Melbourne parks. Lots of unburned dead material in the undergrowth.

Whatever happened to the satellite images that we used to see in previous years?

Lower than average rain here over all five of the past five years. But not very low.

Rain here past few days is the heaviest we’ve had this year.

So what does all this rain imply for fires later in the season?

Here in the tropics it means a big fire season about next September.

Is there any chart / table comparing the fire danger of a wide range of common native trees?

mollwollfumble said:

Tamb said:

mollwollfumble said:

Yes. But I’d prefer to talk about fire.

I happened to notice some fire danger areas in Melbourne parks. Lots of unburned dead material in the undergrowth.

Whatever happened to the satellite images that we used to see in previous years?

Lower than average rain here over all five of the past five years. But not very low.

Rain here past few days is the heaviest we’ve had this year.

So what does all this rain imply for fires later in the season?

Here in the tropics it means a big fire season about next September.

Is there any chart / table comparing the fire danger of a wide range of common native trees?

I haven’t seen one but different vegetation types have been charted.

Tamb said:

mollwollfumble said:

Tamb said:

Here in the tropics it means a big fire season about next September.

Is there any chart / table comparing the fire danger of a wide range of common native trees?

I haven’t seen one but different vegetation types have been charted.

This has a lot of info: https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/1/1/13

Tamb said:

Tamb said:

mollwollfumble said:

Is there any chart / table comparing the fire danger of a wide range of common native trees?

I haven’t seen one but different vegetation types have been charted.

This has a lot of info: https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/1/1/13

Yes it does. But it looks like it’s been written by an engineer rather than a biologist.

A website about flammable plants in California includes the major Australian groups, eucalyptus, mimosa, acacia, Casuarina as fire hazard to avoid, along with cypress, juniper, some but not all pines, pampas grass as found in many Australian gardens including mine.

mollwollfumble said:

Tamb said:

Tamb said:

I haven’t seen one but different vegetation types have been charted.

This has a lot of info: https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/1/1/13

Yes it does. But it looks like it’s been written by an engineer rather than a biologist.

A website about flammable plants in California includes the major Australian groups, eucalyptus, mimosa, acacia, Casuarina as fire hazard to avoid, along with cypress, juniper, some but not all pines, pampas grass as found in many Australian gardens including mine.

Saltbush is useless to boil a billy with.

roughbarked said:

mollwollfumble said:

Tamb said:

This has a lot of info: https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/1/1/13

Yes it does. But it looks like it’s been written by an engineer rather than a biologist.

A website about flammable plants in California includes the major Australian groups, eucalyptus, mimosa, acacia, Casuarina as fire hazard to avoid, along with cypress, juniper, some but not all pines, pampas grass as found in many Australian gardens including mine.

Saltbush is useless to boil a billy with.

Thanks.

Camphor Laurel on the other hand …

party_pants said:

Fire risk tends to be a bit of a Hanrahan situation…

Good winter and spring rains means more growth in the understorey and therefore more fuel to burn in summer when it dries out. Lack of rain dries out the fuel load so it burns more vigorously. Seems like there is no ideal weather pattern that makes for a reduced fire risk.

Yeah, fuel load in kg/m^2^ seems to be the indicator they worry about. Dryness matters, but not as much.

mollwollfumble said:

roughbarked said:

mollwollfumble said:

Yes it does. But it looks like it’s been written by an engineer rather than a biologist.

A website about flammable plants in California includes the major Australian groups, eucalyptus, mimosa, acacia, Casuarina as fire hazard to avoid, along with cypress, juniper, some but not all pines, pampas grass as found in many Australian gardens including mine.

Saltbush is useless to boil a billy with.

Thanks.

Camphor Laurel on the other hand …

Casurinas are baaad. Turpentine trees are worse (The buggers explode)

mollwollfumble said:

roughbarked said:

Saltbush is useless to boil a billy with.

Thanks.

Camphor Laurel on the other hand …

You oughta see Ti Tree go. Hot, fast and dirty.

mollwollfumble said:

roughbarked said:

mollwollfumble said:

Yes it does. But it looks like it’s been written by an engineer rather than a biologist.

A website about flammable plants in California includes the major Australian groups, eucalyptus, mimosa, acacia, Casuarina as fire hazard to avoid, along with cypress, juniper, some but not all pines, pampas grass as found in many Australian gardens including mine.

Saltbush is useless to boil a billy with.

Thanks.

Camphor Laurel on the other hand …

Bananas don’t burn easily.

Rule 303 said:

party_pants said:

Fire risk tends to be a bit of a Hanrahan situation…

Good winter and spring rains means more growth in the understorey and therefore more fuel to burn in summer when it dries out. Lack of rain dries out the fuel load so it burns more vigorously. Seems like there is no ideal weather pattern that makes for a reduced fire risk.

Yeah, fuel load in kg/m^2^ seems to be the indicator they worry about. Dryness matters, but not as much.

It also depends on understory type. For instance we don’t get crown fires here.

Rule 303 said:

party_pants said:

Fire risk tends to be a bit of a Hanrahan situation…

Good winter and spring rains means more growth in the understorey and therefore more fuel to burn in summer when it dries out. Lack of rain dries out the fuel load so it burns more vigorously. Seems like there is no ideal weather pattern that makes for a reduced fire risk.

Yeah, fuel load in kg/m^2^ seems to be the indicator they worry about. Dryness matters, but not as much.

I remember Kingy used to post the fire risk index for his region on the old forum. Seemed like whatever the winter season it was always going to be a bad fire season ahead.

Rule 303 said:

mollwollfumble said:

roughbarked said:

Saltbush is useless to boil a billy with.

Thanks.

Camphor Laurel on the other hand …

You oughta see Ti Tree go. Hot, fast and dirty.

Eucalypts are hard to beat when a crown fire gets started.

party_pants said:

Rule 303 said:

party_pants said:

Fire risk tends to be a bit of a Hanrahan situation…

Good winter and spring rains means more growth in the understorey and therefore more fuel to burn in summer when it dries out. Lack of rain dries out the fuel load so it burns more vigorously. Seems like there is no ideal weather pattern that makes for a reduced fire risk.

Yeah, fuel load in kg/m^2^ seems to be the indicator they worry about. Dryness matters, but not as much.

I remember Kingy used to post the fire risk index for his region on the old forum. Seemed like whatever the winter season it was always going to be a bad fire season ahead.

Yes. Winter grows more grass if it is wet. This grass is dry by November.

roughbarked said:

mollwollfumble said:

Tamb said:

This has a lot of info: https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/1/1/13

Yes it does. But it looks like it’s been written by an engineer rather than a biologist.

A website about flammable plants in California includes the major Australian groups, eucalyptus, mimosa, acacia, Casuarina as fire hazard to avoid, along with cypress, juniper, some but not all pines, pampas grass as found in many Australian gardens including mine.

Saltbush is useless to boil a billy with.

Atriplex is well represented. https://apsvic.org.au/fire-resistant-and-retardant-plants/

party_pants said:

Rule 303 said:

party_pants said:

Fire risk tends to be a bit of a Hanrahan situation…

Good winter and spring rains means more growth in the understorey and therefore more fuel to burn in summer when it dries out. Lack of rain dries out the fuel load so it burns more vigorously. Seems like there is no ideal weather pattern that makes for a reduced fire risk.

Yeah, fuel load in kg/m^2^ seems to be the indicator they worry about. Dryness matters, but not as much.

I remember Kingy used to post the fire risk index for his region on the old forum. Seemed like whatever the winter season it was always going to be a bad fire season ahead.

Heh.

People have been known to make that observation, yes. As for whether it’s true or not…

Confirmation bias is not our friend.

mollwollfumble said:

Tamb said:

mollwollfumble said:

Yes. But I’d prefer to talk about fire.

I happened to notice some fire danger areas in Melbourne parks. Lots of unburned dead material in the undergrowth.

Whatever happened to the satellite images that we used to see in previous years?

Lower than average rain here over all five of the past five years. But not very low.

Rain here past few days is the heaviest we’ve had this year.

So what does all this rain imply for fires later in the season?

Here in the tropics it means a big fire season about next September.

Is there any chart / table comparing the fire danger of a wide range of common native trees?

I’m in catchup. The answer to this is yes. I remember using a booklet some 35 years ago to plan the plantings at Hawkesdale. I remember Hakea salicifolia was fire retardent. I reckon stuff like that came out of the enquiries after the Ash Wednesday fires. I wonder if I still have the booklet (of course the answer to that is probably yes, I don’t dispose of many books, especially useful ones). I’ll have a look for you.

Rule 303 said:

mollwollfumble said:

roughbarked said:

Saltbush is useless to boil a billy with.

Thanks.

Camphor Laurel on the other hand …

You oughta see Ti Tree go. Hot, fast and dirty.

The fireys told us about that when our bush at Digby burnt. They said they knew immediately when the fire got into the teatree area.

buffy said:

Rule 303 said:

mollwollfumble said:

Thanks.

Camphor Laurel on the other hand …

You oughta see Ti Tree go. Hot, fast and dirty.

The fireys told us about that when our bush at Digby burnt. They said they knew immediately when the fire got into the teatree area.

Each of the needles catch fire & are carried upwards only to fall again like it’s raining fire.

buffy said:

Rule 303 said:

mollwollfumble said:

Thanks.

Camphor Laurel on the other hand …

You oughta see Ti Tree go. Hot, fast and dirty.

The fireys told us about that when our bush at Digby burnt. They said they knew immediately when the fire got into the teatree area.

The Myrtaceae family of which eucalpts, tea tree and many others belong have numerous oil glands in their leaves that makes them exceptionally fire prone.

Back in Ye olden days when I was in primary school, the local fire brigade set fire to some nearby bushland. They apparently didn’t realise there were tea trees in the bushland and we were hurried back to the classroom while the fireys tried to bring it under control.

PermeateFree said:

buffy said:

Rule 303 said:

You oughta see Ti Tree go. Hot, fast and dirty.

The fireys told us about that when our bush at Digby burnt. They said they knew immediately when the fire got into the teatree area.

The Myrtaceae family of which eucalpts, tea tree and many others belong have numerous oil glands in their leaves that makes them exceptionally fire prone.

So, I take it that most Australian trees have flammable volatile oils in their leaves.

What natives (other than saltbush) should I plant in order to not catch fire so easily?

mollwollfumble said:

PermeateFree said:

buffy said:

The fireys told us about that when our bush at Digby burnt. They said they knew immediately when the fire got into the teatree area.

The Myrtaceae family of which eucalpts, tea tree and many others belong have numerous oil glands in their leaves that makes them exceptionally fire prone.

So, I take it that most Australian trees have flammable volatile oils in their leaves.

What natives (other than saltbush) should I plant in order to not catch fire so easily?

Aloes are very fire resistant.

Tamb said:

mollwollfumble said:

PermeateFree said:

The Myrtaceae family of which eucalpts, tea tree and many others belong have numerous oil glands in their leaves that makes them exceptionally fire prone.

So, I take it that most Australian trees have flammable volatile oils in their leaves.

What natives (other than saltbush) should I plant in order to not catch fire so easily?

Aloes are very fire resistant.

https://apsvic.org.au/fire-resistant-and-retardant-plants/

For moll. I don’t know if you can get hold of this booklet any more, but it is one put out by the SEC and is not dated. According to the Foreword, “This booklet on tree and shrub planting has been prepared by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria, in conjunction with staff of the Royal Botanic Gardens and National Herbarium and also with Austraflora Nursery, to assist persons who may wish to plant trees in locations close to power lines.” There are two sets of tables, on of native species and one of non-native species. The columns are General, Cultural, Value,Tolerance and Special Uses. In the special uses column there are subcolumns, one of which is “Suitable for Fire Protection”.

It says in the information bit at the start of the booklet: “Fire Protection. Investigation by the Forests Commission of Victoria and others have revealed that homes and other building in bushfire-prone areas can be afforded a greate measure of protection by establishing a dense windbreak of ‘fire resistant’ trees and shrubs within 4-5 height distances away from such buildings. The species marked ‘+’ are those most suited for this purpose, combining several desirable features namely – dense crowns (for reducing wind speeds, filtering out embers and intercepting radiant heat); high water content of leaves; low oil and higher fire resistant chemical composition of the foliage; safe, fire-resistant bark”

And the name of this booklet is “Guide to tree planting near power lines. A description of suitable varieties.”

roughbarked said:

Tamb said:

mollwollfumble said:

So, I take it that most Australian trees have flammable volatile oils in their leaves.

What natives (other than saltbush) should I plant in order to not catch fire so easily?

Aloes are very fire resistant.

https://apsvic.org.au/fire-resistant-and-retardant-plants/

And there is my willow leaved hakea and the boobialla that I planted down there. :)

mollwollfumble said:

PermeateFree said:

buffy said:

The fireys told us about that when our bush at Digby burnt. They said they knew immediately when the fire got into the teatree area.

The Myrtaceae family of which eucalpts, tea tree and many others belong have numerous oil glands in their leaves that makes them exceptionally fire prone.

So, I take it that most Australian trees have flammable volatile oils in their leaves.

What natives (other than saltbush) should I plant in order to not catch fire so easily?

Thought you had cleared all the native vegetation from your block. Do you now intend planting it back again?

roughbarked said:

Tamb said:

mollwollfumble said:

So, I take it that most Australian trees have flammable volatile oils in their leaves.

What natives (other than saltbush) should I plant in order to not catch fire so easily?

Aloes are very fire resistant.

https://apsvic.org.au/fire-resistant-and-retardant-plants/

Nice :-) quoting from that link.

So “Fire Resistant Plants. Plants that will not burn in the face of continued flame”.
Saltbush, bluebush, pigface (no surprise there). Nice to see a Hakea and a Cedar in that list.

“Fire Retardant Plants. Plants that will not burn in the first wave of a bushfire, but may burn once dried out:”.

Lots of acacias there. That’s good. The California website let’s acacias as particularly bad, but that’s probably the African acacias.

Tree fern, fig, grevillea, hibiscus, frangipani, pittosporum, lilly Pilly.

OK. Good.

PermeateFree said:

mollwollfumble said:

PermeateFree said:

The Myrtaceae family of which eucalpts, tea tree and many others belong have numerous oil glands in their leaves that makes them exceptionally fire prone.

So, I take it that most Australian trees have flammable volatile oils in their leaves.

What natives (other than saltbush) should I plant in order to not catch fire so easily?

Thought you had cleared all the native vegetation from your block. Do you now intend planting it back again?

I’m thinking of a block I might inherit.

Liquid Amber is a big question mark there for me as regards fire. And poplar and Norway spruce.

buffy said:

For moll. I don’t know if you can get hold of this booklet any more, but it is one put out by the SEC and is not dated. According to the Foreword, “This booklet on tree and shrub planting has been prepared by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria, in conjunction with staff of the Royal Botanic Gardens and National Herbarium and also with Austraflora Nursery, to assist persons who may wish to plant trees in locations close to power lines.” There are two sets of tables, on of native species and one of non-native species. The columns are General, Cultural, Value,Tolerance and Special Uses. In the special uses column there are subcolumns, one of which is “Suitable for Fire Protection”.

It says in the information bit at the start of the booklet: “Fire Protection. Investigation by the Forests Commission of Victoria and others have revealed that homes and other building in bushfire-prone areas can be afforded a greate measure of protection by establishing a dense windbreak of ‘fire resistant’ trees and shrubs within 4-5 height distances away from such buildings. The species marked ‘+’ are those most suited for this purpose, combining several desirable features namely – dense crowns (for reducing wind speeds, filtering out embers and intercepting radiant heat); high water content of leaves; low oil and higher fire resistant chemical composition of the foliage; safe, fire-resistant bark”

And the name of this booklet is “Guide to tree planting near power lines. A description of suitable varieties.”

Will keep a lookout.

mollwollfumble said:

PermeateFree said:

mollwollfumble said:

So, I take it that most Australian trees have flammable volatile oils in their leaves.

What natives (other than saltbush) should I plant in order to not catch fire so easily?

Thought you had cleared all the native vegetation from your block. Do you now intend planting it back again?

I’m thinking of a block I might inherit.

Liquid Amber is a big question mark there for me as regards fire. And poplar and Norway spruce.

I think Liquid Amber is deciduous so big annual leaf fall.

Tamb said:

mollwollfumble said:

PermeateFree said:

Thought you had cleared all the native vegetation from your block. Do you now intend planting it back again?

I’m thinking of a block I might inherit.

Liquid Amber is a big question mark there for me as regards fire. And poplar and Norway spruce.

I think Liquid Amber is deciduous so big annual leaf fall.

Yeah, a lot of them planted in the New England of NSW and the Granite Belt areas by councils.

mollwollfumble said:

PermeateFree said:

mollwollfumble said:

So, I take it that most Australian trees have flammable volatile oils in their leaves.

What natives (other than saltbush) should I plant in order to not catch fire so easily?

Thought you had cleared all the native vegetation from your block. Do you now intend planting it back again?

I’m thinking of a block I might inherit.

Liquid Amber is a big question mark there for me as regards fire. And poplar and Norway spruce.

Most of the large leaved introduced trees are are fire resistant and are often the only trees left unburnt after fires have gone through.

mollwollfumble said:

roughbarked said:

Tamb said:

Aloes are very fire resistant.

https://apsvic.org.au/fire-resistant-and-retardant-plants/

Nice :-) quoting from that link.

So “Fire Resistant Plants. Plants that will not burn in the face of continued flame”.
Saltbush, bluebush, pigface (no surprise there). Nice to see a Hakea and a Cedar in that list.

“Fire Retardant Plants. Plants that will not burn in the first wave of a bushfire, but may burn once dried out:”.

Lots of acacias there. That’s good. The California website let’s acacias as particularly bad, but that’s probably the African acacias.

Tree fern, fig, grevillea, hibiscus, frangipani, pittosporum, lilly Pilly.

OK. Good.

I good bushie cut green Acacia stick for handling the billy.