NewKerala.com

7 Million Australians Face High Wildfire Risk in Urban Fringe Areas

A report by the Climate Council and Emergency Leaders for Climate Action warns that nearly 7 million Australians living on the outskirts of major cities are in areas highly exposed to catastrophic wildfires. It states these urban fringes share dangerous characteristics with the conditions that fueled the destructive Los Angeles wildfires. The analysis found that up to 90% of Australian homes in these high-risk zones were built before modern bushfire-resilient standards. Former fire commissioner Greg Mullins emphasized that climate pollution is intensifying fire weather to sometimes surpass modern firefighting capabilities.

Key Points: 7 Million Australians in High-Risk Wildfire Zones: Report

  • 6.9M live in high-risk urban fringes
  • Risk similar to destructive LA wildfires
  • 90% of at-risk homes built before modern standards
  • Climate pollution worsening fire conditions
2 min read

Almost 7 million Australians living in areas most exposed to deadly wildfires: Report

A new report warns nearly 7 million Australians live in urban fringe areas highly exposed to catastrophic wildfires, citing climate change risks.

"Our analysis shows that Australian cities increasingly face the potential for catastrophic fires like the ones in LA. - Greg Mullins"

Sydney, Jan 6

Almost 7 million Australians are living in areas on the outskirts of major cities that are most exposed to deadly wildfires, a report has found.

The report, which was published on Tuesday by NGOs the Climate Council and Emergency Leaders for Climate Action (ELCA), warned that Australia is increasingly at risk of an urban fire event similar to the January 2025 Los Angeles (LA) wildfires.

It found that the urban fringe on the outskirts of the major cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra shares characteristics that made the LA fires so destructive.

According to the report, the number of Australians living in the outer suburbs of major cities has increased by 65.5 per cent since 2001 to over 6.9 million and up to 90 per cent of Australian homes in high-risk fire zones were built before modern bushfire-resilient standards were introduced, Xinhua news agency reported.

It cited previous research that found 10 per cent of all fires cause 78 per cent of fatalities, with most occurring in suburbs where flammable terrain meets cities.

Greg Mullins, the founder of ELCA and former fire commissioner in the state of New South Wales, said in a statement that nearly every Australian city has a 'dangerous mix' of preconditions for dangerous fires like LA, including the possibility of extreme dry periods, severe winds and a history of destructive fires.

"Our analysis shows that Australian cities increasingly face the potential for catastrophic fires like the ones in LA," he said.

"Climate pollution is now worsening fire weather conditions to the point that fires can sometimes be beyond the limits of modern firefighting and prevention capabilities."

In addition to cutting climate pollution, the report called for emergency service and land management capacity at the urban fringe to be increased as a priority.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Nearly 7 million people at risk! 😨 It's a stark reminder that city planning cannot ignore environmental realities. In Mumbai or Bangalore, we also build right up to hills and forests. Authorities need to enforce stricter building codes and create proper firebreaks.
A
Aman W
The report is right to link it to climate pollution. While Australia faces wildfires, we face extreme monsoons and heatwaves. It's all connected. Developed nations must lead in cutting emissions, but we in India also have a responsibility in our development path.
S
Sarah B
Living in Delhi, I understand the fear of natural disasters made worse by human activity. The statistic about 90% of homes built before modern standards is alarming. Retrofitting and community awareness are as important as new regulations. Stay safe, everyone.
V
Vikram M
A respectful criticism: The article and report focus heavily on the "urban fringe," but what about the rural and tribal communities who often face the brunt of such fires first? Their traditional knowledge of land management is crucial and should be part of the solution, not an afterthought.
K
Karthik V
The increase of 65.5% in population in these areas since 2001 is the key issue. It's the same story everywhere - people moving out for affordable housing, but into high-risk zones. Governments need to provide affordable, safe housing within better-planned city limits.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50