Bushfires
‘Horrible mistake’: residents thought cataclysmic fire was days away
There are calls for the bushfire inquiry to examine why a backburn was lit and then given the name of a distant fire.
- by Harriet Alexander
Latest
Exclusive
NSW budget
$598m boost to national park firefighters, radio networks after Black Summer bushfires
A further $93.7 million in the state budget will go towards a climate change adaptation strategy embedding risk assessments and planning for floods, drought and bushfires across government.
- by Lucy Cormack
Analysis
Climate policy
After a decade in the freezer, climate voices welcomed back to Canberra
Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen’s first meeting was designed to send a clear message that the government is serious about its climate policy.
- by Nick O'Malley
Mega, giga, terafire: New language to capture monster blazes
The term ‘megafire’ has been around since 2005. Now, an Australian team has defined it, while coining new terms for the more extreme blazes of our changing climate.
- by Peter de Kruijff
Greg lost his home in the Black Summer bushfires. Now he’s building one that’s disaster-proof
The Bushfire Building Council of Australia has developed free architectural-designed plans to protect your house. Just lock up and leave, the house will look after itself.
- by Julie Power
‘Wow, she wanted to meet us’: Widow of firefighter touched by Princess Anne’s kindness
Melissa O’Dwyer was surprised to discover that Princess Anne had wanted to meet her for two years since her husband died in the Green Wattle Creek blaze in the December 2019 bushfires.
- by Julie Power
Editorial
Australia votes
Exhausting three years have brought home to us all the power of a vote
Australians must use the next few weeks to inform themselves about the candidates on their ballot papers - because who knows what decisions the next government will be asked to make on our behalf.
- The Herald's View
WA government denies fire boss power to veto ‘undefendable’ property developments
Should the DFES Commissioner be given the power to veto new property subdivisions in high bushfire risk areas? One group opposed to the development of a new subdivision in the Perth Hills by powerful property developer Nigel Satterly says yes.
- by Sarah Brookes
Devastated by bushfires, one town let the cameras in as they rebuilt
It’s hard to imagine anything positive could come from the 2019-20 fires, but a new documentary filmed over two years is showing otherwise.
- by Debi Enker
Prescription burns actively increase bushfire risk, says WA researcher
A researcher who analysed 50 years of South West blazes says more forest should be left to “self-thin” to lower the risk of fires but authorities say otherwise.
- by Peter de Kruijff
‘What do we say to people? They still need help’: Bushfire first responder service at risk
A free trauma service for first responders to bushfires, floods and other disasters has been told its $4 million funding won’t be renewed.
- by James Massola