23 September 2010

Bushfire season delayed

| johnboy
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The ESA has announced that the start of bushfire season has been delayed by a month to 1 November 2010:

“I can advise that the official bushfire season will now start in the ACT on 1 November 2010, one month later than the usual start date,” Commissioner Crosweller said.

“I have made the decision to adjust the start of the official bushfire danger period after considering current and forecast conditions in the ACT and surrounding region,” he said.

“The official bushfire danger period traditionally runs from 1 October to 31 March each year but under the Emergencies Act 2004, the ACT Emergency Services Commissioner may, in writing, declare a different date to be the beginning or the end of a particular bushfire season.

“Before making the decision, I must also consult with the Bushfire Council which I have done.

“All the indicators suggest that the risk of bushfires occurring during the October – December period is low following a wet winter and early spring.

“The grasslands around the ACT are fully saturated and all farm dams and lakes are full.

“The Canberra water supply has now reached 75%, the highest it has been in 10 years.

“Current weather modelling also suggests that the South Eastern corner of Australia will continue to remain wet until at least the end of spring.

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ConanOfCooma10:41 am 24 Sep 10

Pommy bastard said :

“I can advise that the official bushfire season will now start in the ACT on 1 November 2010

Has anyone informed the bushfi9res they are not to start until that date?

I believe they have sent a letter with reassurances.

davesact said :

To cut a long story short I think the Commissioner should be able to make a decision on when it is appropriate to declare the bushfire season.

You mean like he just did?

The memories of a catastrophic fire event are still fresh in Canberran’s minds. The origins of that seasons events were, along with many other factors, fueled by the longest drought possibly in a century or more. It must be remembered that we have had many other bushfire free years when the weather pattern has maintained any form of normalcy.

Lightning, tinder dry conditions, extended drought, high temprature, intense winds…
these “perfect” conditions that formulated the 2003 fires have I hope been erased for a while and we can return to being a vigilent yet less panicked community with just a little regular (normal) rain.

There are many years in my memory when the Canberra weather was normal. People watered their lawns with abandon and rain was regularly guaranteed. Our generations drought went for so long that people were believing that water restrictions and the weather was normal.

To cut a long story short I think the Commissioner should be able to make a decision on when it is appropriate to declare the bushfire season.

Pommy bastard3:14 pm 23 Sep 10

“I can advise that the official bushfire season will now start in the ACT on 1 November 2010

Has anyone informed the bushfi9res they are not to start until that date?

+2

All that pretty green stuff will dry out and turn yellow sooner or later.

Gonna be plenty to burn by the time it starts to dry a little.

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