Threat of Australian bushfires set to increase: report

The number of bushfires that threaten Western Australia (WA) is set to increase, studies from the Climate Council revealed on Tuesday.

The report, titled The Heat Is On, detailed that if carbon emissions were not effectively managed and reduced, the state's fire risk days could double by the year 2090.

The report's co-author Prof. Lesley Hughes said there lies clear danger for the state going forward and that being proactive could it from devastation.

"Climate change is driving up the incidence of extreme fire danger weather," she told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

"With increasing hot days and the increased dryness of the fuel load, we will undoubtedly keep seeing the trends towards longer, more dangerous and hotter bushfire seasons.

"We need to be resourcing our emergency services and our health services in particular to be prepared."

The report also recommended that the number of firefighters be doubled before 2030 in order for the state to effectively combat fires during high risk seasons.

Further data released by the report detailed that nine of the 10 hottest years in Western Australia's history have occurred since 1991, but Hughes said the effects of climate change will not only affect WA, but the rest of Australia as well.

"We are heading towards a future where it is even hotter than it is today, where the incidence of extreme events is increasing, whether it be tropical cyclone intensities, bushfires, droughts, flooding, all of those extreme events that have major impacts and Australia is particularly vulnerable to those impacts.

"Eventually if we don't turn the climate around to something that's safe and stable, there will be many parts of Australia that will become unlivable."

A statement from the office of federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt said the government is "investing 2 billion U.S dollars to reduce Australia's emissions". Endi