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Higher density population's likely explaining frequency of Australia's wildfires: study

Xinhua, December 11, 2015 Adjust font size:

Higher density populations are likely key to explaining the Australia's wildfires as new research shows humans have started the vast majority of the deadly beasts.

Official data of more than 130,000 bushfires, or wildfires between 1997 and 2009 in the New South Wales and Victoria states, compiled by researchers from the University of Wollongong, show that of the 69 percent of fires that have known causes, 87 percent of those were stared by humans.

The researchers then created an ignition density value -- average annual wildfires per 1,000 square kilometres -- and compared determinant factors including population density, vegetation, climate records, lightening strikes and elevation.

"The higher the population density the more ignitions you get," lead author and wildfire researcher Kathryn Collins told Australia's national broadcaster on Friday.

Of the wildfires with known causes, 47 percent were determined accidental due to cigarettes, escaped burn-offs and campfires, 40 percent were deliberately lit while 13 percent were from lighting strikes, such as the recent fires in Western Australia that killed four people.

Collins said researchers have suspected humans were responsible for most wildfires, however this study - published in the International Journal of Wildland Fire - is the first to officially quantify the link.

The research comes as New South Wales is again put on high alert for wildfires as hot and windy conditions bombard the state in what has already been a busy and dangerous season from the hot and dry conditions created by the current El Nino weather pattern.

As part of seasonal precautions, authorities impose fire bans across parts of the country and lay significant penalties upon those convicted of arson which starts a wildfire.

Over 4,000 homes and other structures were destroyed in one of Australia's most significant incidents, the "Black Saturday" wildfires of 2009, which saw 179 people killed, injuring 400 others.

Then Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd labelled the loss of life as "mass murder" after it was revealed some of the fires had been deliberately lit. Enditem