Summer bushfires risk rivals the 1970s
Summer bushfires risk rivals the 1970s
06 October 2011
published by www.abc.net.au
Australia — A scientist warns Australia faces a catastrophic bushfire risk, similar to a summer of the mid-1970s when 15 per cent of the continent went up in flames.
Ahead of this summer, fires have already scorched wide outback regions.
Outback fires in South Australia are now under control or out, but fires are still burning in the Northern Territory.
Retired CSIRO scientist David Packham says a repeat of the summer of 1974-75 is a strong possibility.
“We are in for one big season in these more dry and arid regions, going from sort of the Mallee-type areas of Victoria-South Australia and New South Wales, right up into and around the Alice Springs and further north,” he said.
