"Fear of Fire"
I have talked before about the fire risks in Australia. Now the season for bush fires is approaching there is much talk about it in the news. People start getting twitchy on a dry windy day or if they see a smoke spiral. Many things can start a bush fire commonly lightning strikes and reflected light. Rain is welcomed and there are information bulletins on how best to protect yourselves and your properties. There are total bans on fires outside. Fire wrecks communities, and of course takes lives. Last year Western Australia was badly affected including large areas in the Margaret River region.
This year the predictions are for worse. There has been reasonable rainfall through the spring causing lots of growth to scrub beneath the trees. This growth now green will dry out over the next few months proving masses of tinder for the fires to run wild.
We learned from Glen up in Cairns how the Aborigines have for centuries practised controlled burning to prevent the undergrowth from getting too thick. This is obviously another complex set of problems for this vast and diverse country.
Having experienced flooding first hand (which can also be a huge problem in Australia) I think fire would be far far worse - an absolutely terrifying prospect.