CRC research in magazine's spotlight

A look at what we've learnt and the changes that have been made in the decade since Black Saturday and the new issues that we're facing now is highlighted by CRC research in the latest edition of Fire Australia. 

The second edition of 2019 is now available, with the magazine also looking at the push for fire sprinklers to be in all housing types and the rise of solar panel fires.

CRC CEO Dr Richard Thornton identifies the steps forward that emergency management services have taken since the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009, such as establishing the role of Emergency Management Comissioner, the new ways community information and warnings are distributed and received, the examination of housing codes and building standards and the general significant investment in science research. 

With catastrophic fire conditions experienced for the first time in Queensland and multiple bushfires raging simulatneously, an emergency warning was issued across the state in November 2018. It was then that Queensland Fire and Emergency Services requested the aide of fire prediction and modelling CRC researcher Dr Mika Peace from the Bureau of Meteorlogy to help combat the flames. 

From Risk Frontiers, CRC resercher Andrew Gissing believes that a more community-focused approach is needed when when dealing with natural hazards. Looking at catastrophic disasters and how emergency managers deal with them, Andrew's research has shown that the capabilities of the emergency management sector need to become more all-inclusive rather than seperate. 

Fire Australia is a joint publication of the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, AFAC and the Fire Protection Association Australia. Find this and previous editions of Fire Australia at www.bnhcrc.com.au/news/fire-australia.