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Smoke in the air as Australia’s fire crews prepare for the return of El Niño | Environment | The Guardian

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Climate change has lengthened fire seasons and limited chances for hazard reduction burns, leaving authorities racing the clock before risky weather hits L ast week, people living around Darwin and Brisbane could see and smell the smoke in the air. It’s an experience that will be mirrored across the country in the coming weeks as fire authorities and land managers carry out hundreds of controlled burns. Climate change has already lengthened Australia’s fire seasons, with higher temperatures driving an increase in riskier fire weather. And with the landscape full of fuel after three wet La Niña summers, the risk of severe bushfires may rise if the predicted El Niño is realised, bringing hot and dry conditions. “It’s uncharted territory if we get a big El Niño,” says Greg Mullins, the former New South Wales fire commissioner. The three years of wet weather has also meant three years of reduced hazard reduction burning, he says. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon

The Australian landscape is full of fuel following three wet La Niña summers that limited opportunities for controlled burns. Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images View image in fullscreen The Australian landscape is full of fuel following three wet La Niña summers that limited opportunities for controlled burns. Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images Environment This article is more than 3 years old Smoke in the air as Australia’s fire crews prepare for the return of El Niño This article is more than 3 years old Climate change has lengthened fire seasons and limited chances for hazard reduction burn

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