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As bushfires burn throughout Australia virtually all year round, the role of the firefighter remains a difficult one. With an ever expanding rural-urban interface, firefighters are often involved in protecting property and apart from the intense heat and physical demands, firefighters may also be exposed to bushfire smoke that contains a cocktail of volatile compounds.
A James Cook University study investigating Sudanese refugees and their knowledge of fire safety has won a Safer Communities Award from Emergency Management Australia (EMA). “The Sudanese Refugees and Fire Hazard Study”, a collaboration between Bushfire CRC researchers at JCU and the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service, was conducted in Toowoomba, which is home to about 800 Sudanese refugees.
Emergency service volunteers and their partners or spouses are being asked to comment on how their volunteer community role fits in with their family life.
For vegetation fires, what activities does a volunteer tanker-based firefighter do in an average day’s work? A question that is the focus of the study being undertaken by Bushfire CRC researchers Dr Brad Aisbett and PhD student Matthew Phillips from Deakin University, assisted by the Tasmania Fire Service (TFS), Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service and Forestry Tasmania.
Bushfires are only one focus of a new book out of the Centre for Disaster Studies at James Cook University in Townsville.
Eucalypts are arguably the defining feature of Australia’s flora. There are more than 800 species of eucalypts and their range in Australia extends from sub-alpine areas, through wet and dry coastal forests, to temperate woodlands and the arid inland. There are only about 12 species of eucalypt that occur naturally outside Australia, and only two species are not found in Australia.
Above normal bushfire potential is predicted for much of Australia over the coming months, according to the first national assessment from climatologists, meteorologists and fire agency staff.
Many wildland firefighter deaths and injuries in Australia and overseas have resulted from firefighters being surprised and overtaken by a fast-moving fire - both on foot and in vehicles, in both grass and forest environments.

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In the media...

Hawksbury Gazette
Wed, 11/09/2013
Newcastle Herald
Wed, 11/09/2013
Midland Express
Wed, 11/09/2013
Mandurah Mail
Wed, 11/09/2013
Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Weekly
Tue, 10/09/2013
Sydney Morning Herald
Tue, 10/09/2013
Hawksbury Gazette
Tue, 10/09/2013
Sydney Morning Herald
Tue, 10/09/2013
Brisbane Times
Tue, 10/09/2013
Seven News
Mon, 09/09/2013
Climate Spectator
Fri, 06/09/2013

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Posted: 9 years 9 months ago

After 11 years, we are about to enter the last month of your Bushfire CRC. It has been an incredible journey since 2003.

For me, what has stood out the most, notwithstanding the ground breaking research, is the culture change the industry has undertaken throughout this period. At the heart of this has been the close partnership between the Bushfire CRC and AFAC. The...

Posted: 9 years 9 months ago

There is only a month left of the Bushfire CRC, but there is plenty of activity going on. The Research to Drive Change series has been launched, with two successful online forums held. Keep your eyes peeled to the...

Nathan Maddock's picture
Communications Officer

Recent FireNotes

Fire Note 137: In the 2003 Canberra bushfires, a number of unusual fires were observed in which bushfire spread sideways in a diagonal or crosswise direction to...

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