Originally Posted by
kev_laline
There is a simple reason the fires are so big.
One word - FUEL.
No, three words: the fire triangle contains fuel, heat and oxygen...remove anyone of these and there is no fire.
We add water to fires to reduce the temperature and high water content in fuels inhibits combustion by keeping the fuel temperature down. FMC is desperately low this season due to ongoing drought, high temperatures (record-breaking everywhere) and strong winds so fuels are extremely volatile.
Fuel loads are high; no doubt about it. But it’s been bloody hard to do fuel reduction burns responsibly in conditions pertaining last few years. They need to be done late Autumn if possible because the winter rains reduces stress losses which just mean more fuel as trees and shrubs die as occurs often with Spring burns. We can’t do much about the oxygen (just look at all the uniformed commentary), but the world just might be able to do something about the temperatures if everyone turns their minds to it.