Bushfires—How can we avoid the unavoidable?

Classify & Cross-ref
BushfireTopic: 
Community Safety
Risk Management
ResearchAdoption: 
Community safety and engagement
Project Reference: 
Bushfire Arson
TitleBushfires—How can we avoid the unavoidable?
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2005
AuthorsWillis, M
JournalGlobal Environmental Change Part B: Environmental Hazards
Volume6
Issue2
Pagination93 - 99
Date Published2005
AbstractIt is often said that bushfires are a fact of life in Australia. While Australian communities will always be affected by the impacts of bushfires, there is an element of human involvement that makes at least some bushfires avoidable. In Australia more bushfires are started by deliberate lighting than are caused by lightning or other natural sources. This creates an element of criminality in relation to bushfires which includes the establishment of bushfire arson as a serious criminal offence. The author presents a motive-based typology of deliberately lit bushfires and argues that a greater understanding of the reasons why people light bushfires can help prevention, investigation and treatment of offenders.
DOI10.1016/j.hazards.2005.10.001
Short TitleGlobal Environmental Change Part B: Environmental Hazards
Refereed DesignationRefereed