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Despite interest in predicting the occurrence of bushfires in Australia, little is known about the relative importance of environmental factors and their interaction in determining fire frequency. In particular, human aspects of the environment and their relationship to fire have been the subject of little research. Recently completed research (Davidson 2006) looked at several environmental factors and their effect on unplanned fires in the Sydney basin.

Fires that are lit on high fire danger days are larger, more intense and more difficult to control than on other days. Although there is little conclusive evidence that arsonists specifically target high fire danger days (see Bushfire arson bulletin no. 39), deliberate bushfires which are lit on these days are potentially more dangerous and, as they require more effort and resources to suppress, they impact on the ability of fire services to fight other fires.

A report to the State Rail Authority of New South Wales.

Australia is one of the most fire-prone countries on earth and bushfires can cause widespread devastation. In the right conditions a small fire can quickly become a massive one if not quickly controlled. When weather, topography, vegetation and fuel combine to defeat the best efforts of firefighters, bushfires can cause millions of dollars in damage and claim lives.

 The following documents are available only in PDF format.

Australian Criminology Information Bulletin

ISSN 1034-6627

Vol. 1 No. 1 March 1990 - Vol. 5 No. 6 February 1995

This Information Bulletin is produced by staff of the Institute's JV Barry Library.

Commissioned by the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy as a project under the cost shared funding arrangement.

Report to the ACT Chief Minister's Department by the Australian Institute of Criminology.

Note: This report is the second part of the report by the Chief Minister's Department titled Profile of young offenders in the ACT 2001 - 2002.