tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-510314847287651429.post7643118120744680110..comments2023-09-13T09:19:31.071-07:00Comments on TeWhareWhero: The Port Hills FireUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-510314847287651429.post-30999064771581654982017-03-06T16:27:23.369-08:002017-03-06T16:27:23.369-08:00Hi there Lynn,
Thanks for that very complete accou...Hi there Lynn,<br />Thanks for that very complete account which included the great taboo subject of climate change.<br />I live in Heathcote and noted the length and dryness of the grass earlier this year. The seeding grass gave the hills an unusually light brown appearance. I said to a number of people that I thought the fire risk was unusually high. But I had no idea it would happen this way because this fire was of a different magnitude of intensity than any of the hill fires I’ve seen over the years.<br />I thought and read a bit about the flammability of various plants and trees, as well as the many possible ignition sources. It seems likely that most of the fires we see start in long grass or dead foliage near roads and human habitation. <br />So, I think it comes back to land use and the dangerous mix of the remnants of grazing blocks and lifestyle blocks. Given the number of humans in the vicinity, it would be difficult to eliminate all the sources of fire (though this should be addressed as well).<br />The best suggestions I've seen are "fire zones" where high risk areas are required to take fire prevention measures. The other one is that we try and restore the native bush and ensure that these regenerating bush areas are somehow protected though buffer zones of fire resistant species. There has been quite a bit of work on the flammability of various native and exotic plants which should be drawn on. <br />The related issue on the hills is soil depletion and erosion. The more recent land uses all cut into the steep hills and accelerate loss of fertility and erosion. There are many ‘under-runners’ in Heathcote Valley that run for hundreds of metres and large sections of slumping land. So much of the flooding problems we are having are related to the huge quantities of soil washing into drains and waterways.<br />There have also been suggestions of an urgent review or inquiry into fire danger and a sustainable strategy to counter the increased risks. I feel a bit sceptical about these measures happening when so much of local government and the general population are still lagging so far behind on climate change and there is such poor leadership from central government.<br />John Kelcher's Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04669231870123486329noreply@blogger.com