Wildfires

Entire towns have been seared off the map by wildfires raging through southeastern Australia, burning people in their homes and cars.

You are an expert on wildfires with the U.S. Forest Service. The Australian government has hired you as a consultant to respond to the Feb. 2009 "Black Saturday" bush fires that resulted in hundreds of dead and injured residents of Victoria, Australia. In order to prevent an uncontrolled fire from destroying so many lives, your team must come up with a plan of action that protects the lives and homes of those in the path of future fires, while remaining ecologically sensitive to the role fires play in nature.

Resource Bank

Books

Fire and Ashes
Contains information on:
fire response, negative effect of...

Great Disasters: Fires
Contains information on:
history, prediction, fire response, causes of...

Victoria
Contains information on:
information on bushfires, climate

Our Changing Planet
Contains information on:
role of wildfires, causes of wildfires

Internet

pictures, timeline

general overview

wildfire basics

fire response

environmental effects

conditions for fire, fire response

weather conditions

how wildfires are connected to climate change

Video
Associated Press
Contains:
arial view, fire response

Associated Press
Contains:
Marysville aftermath

Country Fire Authority
Contains:
personal accounts

Country Fire Authority
Contains:
conditions for fire

CNN
Contains:
personal accounts

CBS
Contains:
news brief of the incident

interviews with victims and aerial photos