Andrew Jeeves

Volunteer Firefighter, Wonboyn Lake, NSW

I am a volunteer member and Training Officer of the Wonboyn Lake NSW Rural Fire Service. This summer we had a call from our operations centre on the far south coast to be able to respond at five minutes’ notice on any day when the Fire Danger Rating (FDR) was calculated to be ‘Very High’. This is only the third level of six rising danger levels. Normally we are asked to be on rapid response when the FDR gets to ‘Severe’ (fourth level). This unprecedented change is due to abnormally dry conditions and very low levels of moisture in the southern forests. Drought exacerbated by climate change is the main contributor.

In March last year, our brigade helped mop up the devastating fire at Tathra. We were on 24-hour call for a week. Days after the main fire, small fires spontaneously erupted out of mulch in garden pots. Fire seasons now start earlier and last longer. Fire agencies usually enjoy six-month’s respite from bushfires between April and September, but last year we had only three months’ break.

As we hit record temperatures across Australia, we look toward more dangerous fire weather, higher fire danger levels more often, more fires and longer fire seasons due to the current and increasing impacts of the climate crisis. We will have to learn to accept more fires like those at Tathra where 70 homes—but thankfully no lives—were lost.

It’s time for the Government to put aside their ideology. It’s time to follow the electorate—more than 70% of Australians believe it is time to act on the climate crisis.