‘Catastrophic’ risk of bushfires from August cracker night: CDU bushfire expert Andrew Edwards
The delay of Cracker Night to the hottest and driest time of the year risks ‘uncontrollable’ bushfires and higher carbon emissions, an expert from Charles Darwin University has warned.
Northern Territory
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HOLDING Cracker Night in late August risks “uncontrollable” bushfires and higher carbon emissions in the Top End, an expert from Charles Darwin University has warned, as firefighters scramble to prepare for the day.
CDU bushfire researcher Dr Andrew Edwards told the Sunday Territorian holding the event anytime in August and September would be “catastrophic”.
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It comes after Chief Minister Michael Gunner announced the longstanding tradition would be moved to August 29 this year, after its traditional July 1 date had to be cancelled due to lockdown.
A firefighter has also warned that in 2020, August 29 was an “extreme” fire day and was subject to a total fire ban.
Dr Edwards said holding Cracker Night in August would be worse than July, and events would likely be cancelled anyway due to the frequency of total fire bans during that period.
“I think the fireys will be beside themselves to be thinking this will be happening,” he said.
“Late August is probably one of the worst times in terms of the weather. It hasn’t rained in many months by that stage, so it’s really dry.”
Dr Edwards also warned fires started during drier months of the year released more carbon emissions.
“From a scientific and ecological perspective, it’s the worst time to have a fire,” he said.
“It creates twice as much emissions as if something gets burnt in May.”
Dr Andrews said he would prefer cracker night to be moved to May – at the start of the dry season – when there was more moisture in the soil and vegetation.
A firefighter with NT PFES, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said authorities had been left scrambling to prepare for a difficult cracker night.
“We’ve all gone and looked at (August 29) and thought, this is just crazy,” the firefighter said.
“We’re already talking rosters now to try and man what sort of day that will be.
“It’s going to cost the government a fortune.”
The firefighter said only an unseasonable rain event would be the “saving grace” of authorities. He said last year around August and September had been blanket total fire bans amid a horrendous fire season.
In response to questions, Chief Minister Michael Gunner said Territory Day was about much more than crackers. “August 29 is a significant date bringing together all Territorians to mark Freedom Day and Territory Day,” Mr Gunner said.
“I promised Territorians we’d have our Territory day together this year and that is exactly what we are doing.”
Mr Gunner acknowledged the fire risk posed by fireworks during the dry season, but played down any exacerbated risk from holding the event on August 29.
“Every day in the dry season is glorious but it’s also a fire risk. Every year we ask people to enjoy themselves but to also always follow the latest advice – this year is no different,” he said.
“For me the most important thing is that we get to celebrate Territory Day together after most of us have gone through a lockdown to keep all Territorians safe.”
The government pointed out $6.5m in funding to combat weeds, including $600,000 for fighting gamba grass, which environmentalists argue contributes to the severity of bushfires.
It also reiterated its commitment to net zero by 2050, but didn’t acknowledge the additional emissions from fires associated with the event.
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