Shows wildfires increasing in size and frequency

Image: David Blair - A new study by researchers at The Australian National University (ANU) has shown for the first time the full extent of the areas burned by Victorian bushfires over the past two decades. Co-author Professor David Lindenmayer says the results indicate a major overhaul is needed when it comes to fire and land management. The study maps where wildfires took place across Victoria between 1995, the start of the millennium drought, and 2020.  "This is the first time we've seen the full spatial extent of bushfires dating back 25 years," Professor Lindenmayer said.  "What we found is the state is burning more and more. Prior to 2000 we had one mega-fire in Victoria in 150 years of records. Since 2000 we've already had three.  "We can also see the extensive and frequent re-burning of previously fire-damaged areas - sometimes with a gap as short as five or six years.