Fire science helps Queensland

With catastrophic fire conditions experienced for the first time in Queensland and multiple bushfires raging across the state in November 2018, CRC science was on hand to help combat the flames.  

Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC researcher and fire weather expert Dr Mika Peace from the Bureau of Meteorology was specifically asked by the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services to assist during the unprecedented fires.  

Andrew Sturgess, manager of predictive services at QFES, said Queensland had not experienced prolonged periods of bad fire weather like they did before. 

 “I wanted the best science, the best communicators – the best people we absolutely could get to assist us” Andrew said.   

This was where Dr Peace was able to provide her expertise. 

“In Queensland, the demand for information was absolutely huge for meteorology information and the embedded meteorologist was really providing the high-levelled synoptic scale big-picture state-wide weather scenarios,” Dr Peace said.  

Dr Peace worked alongside fire behaviour analysts from QFES by providing pivotal data and information, mapping out likely scenarios of bushfire spread and analysing pressure points throughout the state.  

“What I was doing was really drilling down to the fire level and looking at individual fires and talking about how the weather over the Gulf of Carpentaria was likely to affect fire behaviour on individual fires,” Dr Peace explained.  

“A lot of research hasn’t formally made it into operation decision process, but that doesn’t mean they can’t still be used during a major event. So much value can be added by having the knowledge available on the day.”   

Dr Peace’s help with the bushfires was recognised alongside others from Queensland who assisted with an invite from the Queensland Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, to attend the Christmas Cabinet Reception as a thank you.