00:00Tony Bartlett knows the bush around the capital like the back of his hand, along with the
00:08risk of fires that threaten it.
00:10If it was a more severe fire season like we saw in 2020 or back in 2003, I'm not convinced
00:18that we're well enough prepared.
00:20While the Bureau of Meteorology is predicting an average fire season, there's still potential
00:25for the risk to increase.
00:27And the bushfire expert doesn't believe we're prepared for the worst-case scenario.
00:32So Tony, walking along here, what are the risks that you see?
00:36The two main risks are the amount of fuel here on the ground, both the fine fuels, the
00:40leaves and small twigs, and then some of the heavier fuels.
00:43He's calling for a five-fold increase to hazard reduction burns by the ACT Rural Fire Service.
00:50As best I understand, they're doing about a total of 800 hectares of prescribed burning
00:55each year.
00:56Ten years after the 2003 fire, we were doing on average about 6,000 hectares a year.
01:02We don't just look for a target to burn for the sake of burning.
01:05Today's mild weather gave crews an opportunity to conduct hazard reduction burns here at
01:10Lower Molonglo, with hot and windy conditions forecast for tomorrow.
01:14Uriara Village, west of Canberra, is no stranger to bushfires.
01:19The town was devastated in 2003.
01:23Fearing the worst, some residents are calling for more resources.
01:27It's very dry actually in the bush at the moment, considering the lack of rain that we've had.
01:32But the RFS argues the area is well protected.
01:35Strategically, where we've got our brigades, we're very comfortable with response times,
01:40and also we're getting stronger detection through our fire detection cameras, the triple
01:45zero networks.
01:47Even so, residents are urged to have a bushfire survival plan just in case.
01:53For more UN videos visit www.un.org
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