Climate warnings borne out

THE Ohau fire and its heavy property damage bears out warnings that climate change would cause ‘‘more severe’’ fire danger, Queenstown climate scientist Jim Salinger says.

The Ohau fire was a landmark event, given the record amount of firerelated property damage — up to 50 houses lost — and the area of forest land burned, exceeding 4600ha.

The Ohau fire is believed to be the largest forest fire in this country for more than 60 years.

Also significant was the fire’s date, which was very early in the traditional fire season, Dr Salinger said.

A 2400ha forestry fire at Pigeon Valley in the NelsonTasman area, last year, resulted in a State of Emergency being declared, and was the biggest New Zealand forest fire for many decades.

Dr Salinger was one of the authors of a 2005 joint Niwa/Forest Research report, titled ‘‘Impact of Climate Change on Longterm Fire Danger’’, which warned of ‘‘more severe fire weather and fire danger’’.

Climate change, and its firerelated damage was no longer simply a prediction —‘‘it’s here now’’, he said.

University of Otago Centre for Sustainability deputy director Caroline Orchiston said the Ohau fire reflected increased fire risks, resulting from climate change.

Fire, as well as earthquakes, clearly had to be taken into account by communities in an ‘‘all hazards’’ safety planning approach, she said.