by Karl Denninger, Market Ticker:

The glo-bull scolds are at it again, this time with regard to Australia and their wildfire problem.

Let me remind you of a few facts:

1. Australia, just like our western states, has enacted laws prohibiting both controlled burns and the responsible burning of brush and similar debris on private land.  As a result there is no legal way that people who own land can clear accumulations of flammable underbrush and dispose of it in a responsible manner so wildfires do not have nearly as much fuel to consume.  This is basic forest and brushland management and has been practiced for decades with success.  Environmental screamers have prohibited it both in Australia and on our West Coast, and now we’re seeing the direct results.

2. It now turns out that there have been nearly 200 arson arrests for both arson and careless acts starting brushfires this fire season.  Who knows how many other firebugs started fires and didn’t get caught.  In addition what we do not know is if these are simple “firebugs” who like to see things burn or if they’re environmental whackjobs who are starting fires so they can bitch about “global warming.”

3. Australia, like the United States, has promoted building in irresponsible ways, such as allowing combustible envelope materials on homes and businesses along with not requiring that ember defense mechanisms be put in place on both new and existing construction.  In fire-risk zones this is flat-out insane; a defensive perimeter is part of a sane building policy but not enough by itself as burning embers that get into the attic or other spaces where there are combustible materials will set the house on fire — and embers can travel for miles from a fire line!  There are well-understood dimensional requirements to have a fighting chance of that not happening; a 2mm gap is enough to allow embers of sufficient size and intensity into the building and ignite it.  What’s even worse is that some developments have covenants that actually go against defensive measures, such as not permitting metal roofs.

There are many things that can be done to reduce the risk and impact of wildfires.  You can’t control the weather, and lightning along with dry conditions starts fires quite reliably.  But you can manage forest and brushlands with controlled burns that keeps the amount of combustible material on the ground at a reasonable amount, rather than intentionally allowing it to build up.  You can mandate clear zones around buildings that are defensible.  And you can put in place building codes that greatly mitigate the risk of a structure fire being ignited by flying embers.

It also helps if you find the arsonists and keep them locked up in prison, of course.

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