Australia: In the path of disaster: The big causes of bushfires that most of us are missing
By Liam Mannix, Joshua Whittaker and Katherine Haynes
A decade after the deadly Black Saturday bushfires devastated Kinglake, razing entire streets of the rural township north-east of Melbourne, population density in some of the worst-hit areas is now much higher than before the firestorm hit.
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Bushfires in Australia will cause more and more harm as greater numbers of people choose to live in the path of disaster, experts say.
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“Yes, climate change is causing more-severe weather, but demographic changes are having an equal impact and deserve just as much of our attention," says Dr Richard Thornton, CEO of the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Research Centre.
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The [Country Fire Authority] examines the distance of a building from vegetation, landscaping, access to water, access for emergency service vehicles and construction materials when considering an application. Councils are then responsible for approving building applications and ensuring adherence to permit conditions.
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