What are facts about a bushfire?

Answer 1

• Bushfires are fires which occur in the Australian bush, usually native bushland, which quickly spread out of control. They may also occur in grasslands.
• Bushfires may last a matter of hours, or up to three weeks, as in the case of the deadly 2009 "Black Saturday" bushfires.
• Bushfires are most common in Australia's southeast up to the Queensland/New South Wales border during the summer months, and again further north around Rockhampton. They also occur regularly in the southwest of Western Australia.
• Bushfires often occur after a period of heatwave, together with strong, gusting winds, and absence of precipitation.
• Hilly or mountainous terrain is more prone to bushfires than flat land, where bushfires can be more easily controlled. Bushfires move much faster uphill.
• Most bushfires are caused by lightning strikes. They are also commonly caused by man's activities, whether arson or unintentionally lighting the fires such as by tossing cigarettes out of car windows, or not extinguishing campfires properly. Faulty power lines are also often a cause.

Answer 2

1) High temperatures and low rainfall make bush fires a natural hazard.