September 17, 2024

Reynold Borja 

11th Grade

George Washington High School 

A bushfire (also known as a wildfire) is a natural disaster that can occur in many parts of the world. These fires can be unpredictable, devastating, and challenging to control. However, wildfires tend to be more frequent in drier regions like Africa, Australia, South America, Asia, and some parts of the United States, such as California, Oregon, and Arizona. Bushfires are typically caused by several factors including, dry weather, humid temperatures, and sometimes even human activities, such as neglected campfires and discarded cigarettes. Depending on the surrounding weather and terrain, these fires can rapidly expand across grasslands, forests, and other vegetation, creating immense destruction in the process. The damage can range from hundreds to thousands of acres, killing animals and trees that took decades to grow, destroying habitats, causing soil erosion, and contaminating the air we breathe. Even the aftermath of bushfires has a complex economic impact, including immediate expenses, long-term recovery activities, property damage, agricultural losses, and healthcare repercussions. The long-lasting effects of a bushfire wouldn’t just cease an entire ecosystem, they can also have a dramatic impact on people’s lives and the surrounding communities.

Australia relies on satellites to be its “eyes” in the sky. One of the tasks of Oz Fuel—a satellite mission of the Australian National University Institute for Space—is to evaluate the flammability of the Australian terrain and monitor fire threats from the air. The Oz Fuel satellite mission uses novel infrared technology to identify types of plants that are more likely to catch fire. Eucalyptus trees, for example,  are prone to fire because of the nature of their bark and the flammability of their oils. Because of this, Australian researchers are using the satellite to monitor how dry conditions affect the biochemistry of the leaves, hoping to get an early start on potential fires. 

Bushfire forecasts hold a promising future because they can prevent significant damage and reduce the impact on an individual's life, both physically and financially. Looking ahead, research teams plan to fully operationalize the onboard AI fire detection system by 2025. This technology extends beyond bushfires; with its potential to serve as an early warning system for various natural catastrophes, it presents a promising approach to disaster response and management.