I wish I knew where all these statements about no controlled burning come from. In my area of Victoria, DSE does controlled burning every year. Unfortunately about the only time it can occur is during the Easter break which is our main tourist season. At other times it is either too moist or too dangerously dry. Some years controlled burns have escaped as bushfires, even in autumn. It is a risky business. Most years there are at least some days when visibility is restricted to 500m or less, smoke masks may be required. The beautiful countryside cannot be seen by visitors on such days but we put up with it, the asthma problems, the excacerbation of COPD, the adverse effect on tourism etc, on the chance that it makes a difference.
Whether it helps minimise the damage of bushfires or not I don't know and have not seen strong evidence one way or another (despite researching - there is quite a bit of conflicting research out there). But it does pacify those who favour controlled burning to some extent, even if it doesn't prevent fires. (We are prone to bushfires in this area of Victoria - as is most of the rest of this state.)
Most of the bushfires in our area are from lightning strikes. The recent fires were from powerlines I believe. Rarely some idiot will light a fire.
As with many here, relations and family friends were lost in the recent fires. They were not at fault. The weather, wind and fires were ferocious and unprecedented.
