Calls for citizen scientists to reduce fire risks

As the weather heats up across the southeast of Australia, there is a call for citizen scientists to join the fight against fire risk. Country Fire Authority Remote Sensing Analyst Dr Danielle Wright says citizens on the ground are needed to accurately monitor the level of dry grass, which will increase the chance of a fire. “We refer to the drying out of grass as curing - it’s measured as a percentage,” Dr Wright told Sky News Australia. “The satellite model isn’t perfect – in some areas, it can overestimate or underestimate curing. “We need observations on the ground by citizen scientists to adjust those values.” The Country Fire Authority is recruiting volunteers across outer Metropolitan Melbourne to help keep authorities informed about grass growth.