A Future in Flames

Award-winning science writer Danielle Clode tells the complex story of Australia’s relationship with fire, from indigenous practices to country fire brigades and royal commissions-as well as her own story of living with the threat of deadly blazes.

In his 2010 review for Readings on the book’s first publication, Kevin O'Loughlin (former CEO of the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre) lauds A Future in Flames asa book that ‘deserves a wide audience among all interested in understanding more about bushfires and what we need to do about them.’ As he puts it: ‘Yes, it treats issues arising from the shocking Black Saturday fires of February 2009 in Victoria. Yes, it touches on the possible impacts of climate change and of a growing population in fire-prone areas. But the distinctive difference in this book is the blending of a valuable historical perspective on fire in the Australian landscape, impressive insights into contemporary policy issues, and personal experiences that draw unanswered questions into sharp relief.