Firefighters in California are increasing their use of prescribed burns to prevent massive wildfires. The dry conditions in the state have made it more susceptible to wildfires, and prescribed burns are seen as a way to reduce the amount of fuel available for fires to burn. Firefighters are using metal torches to ignite patches of prairie, and hope that this method will help prevent future wildfires.
Smoke from prescribed burns and bushfires in Western Australia has filled the skies south of Perth, with dozens of blazes burning across the state's southwest. Prescribed burns are intended to reduce the build-up of flammable fuels and reduce the severity of bushfires, but winds can still carry the smoke far from the source. The Parks and Wildlife Service issued a smoke alert for the area warning of reduced visibility and potential health effects for people with respiratory or cardiovascular illnesses.
