The fires in Maui have now claimed about/more than 100 lives displaced thousands of others and caused widespread devastation.
In Europe, fires have burned large swathes of forests in Greece, Croatia and Portugal in recent months, with a heatwave sweeping over the continent.
How big of a danger are such wildfires for Pacific countries in a warming climate, and how can people prepare?
In New Caledonia, communities have been taking things into their own hands to try to ward off fires by planting certain trees.
Cedric Haverkamp from conservation international said they can act as green fire breaks and slow down certain fires.
“We noticed there’s one tree that seems to be able to stop fire, or at least reduce the speed of the fire, that’s the sea hibiscus. It’s a native species that is endemic in Ncal, Australia, and other parts of the Pacific,” he said.
“Because this tree has big leaves it works like a green wall, so it will stop the heat from the fire and reduces the risk of fire propagation. And because it’s very thick and dark, there is no fuel growing under the trees, so when the fire comes to touch this tree, it will just stop burning.”
Source : ABC
