The Briefing When arson meets climate change + Two people shot by US Immigration Officers
Jan 9, 2026
Dr. Paul Reid, a climate criminologist and director of the Future Emergency Resilience Network, offers an eye-opening analysis of the devastating wildfires in Victoria. He discusses the legal implications of 'catastrophic' fire conditions and compares fire risks in Australia and California. Reid highlights how climate change exacerbates megafires, detailing how they can create their own weather. He also examines the human factors behind these disasters, revealing alarming statistics on arson and urging a focus on climate accountability over political narratives.
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How Megafires Become Self‑Sustaining
- Megafires form when fires join up and create their own weather, making them far more destructive than typical bushfires.
- Climate change acts as a multiplier by increasing temperatures and converging climate drivers to produce catastrophic conditions.
Heed Catastrophic Warnings Immediately
- Public authorities declare 'catastrophic' to trigger wide-ranging safety responses and community action.
- Treat such warnings seriously and follow official evacuation and preparedness directions when issued.
Eucalypts And The Urban‑Wildland Edge
- Australia and areas like Los Angeles share flammable eucalypt forests, which were historically exported and now act as oily, highly combustible fuel.
- Rapid peri‑urban development puts communities right where those flammable landscapes meet suburbs, raising exposure.