Climate change not to blame say fire-hit farmers

One of the worst hit bushfire spots was the tiny town of Buchan, in eastern Australia.

While they all agree that these fires were some of the worst they've ever seen, few people believe climate change is to blame.

Libby Hogan reports

All farmer Jeff McCole can do is shake his head in disbelief at the pile of rubble where his family home once stood.

Australia's raging bushfires wiped it out completely.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) BUCHAN RESIDENT, JEFF MCCOLE SAYING: "So, we made the decision to get out while we could and we only did that by about ten minutes before the whole district caught on fire." Most people in this town of Buchan will tell you that they were the worst fires they'd ever experienced.

But few will tell you climate change has anything to do with it.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) BUCHAN RESIDENT, JEFF MCCOLE SAYING: "It's been pushed by a certain type of person that's had no experience in the bush.

They've never been out here to see what's gone on over the years.

It hasn't changed much out here over the years.

Like as I said before, we've had severe droughts and everything like that 70 years ago.

It keeps going round and round and round in circles.

If you wait, it's going to change.

Like, you never hear about climate change when it's snowing, do you?" Many here say climate change is just an idea pushed by city folk.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) BUCHAN RESIDENT, JEFF MCCOLE SAYING: "Most of the people who talk about climate change and that, when you go to the city it's a sea of lights day and night.

All the air conditioners are on.

So, who's contributing?

They all say the farmers have got to do more.

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They blame our cows and everything like that." Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick at Climate Change Research Centre has studied climate science for 15 years.

She says it's not about pointing the fingers between country and city but looking at the facts.

She says climate change has increased the risk of extreme bushfires combined with one of the hottest and driest years on record, and a prolonged drought adding up to the perfect storm.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH CENTRE FUTURE FELLOW AT CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH CENTRE, SARAH PERKINS-KIRKPATRICK: "Well I think this summer is a good example of exactly what we're meant to see.

It fits exactly in line with the scientific evidence both in terms of observational studies and future climate scenarios from physical models.

So not only does it fit in with that and its the narrative that climate science has been given through the data for the last 30 or 40 years, it's a glimpse of the future." Farmers point the finger at officials they say the country needs more controlled burning before Summer to stop the fires.

Fire Services say they planned to burn a huge stretch of public land in eastern Victoria state but wind and high temperatures made it 'unsafe'.

Some farmers told Reuters it's not good enough and that the poor management of dry bushland is a ticking timebomb.

Both sides may be right scientists say that with increasingly hotter weather, there are fewer days that agencies have to safely burn.