Domenico Calia

Eucalypt (gumtrees) r often hollow. The 1st wood, pith, is not well protected against insects or fungi, so any break in bark allows these to rot. Inside called “mud gut” when termites tunnel in. Fire enters through a hole and the mud gut burns well-as chimney. Skill to fell safe!

Not sure if entirely correct, but from plant biology: trees have xylem and phloem sap. Phloem transports energy dense sugary substances through the tree. Sugars can burn quite easily. Please add/correct as I can't find any papers directly studying this effect available online.

How did native Australians handle such tree prior to the colonization?

OK I know I should be more focused on the climate crisis but also: shout out for skillz with cuts and wedges.

Fire “comes with the territory” in eucalypt forests. Often see trees hollowed out by burns and still growing. If badly burnt, trees will often sprout from the base. They’re adapted to #bushfire. It takes a lot to kill a gum tree!

It is an endemic problem decades ago in eastern Australia, the weather has a lot to do, but it seems they cannot find the solution, three million hectares have already been burned ....

Never seen before.

And the tree can survive this, believe it or not.