Australia’s bushfire preparedness is at risk from climate change, a new report from the Climate Council warns.

The study – released the same week four people died in WA fires – says the global fire season has increased in length by 19% between 1979 and 2013.

Australia shares firefighting aircraft resources with North America, and difficulties may emerge as the southern and northern bushfire seasons begin to overlap.

Firefighter numbers may also need to double by 2030 in response to increased demand.

“Australia’s emissions reduction target of 26-28% on 2005 levels by 2030 is not sufficient to protect Australians from worsening bushfires and extreme weather events,” the report says.

“Australia must cut emissions more rapidly and deeply to join global efforts to stabilise the world’s climate, and the vast majority of Australia’s fossil fuel reserves must stay in ground.”

Bushfire and Natural Hazards Co-operative Research Centre CEO Richard Thornton agrees climate change is affecting fire season length, but he believes more research is needed.

“We are seeing some unusual fires early in the season,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

“If the seasons [in North America and Australia] substantially overlap, then there will be a problem.”

Last week’s fires in Esperance – believed to have been started by lightning – killed a local farmer and three foreign nationals.

The co-operative research centre recently reissued its southern outlook to take account of worsening conditions in SA and Tasmania, but WA was not affected.

Dr Thornton told insuranceNEWS.com.au the fatal fire occurred on the edge of a high-risk area.

“The core message is that even in normal-risk areas there are going to be bushfires,” he said.

“People need to be prepared and understand the environment they’re in, and it’s important to know that it is not safe to be driving on roads during bushfires.”