The January 2025 fires in Los Angeles, were one of the most impactful natural disasters from fire in history. These fires occurred in the middle of winter, outside the regular fire season and were driven by extreme conditions. This presentation will discuss if a similar fire to those experienced in Los Angeles could happen in the Western Australian southwest.
Anna Durkin is currently a PhD Candidate at RMIT University. Anna’s recent experience includes a research internship with the Department of Fire and Emergency Services and Natural Hazards Research Australia. This research project involved conducting a comparative case study between the January 2025 L.A. fires and the Perth hinterland. The project was presented at the DFES pre-season Volunteers Forum, the NHRA October Research showcase and the PhD/ECR Symposium, Victorian Disaster Research Forum 2025.
Anna’s other recent experience includes a research assistant position with the Landscape Foundation Australia and RMIT University. This was a case study research project analysing the landscape benefits of a university campus precinct. This involved creating a research design, an ethics application, interviews, surveys, fieldwork, data analysis and report writing (including multiple modes of visual communication).
Anna’s education includes her recently submitted thesis with RMIT University. Anna also has a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Melbourne and a Bachelor of Arts from Monash University.
