This is almost as true of economists and other specialists as it is of the lay public . Uncertainty is an everyday experience. Uncertainty lurks at every corner in the world of bushfires too whether it is in relation to the weather, fire behaviour, threats to the environment or to built assets, or human behaviour in the face of fire. We, as a society and as individuals, often try to reduce uncertainties in the hope of reducing stress or of improving efficiency. Whatever we do we will never eliminate uncertainty from everything.
Uncertainty is inevitable.
The degree of uncertainty varies and, in some cases, can be reduced. Uncertainty has taken on a new garb as new ways of measuring it have been invented. Bernstein has written a most readable history of the subject of risk including the roles of brilliant mathematicians and other thinkers throughout the ages. The subject 'risk management' uses words like 'risk' and 'hazard' that have been used interchangeably in the literature. Whenever you meet these words it is as well to be careful in trying to decide what is meant.