The Age: VICTORIAN bushfires last summer destroyed about 32,000 hectares, less than a fifth of the land usually burnt out in a bushfire season. An analysis of bushfires on public land by the Department of Sustainability and Environment, obtained by The Age, reveals that the 2007-08 fires burnt 32,368 hectares, or 18.7% of the long-term average (173,152 hectares). Strong fire activity in October put the fire season almost a month ahead of normal and led to dire predictions. With …