dough teeth Posted January 5, 2020 Share Posted January 5, 2020 Australia is being ravaged by the worst wildfires seen in decades, with large swathes of the country devastated since the fire season began late July. A total of 24 people have died nationwide, and in the state of New South Wales alone, more than 1,300 houses have been destroyed. State and federal authorities are struggling to contain the massive blazes, even with firefighting assistance from other countries, including the United States. All this has been exacerbated by persistent heat and drought, and many point to climate change as a factor making natural disasters go from bad to worse. There have been fires in every Australian state, but New South Wales has been hardest hit. Blazes have torn through bushland, wooded areas, and national parks like the Blue Mountains. Some of Australia's largest cities have also been affected, including Melbourne and Sydney -- where fires have damaged homes in the outer suburbs and thick plumes of smoke have blanketed the urban center. Earlier in December, the smoke was so bad in Sydney that air quality measured 11 times the "hazardous" level. The fires range in area from small blazes -- isolated buildings or part of a neighborhood -- to massive infernos that occupy entire hectares of land. Some start and are contained in a matter of days, but the biggest blazes have been burning for months. What is causing the fires? Each year there is a fire season during the Australian summer, with hot, dry weather making it easy for blazes to start and spread. Natural causes are to blame most of the time, like lightning strikes in drought-affected forests. Dry lightning was responsible for starting a number of fires in Victoria's East Gippsland region in late December, which then traveled more than 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) in just five hours, according to state agency Victoria Emergency. Humans can also be to blame. In November, the NSW Rural Fire Service arrested a 19-year-old volunteer member on suspicion of arson, charging him with seven counts of deliberately setting fires over a six-week period. Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia An aerial view shows bushfires burning in the Richmond Valley on November 26. Hide Caption 38 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A CFA crew member rests after a day of maintaining controlled back burns in St Albans, Australia, on November 21. Hide Caption 39 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia An injured koala receives treatment after its rescue from a bushfire at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital on November 19. The hospital said the fires have "decimated" the area, which is a key habitat and breeding ground for the marsupials. More than 350 koalas are feared to have been killed by bushfires in NSW, according to animal experts. Hide Caption 40 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Firefighters try to protect the Colo Heights Public School on November 19. Hide Caption 41 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Bushfire smoke clouds the sky over the Hawkesbury River in Brooklyn, Australia. Hide Caption 42 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Firefighters work on controlled back burns on November 14. Hide Caption 43 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia This satellite image shows wildfire smoke on November 14. Hide Caption 44 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A man uses a wet towel to help put out flames near the town of Taree on November 14. Hide Caption 45 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Firefighters organize their crews prior to working on controlled back burns in Sydney on November 14. Hide Caption 46 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Warren Smith pats his dog after returning to find his house destroyed near Nana Glen on November 13. Hide Caption 47 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Teresa de Ruyter, left, and Michelle Wilson embrace after returning to their homes near Nana Glen on November 13. Hide Caption 48 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Firefighters battle a spot fire in Hillville on November 13. Hide Caption 49 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Residents look on as thick smoke rises from bushfires near Nana Glen on November 12. Hide Caption 50 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison looks at a screen as he gets a briefing on the bushfire situation on November 12. Hide Caption 51 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Locals watch the fires impact farmland near Nana Glen on November 12. Hide Caption 52 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A firefighter mops up after a bushfire in the Sydney suburb of Llandilo on November 12. Hide Caption 53 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A fire and rescue team inspects damage around the village of Torrington on November 11. Hide Caption 54 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Andrew Mackenzie surveys the damage to the area around his home in Torrington. His home was spared, but his neighbors' house was burned to the ground. Hide Caption 55 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Smoke from the Gulf Road Fire fills the air in Glen Innes on November 11. Hide Caption 56 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A sign on a Taree fire station warns of "catastrophic" fire conditions. Hide Caption 57 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A lone joey is pictured on a scorched patch of ground in Torrington on November 11. Hide Caption 58 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Emergency crews tend to animals on a property in Torrington on November 11. Hide Caption 59 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Burnt trees dot the landscape in Old Bar on November 10. Hide Caption 60 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A firefighter works to contain a bushfire near Taree on November 10. Hide Caption 61 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A helicopter drops water on a bushfire in Old Bar on November 9. Hide Caption 62 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia This aerial photo, taken on November 9, shows bushfires in the northeastern part New South Wales. Hide Caption 63 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Fires burn in the distance as children play on a beach in Forster on November 9. Hide Caption 64 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A fire rages in Bobin on November 9. Hide Caption 65 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia The remains of a property are seen in Bobin on November 9. Hide Caption 66 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A plane drops fire retardant on a bushfire in Harrington on November 8. Hide Caption 67 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Firefighters try to put out a bushfire in Woodford on November 8. Hide Caption 68 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Police knock on the door of a house to warn residents of an out-of-control bushfire near Clumber on November 8. Hide Caption 69 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A resident hoses smoldering logs as a bushfire burns in Woodford on November 8. Hide Caption 70 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia The sun is seen through heavy smoke as a bushfire burns in Woodford. Hide Caption 71 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Firefighters hose down an area in Woodford. Hide Caption 72 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Forster residents watch as a water-bombing helicopter flies over a bushfire on November 7. Hide Caption 73 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia In this handout photo from NASA's Aqua satellite, destructive bushfires are seen off the coast of New South Wales on November 7. Hide Caption 74 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia The flight deck of a C-130J Hercules is lit by the red glow of the fires below as the aircrew attempts to land in Merimbula to drop off fire and rescue crews to assist fighting the bushfires on Sunday, January 5. Hide Caption 1 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A man walks past ash from bushfires washed up on a beach in Merimbula on January 5. Hide Caption 2 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A sign discourages looters near Conjola Park on January 5. Hide Caption 3 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia This satellite image provided by NASA on Saturday, January 4, shows smoke from fires burning in Victoria and New South Wales. Hide Caption 4 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A father holds his daughter as the skies above turn red during the day on January 4 in Mallacoota, Australia. Many parents with young children were stuck in Mallacoota after flights were grounded because of smoke and only school-aged children and older were allowed to evacuate by boat. Hide Caption 5 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia The sky turns red during the day in Mallacoota, Australia. People in the Foreshore Caravan Park are staying through what will be a day of severe fire conditions with large fires still burning out of control to the north of the town. Hide Caption 6 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A Royal Australian Navy crew unload luggage as evacuees from Mallacoota arrive aboard the MV Sycamore on January 4 at the port of Hastings, Australia. Hide Caption 7 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Smoke from wildfires shrouds a road near Moruya, Australia, on January 4. Hide Caption 8 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Nancy Allen stands outside her house as high winds push smoke and ash from the Currowan Fire toward Nowra in New South Wales on January 4. Hide Caption 9 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Evacuees board the Royal Australian Navy's MV Sycamore on January 3 in Mallacoota, Victoria, Australia. Navy ships plucked hundreds of people from beaches and tens of thousands were urged to flee before hot weather and strong winds in the forecast worsen Australia's already devastating wildfires. Hide Caption 10 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Massive smoke rises from wildfires burning in East Gippsland, Victoria on January 2. Hide Caption 11 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Royal Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons presents a posthumous Commendation for Bravery and Service on January 2 to the son of RFS volunteer Geoffrey Keaton, who was killed battling bushfires, at Keaton's funeral in Buxton, New South Wales. Hide Caption 12 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Boats are pulled ashore as smoke and wildfires rage on January 2 behind Lake Conjola. Hide Caption 13 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Cars line up as people evacuate the town of Batemans Bay in New South Wales on January 2. Hide Caption 14 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A satellite image released by Copernicus Sentinel dated December 31 shows bushfires burning across Australia. Hide Caption 15 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A kangaroo rushes past a burning house in Lake Conjola, Australia, on December 31. Hide Caption 16 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A man tries to defend a property in Lake Conjola on December 31. Hide Caption 17 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Firefighters hose down trees as they battle against bushfires around the town of Nowra in the Australian state of New South Wales on December 31, 2019. Thousands of holidaymakers and locals were forced to flee to beaches in fire-ravaged southeast Australia on December 31, as blazes ripped through popular tourist areas leaving no escape by land. Hide Caption 18 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A destroyed home in Sarsfield, East Gippsland, Victoria, on December 31. Hide Caption 19 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Children evacuated from areas affected by bushfires play at the showgrounds in the southern New South Wales town of Bega on December 31. Hide Caption 20 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A skycrane drops water on a bushfire burning near houses in Bundoora, Melbourne, on Monday, December 30. Hide Caption 21 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) captured this satellite image of the historic bushfires burning across Australia on December 26. Hide Caption 22 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is briefed by fire officials at New South Wales Rural Fire Service control room in Sydney on December 22. Morrison arrived back in Sydney amid criticism after taking a family holiday to Hawaii during the bushfire emergency. Hide Caption 23 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Tributes for volunteer firemen Andrew O'Dwyer and Geoffrey Keaton are seen at Horsley Park Rural Fire Brigade in Sydney, Australia, on December 22. It's believed they were killed when their vehicle hit a tree before rolling off the road, the New South Wales Rural Fire Service said in a statement. Hide Caption 24 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A firefighter battles the Gospers Mountain Fire in Bilpin, New South Wales, on Saturday, December 21. Hide Caption 25 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A charred bicycle lies on the ground in front of a house destroyed by bushfires on the outskirts of Bargo on December 21. Hide Caption 26 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Fire and rescue personnel monitor a bushfire as it burns near homes on the outskirts of Bilpin on Thursday, December 19. Hide Caption 27 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A property burns in Balmoral on December 19. Hide Caption 28 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A helicopter drops fire-retardant to protect a property in Balmoral. Hide Caption 29 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Police disperse demonstrators during a climate protest near Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison's official residence in Sydney, on December 19, during his absence on an overseas holiday, as bushfires burned across the region. Hide Caption 30 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Children swing into the Penrith river during a heatwave in Sydney on December 19. Hide Caption 31 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A landscape of burnt trees is pictured after a bushfire at Mount Weison, in the Blue Mountains, on Wednesday, December 18. Hide Caption 32 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A wallaby flees a fire burning near Mangrove Mountain, north of Sydney, on December 10. Hide Caption 33 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A smoke haze blankets Bondi Beach as the air quality index reaches higher than ten times hazardous levels in some suburbs of Sydney on December 10. Hide Caption 34 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia People join a guided climb of the Sydney Harbour Bridge as bushfire haze darkens the sky on December 6. Hide Caption 35 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia People are seen wearing face masks to protect against the poor air quality in Sydney on December 5. Hide Caption 36 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A bushfire burns out of control in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales on December 2, Hide Caption 37 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia An aerial view shows bushfires burning in the Richmond Valley on November 26. Hide Caption 38 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A CFA crew member rests after a day of maintaining controlled back burns in St Albans, Australia, on November 21. Hide Caption 39 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia An injured koala receives treatment after its rescue from a bushfire at the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital on November 19. The hospital said the fires have "decimated" the area, which is a key habitat and breeding ground for the marsupials. More than 350 koalas are feared to have been killed by bushfires in NSW, according to animal experts. Hide Caption 40 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Firefighters try to protect the Colo Heights Public School on November 19. Hide Caption 41 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Bushfire smoke clouds the sky over the Hawkesbury River in Brooklyn, Australia. Hide Caption 42 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Firefighters work on controlled back burns on November 14. Hide Caption 43 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia This satellite image shows wildfire smoke on November 14. Hide Caption 44 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A man uses a wet towel to help put out flames near the town of Taree on November 14. Hide Caption 45 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Firefighters organize their crews prior to working on controlled back burns in Sydney on November 14. Hide Caption 46 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Warren Smith pats his dog after returning to find his house destroyed near Nana Glen on November 13. Hide Caption 47 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Teresa de Ruyter, left, and Michelle Wilson embrace after returning to their homes near Nana Glen on November 13. Hide Caption 48 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Firefighters battle a spot fire in Hillville on November 13. Hide Caption 49 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Residents look on as thick smoke rises from bushfires near Nana Glen on November 12. Hide Caption 50 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison looks at a screen as he gets a briefing on the bushfire situation on November 12. Hide Caption 51 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Locals watch the fires impact farmland near Nana Glen on November 12. Hide Caption 52 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A firefighter mops up after a bushfire in the Sydney suburb of Llandilo on November 12. Hide Caption 53 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A fire and rescue team inspects damage around the village of Torrington on November 11. Hide Caption 54 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Andrew Mackenzie surveys the damage to the area around his home in Torrington. His home was spared, but his neighbors' house was burned to the ground. Hide Caption 55 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Smoke from the Gulf Road Fire fills the air in Glen Innes on November 11. Hide Caption 56 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A sign on a Taree fire station warns of "catastrophic" fire conditions. Hide Caption 57 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A lone joey is pictured on a scorched patch of ground in Torrington on November 11. Hide Caption 58 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Emergency crews tend to animals on a property in Torrington on November 11. Hide Caption 59 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Burnt trees dot the landscape in Old Bar on November 10. Hide Caption 60 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A firefighter works to contain a bushfire near Taree on November 10. Hide Caption 61 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A helicopter drops water on a bushfire in Old Bar on November 9. Hide Caption 62 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia This aerial photo, taken on November 9, shows bushfires in the northeastern part New South Wales. Hide Caption 63 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Fires burn in the distance as children play on a beach in Forster on November 9. Hide Caption 64 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A fire rages in Bobin on November 9. Hide Caption 65 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia The remains of a property are seen in Bobin on November 9. Hide Caption 66 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A plane drops fire retardant on a bushfire in Harrington on November 8. Hide Caption 67 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Firefighters try to put out a bushfire in Woodford on November 8. Hide Caption 68 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Police knock on the door of a house to warn residents of an out-of-control bushfire near Clumber on November 8. Hide Caption 69 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A resident hoses smoldering logs as a bushfire burns in Woodford on November 8. Hide Caption 70 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia The sun is seen through heavy smoke as a bushfire burns in Woodford. Hide Caption 71 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Firefighters hose down an area in Woodford. Hide Caption 72 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Forster residents watch as a water-bombing helicopter flies over a bushfire on November 7. Hide Caption 73 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia In this handout photo from NASA's Aqua satellite, destructive bushfires are seen off the coast of New South Wales on November 7. Hide Caption 74 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia The flight deck of a C-130J Hercules is lit by the red glow of the fires below as the aircrew attempts to land in Merimbula to drop off fire and rescue crews to assist fighting the bushfires on Sunday, January 5. Hide Caption 1 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A man walks past ash from bushfires washed up on a beach in Merimbula on January 5. Hide Caption 2 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A sign discourages looters near Conjola Park on January 5. Hide Caption 3 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia This satellite image provided by NASA on Saturday, January 4, shows smoke from fires burning in Victoria and New South Wales. Hide Caption 4 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A father holds his daughter as the skies above turn red during the day on January 4 in Mallacoota, Australia. Many parents with young children were stuck in Mallacoota after flights were grounded because of smoke and only school-aged children and older were allowed to evacuate by boat. Hide Caption 5 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia The sky turns red during the day in Mallacoota, Australia. People in the Foreshore Caravan Park are staying through what will be a day of severe fire conditions with large fires still burning out of control to the north of the town. Hide Caption 6 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A Royal Australian Navy crew unload luggage as evacuees from Mallacoota arrive aboard the MV Sycamore on January 4 at the port of Hastings, Australia. Hide Caption 7 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Smoke from wildfires shrouds a road near Moruya, Australia, on January 4. Hide Caption 8 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Nancy Allen stands outside her house as high winds push smoke and ash from the Currowan Fire toward Nowra in New South Wales on January 4. Hide Caption 9 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Evacuees board the Royal Australian Navy's MV Sycamore on January 3 in Mallacoota, Victoria, Australia. Navy ships plucked hundreds of people from beaches and tens of thousands were urged to flee before hot weather and strong winds in the forecast worsen Australia's already devastating wildfires. Hide Caption 10 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Massive smoke rises from wildfires burning in East Gippsland, Victoria on January 2. Hide Caption 11 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Royal Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons presents a posthumous Commendation for Bravery and Service on January 2 to the son of RFS volunteer Geoffrey Keaton, who was killed battling bushfires, at Keaton's funeral in Buxton, New South Wales. Hide Caption 12 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Boats are pulled ashore as smoke and wildfires rage on January 2 behind Lake Conjola. Hide Caption 13 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Cars line up as people evacuate the town of Batemans Bay in New South Wales on January 2. Hide Caption 14 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A satellite image released by Copernicus Sentinel dated December 31 shows bushfires burning across Australia. Hide Caption 15 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A kangaroo rushes past a burning house in Lake Conjola, Australia, on December 31. Hide Caption 16 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A man tries to defend a property in Lake Conjola on December 31. Hide Caption 17 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Firefighters hose down trees as they battle against bushfires around the town of Nowra in the Australian state of New South Wales on December 31, 2019. Thousands of holidaymakers and locals were forced to flee to beaches in fire-ravaged southeast Australia on December 31, as blazes ripped through popular tourist areas leaving no escape by land. Hide Caption 18 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A destroyed home in Sarsfield, East Gippsland, Victoria, on December 31. Hide Caption 19 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Children evacuated from areas affected by bushfires play at the showgrounds in the southern New South Wales town of Bega on December 31. Hide Caption 20 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A skycrane drops water on a bushfire burning near houses in Bundoora, Melbourne, on Monday, December 30. Hide Caption 21 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) captured this satellite image of the historic bushfires burning across Australia on December 26. Hide Caption 22 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is briefed by fire officials at New South Wales Rural Fire Service control room in Sydney on December 22. Morrison arrived back in Sydney amid criticism after taking a family holiday to Hawaii during the bushfire emergency. Hide Caption 23 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Tributes for volunteer firemen Andrew O'Dwyer and Geoffrey Keaton are seen at Horsley Park Rural Fire Brigade in Sydney, Australia, on December 22. It's believed they were killed when their vehicle hit a tree before rolling off the road, the New South Wales Rural Fire Service said in a statement. Hide Caption 24 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A firefighter battles the Gospers Mountain Fire in Bilpin, New South Wales, on Saturday, December 21. Hide Caption 25 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A charred bicycle lies on the ground in front of a house destroyed by bushfires on the outskirts of Bargo on December 21. Hide Caption 26 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Fire and rescue personnel monitor a bushfire as it burns near homes on the outskirts of Bilpin on Thursday, December 19. Hide Caption 27 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A property burns in Balmoral on December 19. Hide Caption 28 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A helicopter drops fire-retardant to protect a property in Balmoral. Hide Caption 29 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Police disperse demonstrators during a climate protest near Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison's official residence in Sydney, on December 19, during his absence on an overseas holiday, as bushfires burned across the region. Hide Caption 30 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia Children swing into the Penrith river during a heatwave in Sydney on December 19. Hide Caption 31 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A landscape of burnt trees is pictured after a bushfire at Mount Weison, in the Blue Mountains, on Wednesday, December 18. Hide Caption 32 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A wallaby flees a fire burning near Mangrove Mountain, north of Sydney, on December 10. Hide Caption 33 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A smoke haze blankets Bondi Beach as the air quality index reaches higher than ten times hazardous levels in some suburbs of Sydney on December 10. Hide Caption 34 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia People join a guided climb of the Sydney Harbour Bridge as bushfire haze darkens the sky on December 6. Hide Caption 35 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia People are seen wearing face masks to protect against the poor air quality in Sydney on December 5. Hide Caption 36 of 74 Photos: In photos: Bushfires rage through Australia A bushfire burns out of control in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales on December 2, Hide Caption 37 of 74 Why are the fires so bad? Fire season in Australia is always dangerous -- the 2009 Black Saturday fires killed 173 people in Victoria, making it the deadliest bushfire disaster on record. But conditions have been unusually severe this year, fanning the flames and making firefighting conditions particularly difficult. Australia is experiencing one of its worst droughts in decades -- the country's Bureau of Meteorology said in December that last spring was the driest on record. Meanwhile, a heatwave in December broke the record for highest nationwide average temperature, with some places sweltering under temperatures well above 40 degrees Celsius (about 113-120 degrees Fahrenheit). Australia swelters on its hottest day nationwide as wildfires rage -- and temperatures are likely to rise even higher Strong winds have also made the fires and smoke spread more rapidly, and have led to fatalities -- a 28-year-old volunteer firefighter died in NSW in December after his truck rolled over in high winds. Experts say climate change has worsened the scope and impact of natural disasters like fires and floods -- weather conditions are growing more extreme, and for years, the fires have been starting earlier in the season and spreading with greater intensity. Several high-ranking emergency service officials, including the former commissioner of the NSW Fire and Rescue Department, sent letters to Prime Minister Scott Morrison in 2019 warning of the impact of the climate crisis on Australia. In response, Morrison emphasized a commitment to reduce carbon emissions -- but also said he would stick to "sensible" policies, and that there wasn't "a single policy, whether it be climate or otherwise," that can completely protect against the fires. What has been the damage so far? Bushfire survivor Melinda Plesman examines the remains of her destroyed property in Nymboida, NSW. Entire towns have been engulfed in flames, and residents across several states have lost their homes. The heaviest structural damage occurred in NSW, the country's most populated state, where close to 1,300 homes have been destroyed and over 440 damaged. In total, more than 5.9 million hectares (14.7 million acres) have been burned across Australia's six states -- an area larger than the countries of Belgium and Haiti combined. The worst-affected state is NSW, with 3.6 million hectares (8.9 million acres) burned. The remains of burnt buildings in the New South Wales town of Cobargo on December 31, 2019. To put that into perspective, the 2019 Amazon rainforest fires burned more than 7 million hectares (about 17.5 million acres), according to Brazilian officials. In California, which is known for its deadly wildfires, just over 100,000 hectares (247,000 acres) burned in 2019, and about 404,680 hectares (1 million acres) in 2018. A total of 24 people across Australia have died this fire season, including several volunteer firefighters. There has also been extensive damage to wildlife and the environment. Almost a third of koalas in NSW may have been killed in the fires, and a third of their habitat has been destroyed, said Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley. The koala population has been hit by the devastating fires. What is being done? Firefighters battle bushfires around the town of Nowra, New South Wales, on December 31, 2019. State and federal authorities have been working to combat the fire crisis for months. NSW declared a state of emergency in December, which grants "extraordinary powers" to the NSWRFS commissioner, including the authority to allocate government resources and direct government agencies in taking action. The state of Queensland also briefly declared a state of emergency in November. There are 2,300 firefighters working on the ground in NSW alone, and more support is on the way -- the US, Canada, and New Zealand have sent additional firefighters to help. The Australian Defence Force is assisting in firefighting efforts around the country. The federal government has also sent in military assistance like army personnel, air force aircraft, and navy cruisers for firefighting, search and rescue, and clean-up efforts. Morrison said his administration was allocating at least 23 million Australian dollars ($16.2 million) in disaster recovery payments to affected families and businesses, and up to 6,000 Australian dollars ($4,200) each for volunteer firefighters called out to fight fires for more than 10 days. When will the fires end? Unfortunately, Australia is only just entering its summer season. Normally, temperatures peak in January and February, meaning the country could be months away from finding relief. The fires are unlikely to end entirely since they are an annually occurring event -- and may even get worse if recent years are a guide. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-DLC- Posted January 5, 2020 Share Posted January 5, 2020 It's absolutely heart wrenching....for me, especially for the animals who are left with no where to hide and are ravaged by these fires. The ones on farms or bound by fences. The people, obviously, too ... but homes can and will be rebuilt. Obviously people have perished in the fire are the biggest tragedies in it all. Our world is in trouble folks...if this doesn't give you a first hand crash course on that, nothing probably will. We all need to rethink our ways....small potatoes I know. But we can't expect Government to do anything unless we, ourselves, are also willing to change our lifestyles. But enough of the politics....my heart is with those in Australia. It's so weird...my daughter's best friends live there and they video chat nightly...they're so unfazed by it all. My ex boss is also there and the same...sharing pictures from day trips, etc. He sent me a lovely picture of a koala sleeping soundly in a tree, but it just made me cry. It's hard to imagine that the same continent that is being devastated by fire still has places where it's business as usual for some folks. I constantly look at the fire maps and it's hard to believe that not everyone's huddled in terror and sadness. That some are still fairly far removed from it all. So horrible. I can't even look at the pictures.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nuxfanabroad Posted January 5, 2020 Share Posted January 5, 2020 Last wk read several media reports(all in concert) claiming Aus scientists estimate the death of 500,000,000 animals(thus far). Their beauty in nature is being decimated. I don't think anyone can fully comprehend what is now occurring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostsof1915 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 (edited) https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-50951043 60,000 square KM. Over 4 times the size of the Amazon fires earlier this year. Edited January 6, 2020 by Ghostsof1915 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shift-4 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 5 minutes ago, Ghostsof1915 said: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-50951043 60,000 square KM. Over 4 times the size of the Amazon fires earlier this year. that date changing map is just crazy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
189lb enforcers? Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 Good bush tucker though? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBH1926 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 Terrible tragedy unfolding in Australia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostsof1915 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 23 minutes ago, Shift-4 said: that date changing map is just crazy I know...the fact it started in September is what blows my mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dough teeth Posted January 6, 2020 Author Share Posted January 6, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naslund.is.king Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 The Australian fires in 74 were 15 times worse and the country survived. 117 million hectares burned. For scale, this year's season is about 7 million hectares so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grapefruits Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuckpuckluck1 Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 Just some perspective here folks. I live in Sydney and we have not really been affected yet. Apart from some insane smoke that clouded the city for 60 odd days we really havent had it too bad. My suburb went up in flames on New Years Eve with an out of control bush fire. But the NSW fire service did an amazing job to keep the containment to bushland and no houses were threatened. But Sydney in general has been fire free. We are lucky and thats why we just get on with our daily routine and take time to enjoy what we can whilst we can. The people in the southern regions of NSW and Victoria have seen 60 odd days of terror. I cannot relate to that and my heart goes out to them and the courage they show on a daily basis to fight the fires and their emotions, their lives will be changed in so many ways, both good and bad. These tragedies have ways of bringing us Aussies together, this is the country where everything tries to kill you on a daily basis, and I think thats why we seem casual and relaxed or blasé. You just have to be like that or you would turn into a basket case. If you havent seen the images or videos it is mind blowing. It looks like an apocalypse. Its bloody Armageddon. Complete darkness in the middle of the day, with a red glow, very eire stuff. There were days when small coastal villages were cut off from the outside world and we had people sheltering on the beach ready to swim into the water for protection. We have had naval ships transport towns people by the 100's off the beaches as there is no road access. The scary part about this for the people in the fire zones is there is no relief in sight. The weather doesnt look like it will change and we are just at the beginning of the fire season. Thanks for the concern and appreciate people talking about whats going on down here. 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-DLC- Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 12 hours ago, naslund.is.king said: The Australian fires in 74 were 15 times worse and the country survived. 117 million hectares burned. For scale, this year's season is about 7 million hectares so far. My concern isn't those who survive, it's those who don't. But thanks for the perspective....that really does help in a big picture way for sure. Just not sure it helps console those in the throes of it all as it looks absolutely terrifying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhillipBlunt Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 8 hours ago, canuckpuckluck15 said: Just some perspective here folks. I live in Sydney and we have not really been affected yet. Apart from some insane smoke that clouded the city for 60 odd days we really havent had it too bad. My suburb went up in flames on New Years Eve with an out of control bush fire. But the NSW fire service did an amazing job to keep the containment to bushland and no houses were threatened. But Sydney in general has been fire free. We are lucky and thats why we just get on with our daily routine and take time to enjoy what we can whilst we can. The people in the southern regions of NSW and Victoria have seen 60 odd days of terror. I cannot relate to that and my heart goes out to them and the courage they show on a daily basis to fight the fires and their emotions, their lives will be changed in so many ways, both good and bad. These tragedies have ways of bringing us Aussies together, this is the country where everything tries to kill you on a daily basis, and I think thats why we seem casual and relaxed or blasé. You just have to be like that or you would turn into a basket case. If you havent seen the images or videos it is mind blowing. It looks like an apocalypse. Its bloody Armageddon. Complete darkness in the middle of the day, with a red glow, very eire stuff. There were days when small coastal villages were cut off from the outside world and we had people sheltering on the beach ready to swim into the water for protection. We have had naval ships transport towns people by the 100's off the beaches as there is no road access. The scary part about this for the people in the fire zones is there is no relief in sight. The weather doesnt look like it will change and we are just at the beginning of the fire season. Thanks for the concern and appreciate people talking about whats going on down here. I am so unbelievably sorry that this is happening to your beautiful country, and I hope that something happens to help stop these fires. Take care, canuckpuckluck15. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tre Mac Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 https://wildlife.org/australian-firehawks-use-fire-to-catch-prey/ iT'S THE FIREHAWKS!! In all seriousness good luck in the fight. We had smog here for 2 out of the last 3 years in the summer and it's so depressing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancaster Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 We need a basis for comparison. As devastating as the fires are, it is within "normal parameters"? I mean, the world freaked out over the Amazon... yet the fires there were actually in-line with what has been going on for decades... just nobody really really cared to notice until it started trending online. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boudrias Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 19 minutes ago, Lancaster said: We need a basis for comparison. As devastating as the fires are, it is within "normal parameters"? I mean, the world freaked out over the Amazon... yet the fires there were actually in-line with what has been going on for decades... just nobody really really cared to notice until it started trending online. Surprised? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuck Surfer Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 Melbourne is a long way away from the hardest hit area's. We are still cloaked in smoke that makes it hard to see on the highway. For the third day running. My house smells like a campfire. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuck Surfer Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 New South Wales Coast from outer space. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dough teeth Posted January 6, 2020 Author Share Posted January 6, 2020 http://<blockquote class="reddit-card" data-card-created="1578346183"><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/australia/comments/ek906i/forgotten_victims_of_the_australian_bush_fires/">Forgotten victims of the Australian Bush Fires</a> from <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/australia">r/australia</a></blockquote> <script async src="//embed.redditmedia.com/widgets/platform.js" charset="UTF-8"></script> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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