KILLER INFERNO
AUSTRALIA has been battling its worst bushfire season since September, with fires killing 29 people and destroying thousands of homes.
Today (January 16) there are still 85 fires burning across New South Wales, with 30 of them yet to be contained.
8
Australia Fires Map
Officials say that the threat from fires is far from over despite cooler weather.
Australian firefighters are preparing to use the week of calmer conditions to contain the most volatile parts of bushfires that are threatening private property and destroying large swathes of national parks in eastern Victoria and southern New South Wales.
In NSW around 18 bushfires are still not contained with one fire decl;ated as "emergency level" in Victoria.
Seven fires were still labelled in the watch and act category.
8
What has happened so far?
January 2020
- On January 16, thunderstorms and heavy rain swept across parts of the east coast, bringing hope that the fires may at least be slowed.
- On January 11, a terrifying video emerged showing the ferocity of Australia's out-of-control wildfires, showing a raging firestorm engulf a family home while its owners were trapped inside -no one was harmed.
- On January 11, warmer temperatures and elevated winds in the afternoon caused an increase in fire activity in Victoria and southern New South Wales, but fire activity remained much less significant than it was on Friday.
- On January 10, a 90km/h southerly wind is worsening conditions in NSW, and one male firefighter in his mid-20s suffered burns to his face fighting fires in the Snowy Valley region
- On January 9, Victoria has declared a state of disaster after blazes have already burnt 1.2 hectares and claimed three lives in the state.
- On January 8, the plume of smoke that has risen from the inferno is big enough to cover the whole of Russia and parts of Europe.
- On January 7, nearly 2,000 homes have been destroyed in the fires and temperatures are expected to soar again on Friday, prompting fears that two fires could form a new "mega blaze".
- On January 6, Penrith in Sydney was said to be the hottest place on Earth, reaching scorching temperatures of 48.9C.
- On January 5, New South Wales Transport Minister Andrew Constance compared the bushfires to "an atomic bomb."
- On January 4, Australians are bracing for a dangerous and unpredictable night as bushfires are expected to worsen.
- A mass evacuation took place on January 3 as around 1,000 people in Mallacoota, Victoria, who were sheltering on beaches. were ferried to the town of Western Port.
- On January 3, a farmer spotted a creepy devil face looming in the clouds above a forest blaze - he said: "I'm not really into hokey pokey spooky stuff but there's a big devil face right in the fire".
- On January 2 it was announced that the state of New South Wales declared a week-long state of emergency as high temperatures and strong winds are set for the following few days, fuelling the deadly blazes.
- The first day of the year saw Aussies face a "humanitarian crisis" as food, water and fuel began to run out while bushfires continued to spread.
December 2019
- In more devastating news, it was revealed 30 per cent of koala habitat had been destroyed and experts warned the marsupials could become extinct.
- On the same day two volunteer firefighters were tragically killed after a tree fell on their vehicle.
- On December 19, five hero firefighters were injured when their tanker was overrun by fire.
- On December 11, the Rural Fire Service confirmed that 724 homes, 49 facilities and 1582 outbuildings had been destroyed in NSW.
8
November 2019
- Throughout November, 1,228,050 acres of land was destroyed in a bushfire at a national park in NSW.
- The country saw terrifying apocalyptic scenes as families were trapped inside their homes and skies turned red in November.
- On 21 November, lightning strikes ignited a series of fires in Victoria.''''''''''
- On November 20, a huge blaze broke out on Yorke peninsula, aircraft were scrambled to water bomb the blaze as it crept closer to two local towns.
- On November 19, Sydney was left "trapped" inside a thick cloud of smoke with dozens of people treated for asthma and breathing problems.
- And in a shocking rant, disgraced rugby star Israel Folau blamed the country's wildfires on same-sex marriage and abortion.
- On November 13, a terrifying 600 mile wide wall of flames swept across NSW.
- The following day, Sydney said they were braced for "catastrophe" and Russell Crowe's mansion came under threat.
- And on the same day in South Australia authorities warned of an "uncontrolled" blaze heading towards homes in the area.
- In Queensland, 49,000 acres and six homes were destroyed on November 11.
October 2019
- October 30 brought heartbreaking news that hundreds of koalas were thought to have been burned alive as fires swept through an important koala breeding ground.
- In south-east New South Wales, late October saw the start of a number of bushfires in remote woodland.
- These blazes raged on, eventually becoming one massive inferno, dubbed the Wattle Creek Fire.
- Several fires also broke out across Tasmania during the month.
- Fire crews in Tuncurry attempt to bring a forest fire in the area under control
8
September 2019
- On September 10, a heartbreaking image was circulated online showing a burnt koala shielding her tiny baby from harm.
- And on the same day, The Sun revealed that I’m A Celebrity could be under threat from the raging wildfires, as they swept dangerously close to the £7million state-of-the-art studio.
- On September 9, a blaze on the Sunshine Coast tore through homes.
- On September 8, a historic lodge in the Gold Coast that had stood for 86 years was destroyed in the fires, which had previously razed several homes.
- On September 7 a number of out of control blazes threatened townships across South Eastern and Northern Queensland, destroying several homes.
- On September 6, northern areas in New South Wales began experiencing bushfires. The blaze carried through until October, tragically killing two.
8
8
8
8