Australian Bushfires

[TheDevil]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-50951043

"Record-breaking temperatures and months of severe drought have fuelled a series of massive bushfires across Australia."

Can't see much of this on Answerbank?

I feel sorry for all the poor animals. What an awful time for Aussies, bet they're not a fan of Scott Morrison right now.

[ladybirder]

It's horrendous, absolutely heartbreaking. My daughter spent several years there and says the countryside absolutely pulsates with its wildlife so it doesn't bear thinking about. On Sky News just now it showed pouring rain but I don't know exactly where and how long it is due to last. The good news is a load of firefighters have just flown in from the USA to help out,

[TheDevil]

The bush fires are creating thunderstorm clouds which yes, causes rain but also causes lightning which can cause more bushfires.

[TheDevil]

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/australias-bushfires-pose-new-danger/

[ludwig]

You have to wonder whether this is going to become an annual event.

[Togo]

It would appear that the main cause of the fires being so widespread is that it is now prohibited to burn off the Winter dead growth or to create firebreaks. Wouldn't you just know that this is to comply with the new and exciting green policy legislation that is now in effect. There has been no significant long-term decrease in rainfall or increase in temperatures in the affected regions. It has been both hotter and drier many times over the last 100 years or so but what has changed is that the areas are now heavily populated and under the "care" of the environmentalist hand wringers, and creature comfort freaks. Does anyone remember, a few years ago the story of the fireman who was fined tens of thousands of Australian dollars for making a firebreak around his house? This contravened the green lobby legislation and he was convicted of destroying wildlife habitat. Two years later fires ripped through the local community and burned down every house. Except his.

[Chipchopper]

Yes, I was watching it on the news this morning, absolutely terrible.
A lot of trees and plants may also be lost, like the rare Wollemi pine, only discovered in the blue mountain area in 1994 but a survived the Jurassic period when the dinosaurs walked the earth, already a critically endangered species, now they are threatened even more.

[tiggerblue10]

Someone on social media mentioned something along the lines of... a famous cathedral in France burns and millions are raised to restore. Bush fires rage across Australia and half a billion animals are killed and the response is slow....well as I said, it was something like that anyway so don't quote me on it.

Some rain now falling but nowhere near enough.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-51003504

[New Judge]

//You have to wonder whether this is going to become an annual event.//

They already occur, if not annually, certainly in about one year out of two. This article explains:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushfires_in_Australia

Since 1980 there have been about twenty years when major fires occurred. Whilst this year's outbreak has been particularly severe, they are by no means unusual.

[Apc2604]

Australia has always been a place where mankind shouldn't live unless they are prepared to cope! My heart goes out to all the millions of animals who have perished, and of course to those who have lost their homes and their employment.

[ludwig]

Yes NJ, I mean an annual event on this scale.

Apparently quite a few of these fires are started deliberately, and always have been. The hotter drier conditions just make them more destructive.

https://www.spectator.com.au/2020/01/we-dont-just-have-a-bushfire-crisis-we-have-an-arson-crisis-too/

[TonyV]

It's horrendous to see pictures, peoples lives have been devastated. Back in the day native Australians (Aborigines) would deliberately burn brush in a controlled manner, to prevent fires and put some goodness back in the soil.

[Apc2604]

You're right Tony. The aborigines knew how to cope.

[youngmafbog]

The Aborigines were not ruled by a bunch of greens.

If humans are to live in these areas controlled burning of the Winter deadwood needs to be done, regardless of the green lobby whining. These fires are Natures way of clearing up, happens in this country but far smaller scale of course. It makes way for new shoots etc. Unfortunately Animals do get caught up in it.

[TonyV]

youngmafbob, agree but think all of Australian emergency services now over run with the sheer size of the fires. Bringing in reserve troops now according to news.

[youngmafbog]

Yes, burning out the old wood wont help the current sitution.

Difficult to know what they can do. Holding back Nature on this scale is an almost impossible task.

I do wish people would listen to the emergency services and leav when requested. They really do have enough to do without risking their lives to get some stubborn person out.

[emmie]

we post about it on the GMEB thread, as there are two Australians who post...

[emmie]

As i have friends in Oz, will email them to make sure they are all right. One is near enough to the fires to warrant
getting out...

[TheDevil]

I should have expected people to be dismissive to the issue as forest fires are common and essential on a grand scale.

However, what we're seeing in Australia is certainly not the norm.

Currently 23 people have been killed and over 2000 homes have been destroyed.

Yep, annual tradition that is!

[Peter Pedant]

750 m roast koalas apparently

yeah AB doesnt really do 'BIG'

far too consumed with fave Pres Trump wants to withdraw form the middle east and so he has sent 3000 troops in !
c/p 100 stereotype answers - such as - why cant he be prime minister?
bring back the troops yeah that is the way to do it !
Pre Trump obviously loves peace ! and sso on

[Apc2604]

My relations are in Perth and Brisbane, so not too bad at the moment. My lovely Aunt used to live in Gosford which Ì believe is suffering. I have travelled from Brisbane to Sydney by train and can imagine how dreadful it must be to try and fight fires in such a vast area of non-stop scrubland.