The Australian wildfires have been burning strong since the end of 2019, and as Australia enters it’s summer season, it doesn’t look like it’ll be calming down anytime soon.
Australia has a long history of tragic bush fires. However, this year looks like it is going to be the worst. Australia experienced its driest spring this year, leading to the strong fires. The impacts of these fires are devastating, with 28 human fatalities, 25,000 koala deaths, an estimated half a billion animals killed, and the economic burden these fires have brought, which are absolutely devastating.
The cost of damage is set to exceed $4.4 billion. Celebrities such as Elton John, Chris Hemsworth, and Metalica are just a few names who have generously donated to the funds. Jeff Bezos also took some heat for donating $69,000, some say for being the richest man in the world, he could do more to help out. Leonardo DiCaprio’s environmental organization also donated $3 million to the cause. To continue to help aiding, 15 evacuation centers have been opened and U.S firefighters have been deployed there for the first time ever.
The fires have burned over 7.3 million hectares of land. The areas of New South Wales and Queensland were hit the worst, having to go into a state of emergency in 2019. 105 separate fires were burning in these areas. New South Wales alone had 3000 houses destroyed. East Gippsland was also hit very hard, being put in a state of emergency and closing major roads. The fires were so strong that in East Gippsland, the fires created their own weather patterns.
The Snowy Mountains have caught fire as well as Kangaroo Island. When Kangaroo Island caught fire, many koalas and kangaroos were harmed and killed. They were photographed being rescued and gulping down water, or being burned alive. In addition to koalas and kangaroos, tens of thousands of farm animals were killed. Scientists actually worry that entire species are in danger of being wiped out.
It’s not only the horrifying social media pictures of the vibrant red skies, or the burned koalas. It’s also the dangerous smoke the fires create. These dangerous fumes have carried over 7,000 miles from Australia all the way to New Zealand. NASA says the fumes are on track to circle the globe and return back to Australia. Awful air quality is a result of these fires. These fumes mixed with Australia’s strong winds and high temperatures pose a serious threat to more fires later on in the summer season. The end of this tragic time for Australia doesn’t seem to be ending anytime soon.