Many of you have probably seen the destruction of the Australian fires on the news. Over the past couple of months, Australia is being torn up by terrible wildfires that are some of the worst in the country’s history. So far, 27 people have died nationwide due to these fires and more than three thousand homes have been destroyed. The rapid flames have torn through bushland, woods, and national parks. Although the fires are spread out across the country, the majority of them are located in the southeast region of Australia, and cities like Sydney and Melbourne have been hit on their outer suburbs while the smoke travels into the urban areas.

Authorities are having a difficult time with the fires even with assistance from other nations. However, the fires in Australia are nothing new. The problem is how bad they have gotten. Usually, during the hot and dry season, Australia is prone to naturally caused fires throughout the country. This season, the temperature and a long drought have led to the fires spreading extremely easy with help from strong winds. This weather has led to over 17.9 million acres of Australia being destroyed.

The biggest problem from these fires is not the destruction of homes but the destruction of wildlife. The number of affected animals could reach one billion. Nearly one-third of the koalas in southeast Australia have died due to the fires. The animals that survived the rampaging fires have no home to live in. So, many volunteers are helping to rescue and protect the animals that have been severely affected by the fires.  

Hopefully, the fires will be put to a stop soon, but considering the temperatures peak in January and February, it could be months before the fires cease.