The fires pose a number of hazards to the lives of Australia’s many inhabitants. In December, the smoke levels in Sydney were up to 11 times the hazardous level; think of what the air is like in Grants Pass when smoke levels get high, and multiply it by eleven or twelve. It is so terrible that most Americans can’t even fathom what it must be like. According to CNN, more than 3,000 homes have been damaged or demolished by the fires, with 1,588 destroyed (as of Jan. 13, 2020) in New South Wales, the country’s most populated state, alone. To put the damage into perspective, the amount of area burned is larger than the area of Belgium and Denmark put together, or Portugal alone. As of Jan. 22, according to Vox News, 27 million acres have burned, a size 14 times greater than the California fires in 2018. Approximately 1.25 billion animals have been killed in the fires, as well as 29 people, and scientists think the loss of animal life will cause “long-term damage to many sensitive ecosystems.”

So, those are the numbers, but what do they mean? How did the fires even start in the first place? There are a number of causes, one of which being heat. Of course, anyone with an Internet connection has to have heard people talking about the reality and severity of climate change in recent months; anyone who didn’t believe it before certainly must now seeing as its ravaged an entire continent. As stated in the New York Times, “...in mid-December, Australia recorded its hottest day on record, with average highs of 107.4 degrees Fahrenheit, or 41.9 degrees Celsius.” Some fires, however, were started deliberately. According to The Sun, it was announced on January 6 that the police had charged 24 people in relation to starting fires in NSW, and since November 8, NSW police have taken some form of legal action against 183 people for similar offenses. Due to the dry weather, some fires were also started by lightning, and they’ve spread so quickly due to high winds, which not only contributed to the fires but also made it difficult for helicopters to deploy firefighters.

Australia is used to having fire seasons every year, but this year’s season stands out as the most violent and dangerous season ever recorded. Scientists say that this could mean serious changes for the climate, ecosystems, and the future of global warming. They doubt that this will be the last if the disasters caused by climate change, especially for Australia. Now, of course, all hope is not lost. Countries from all over the world, including the US, have sent in firefighters to help, and the New York Times claims that the fires are mostly contained now! However, there are still countless people fighting the fires that remain, and even more displaced by the loss of their homes. It’s incredibly easy to help out, even for our lovely Scroll readers! If you have any extra money, some good organizations to donate to include the Australian Red Cross, GIVIT, St. Vincent de Paul Society, and the NSW Rural Fire Service. That said, money is not the only way to help. Don’t be afraid to make posts online or talk to people about the fires; the more awareness raised, the better!

It may be difficult to imagine the incredible fear hanging over Australia right now, but hopefully our Scroll readers have a better understanding of the magnitude of the fires and what caused them. Please keep Australia and its inhabitants in your thoughts these coming months, and join us here at the Scroll in hoping for these disastrous fires to end.