Australian Fires

Australia is experiencing terrible wildfires right now, and they need our help.

Educate yourself

The best way to help is to know what is going on. This will allow you to better help Australian people in need.

Usually, Australia's fire season lasts from December through March. Each year, however, climate change is making that season even longer, which burns more trees, destroys more homes, and kills more people and animals. No one knows exactly what started the fires, but some investigators believe it was arson. Last year was Australia's hottest year on record, according to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.

Donate

If you can, please donate to relief efforts in Australia. The Australian Red Cross has helped over 18,600 people affected by fires since July. Their website can be found at https://www.redcross.org.au/campaigns/disaster-relief-and-recovery-donate.

Raise awareness

That is what Fight For Our Future is doing in Heppner. Although we may not be directly affected by the fires, other people are. We want that to be known, and it's why we are raising awareness.

Prevent future fires

After these fires are over, it is crucial to prevent this from happening again.

• Control bonfires - These can get away and ignite a wildfire.
• Do not litter cigarettes - If you smoke, fully extinguish cigarettes and dispose of them properly.
• Don't park in dry, grassy areas - This is something that people often do, and it can cause wildfires
• Reduce your carbon footprint - Climate change is causing warmer weather and droughts. These allow fires to burn longer, and spread faster.