Destructive Fires
By KATHLEEN BENNETT
In Australia, there have been massive and destructive fires that are harming many people and animals, as well as homes. Without putting out these fires, Australia is going to be in serious danger.
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Australia always has fires, but they have never been this bad. According to Jamie Tarabay from the New York Times , “In late October, lightning struck brittle earth on Gospers Mountain in New South Wales. The remains of trees bone dry from consecutive winters with little to no rain were ignited, and the fire quickly spread.”
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These fires have continued to spread and are causing many people to evacuate. In certain parts of Australia, there were state of emergencies and people were told they must leave before it is too late.
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The impairment of buildings, people, and animals are only some of the main effects of these horrendous fires. Due to the smoke and fumes from the fires, it is causing multiple health problems for citizens in Australia. For instance, Tarabay states, “…NASA began tracking a plume of smoke from the fires that was the size of the continental United States. By Jan. 14, smoke had circumnavigated the globe, returning to eastern Australia. Along the way, it caused hazardous breathing conditions in New Zealand and discolored skies in South America.”
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Clearly, the fires are spreading which are affecting people’s property, but it is killing individuals too. If people breathe in too much smoke or fumes they could experience respiratory problems, which can be deadly. This is another reason as to why state officials alerted all Australian citizens to leave as soon as possible.
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Australia has had bad fire seasons, though it has never been this bad. These fires need to be controlled and maintained before they continue to progress. This country has had its hardships, but hopefully after some time they can get back on their feet, rebuild their homes, and live life to the fullest once again.
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Works Cited
Tarabay, Jamie. "Why These Australia Fires Are Like Nothing We've Seen Before." The New York Times, 21 Jan. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/01/21/world/australia/fires-size-climate.html. Accessed 3 Feb. 2020.