Australian Bush Fires

[MPMalloy]

In Australia Wildfires, Scenes Of Smoke, Sparks And Chaos

Straight-up hell-on-earth. Note all-to-common evac problems & gov't responses.

[MPMalloy]

Per ABC (Australia): Multiple 'States of Emergencies' declared as conditions set to worsen. It's all over ABC's front page.

LIVE COVERAGE

[MPMalloy]

BBC newspage

CBC: Hell on Earth': Australian wildfires force thousands to flee ahead of worsening conditions

BBC: Australia fires: Navy rescues stranded from ravaged Mallacoota

[A.C.E.]

Sister in law has many friends in Australia. All safe so far, but this is a real mess.

I've been in a few wildfires (armed forces supporting fire department), not fun.

A massive STAY SAFE to all ppl fighting the fires and those trapped in its path.

[MPMalloy]

From NPR: Australians Brace For Flames As 'Frighteningly Quick' Bushfires Advance Toward Sydney

Large, detailed pics.

[MPMalloy]

The following is an opinion piece. The chance of politics is 5/6, make your own case.

From The NYT: Australia Is Committing Climate Suicide

[taipan821]

Just finishing packing a deployment bag as I write this for future deployments down there to assist with firefighting efforts.

unfortunately outside of the immediate frontlines this is becoming a very political issue.

that said
-> 3000 army reservists have been called up, this is the first time this has happened for any disaster
-> Firefighters from America and Canada have deployed, with more coming over
-> military bases have opened their gates becoming evacuation centres
-> military helicopters are deployed to help with evacuations and firefighting efforts, in addition HMAS Adelaide is sitting off the coast ready to evacuate
civilians
-> Queensland has sent down another 70 firefighters and 12 appliances to the New South Wales South Coast with further deployments highly likely.

These fires are the worst in 2019, dwarfing the amazon and Siberian fires put together. let's see what the rest of 2020 brings.

[MPMalloy]

From CNBC: Australia fires kill half a billion animals as crisis mounts

From NPR: Australia Deploys Military Reservists To Combat Wildfire, As Thousands Evacuate

From CNBC: Australian bushfires will be a ‘big drag’ on growth, says economist

[MPMalloy]

From CNBC: A country in flames: Australian bushfires in pictures

[boskone]

A bit of lighthearted news, an Aussie model was sending nudes for each $10 people donated to wildfire fund raisers. Apparently she's hit the better part of a million dollars (presumably Australian dollars, but not sure).

[RickOShea]

Police take legal action against more than 180 people so far during 2019/2020 bushfire season

The NSW Police Force has taken legal action against more than 180 people for bushfire-related offences since late last year.

Numerous bush and grass fires have impacted the state, claiming the lives of 18 people and destroying hundreds of millions of animals and livestock, thousands of homes, and more than 4.9 million hectares of land, so far this bushfire season.

Since Friday 8 November 2019, legal action – which ranges from cautions through to criminal charges – has been taken against 183 people – including 40 juveniles – for 205 bushfire-related offences.

Of note:

24 people have been charged over alleged deliberately-lit bushfires
53 people have had legal actions for allegedly failing to comply with a total fire ban, and
47 people have had legal actions for allegedly discarding a lighted cigarette or match on land.