Continent-wide wildfires have displaced tens of thousands of Australians, killed millions of animals and raised the stakes of the country’s climate-change debate. Here’s what you need to know
NASA; REUTERS; STATISTICS CANADAAustralia's major cities have been largely spared from direct contact with the fires, but choking smoke has enveloped Sydney, Melbourne and the capital of Canberra in recent weeks. Plumes of smoke that can be seen from orbit have crossed the Tasman Sea as far as New Zealand, about 2,000 kilometres away, or about the direct distance from Vancouver to Toronto.Thick smoke blankets southeastern Australia on Jan.
Amy Houghton and her son wear masks under a sky tinted red by the bushfires surrounding Mallacoota, Victoria, on Jan. 4.The fires have stretched state fire services to their limits, with volunteers working in dangerous conditions to get people and animals out of the way of blazes they were powerless to stop. More than 60 Canadian firefighters went down in December to help manage the crisis, repaying the favour from when Australians came north for past fire seasons in B.C. and Alberta.
The fires, and the record-setting droughts that preceded them, have given new urgency to the climate crisis in Australia, where scientists warn that more intense and unpredictable dry conditions, worsened by human-caused climate change, could make bushfire seasons like this a regular threat. Mr.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Australia uses brief respite from bushfires to prepare for next onslaughtThe bushfire season started earlier than normal this year following a three-year drought that has left much of the country's bushland tinder-dry and vulnerable to fires.
Read more »
U.S. singer Pink pledges $500K to fight Australia wildfiresAmerican pop singer Pink says she's donating US$500,000 to help fight the deadly wildfires that have devastated parts of Australia.
Read more »
How Canadians can help Australia wildfire victims and firefightersAs entire swaths of Australia continue to be ravaged by wildfires, CTVNews.ca looks at the ways Canadians can help support the evacuees, firefighters and wildlife.
Read more »
Alberta firefighters ready to return favour to AustraliaThe resounding message from seven Alberta firefighters boarding a flight to Sydney, Australia, on Saturday was that they’re ready to lend a hand to the country that has supported them.
Read more »