Australia Catastrophic Fires Forced Families To Move Out
Australia remains in the throes of disastrous fires that have been spreading throughout the country, ever since bushfires started in Queensland in as early as August 01, 2019. It is now touted as one of the worsts to have hit the country, as the devastating effects have spread widely in neighboring areas during the months that followed..
In addition to Queensland, four more of Australia’s six states, namely Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia, are experiencing catastrophic fires, with the east coast being the hardest hit. Firefighters and volunteers in New South Wales are still battling the fires that continue to engulf the region.
In fact, the Australian government has sent requests for assistance to the U.S. and Canadian governments. Yet so far, only Canada has responded with a pledge to send at least 30 oe more firefighters.
Recent Surge of Heat Wave Causing Further Aggravation
Since 2017, Queensland and New South Wales have been experiencing shortfalls in precipitations. According to Rosa Hoff , Bureau of Meteorology Forecaster, the prolonged period of dryness had escalated the risk levels for severe fires and raised temperatures in Queensland.
Ms. Hoff added that although the smoke haze that has engulfed the region as a result of the Queensland bushfires is starting to clear out, while on its way toward the sea, there is still a good chance, it could blow back and affect the state. Unless Queensland receives the badly needed significant and widespread rains, it will be long before the smoke haze enveloping the region altogether disappears.
It is quite unfortunate as well that severe heat wave has been gripping most parts of the country since mid-December 2019. The hottest day on record comes at an average high of 41.9 degrees Celsius or 107.4 degrees Fahrenheit. The continuously rising temperature is only causing aggravation to the fires that continue to spread in neighboring regions.
In Victoria, the Foote Tk – 2 kilometers southeast of Lake Condah, is till raging and not yet under control. The same is true with the The Wingan River bushfire, to which the townships of Genoa, Gipsy Point, Genoa, Karbeethong and Mallacoota are still under severe threats of destruction by ongoing active fires. In Coopracambra National Park, a new fire about nine kilometers of Chandlers Creek, has been identified.
Australia Government Gives Advice on What to Do
The government gives advice for people to stay alert and constantly monitor the fire risk alarm level as well as keep track of fire movements happening in real time. The most reliable sources of information is the Digital Earth Australia (DEA) and the Bureau of National Warnings. The DEA uses satellite data in detecting physical changes that are transpiring across regions in Australia. .
People living in dangerous areas who are not prepared and planning to leave must do so now while the roads are still clear. Also families who are not prepared to actively defend their home against wildfire must take final preparations in saving possessions they can salvage. The government warns that since the main water systems can be affected, preparations for defending one’s property include having independent water supply.
Ever since it became apparent that the blaze started in Binna Burra in the Sunshine Coast in September, 2019 could not be controlled, many had acted early by calling removalist companies. Even removalist Perth with a servicing branch in Queensland and the main office in Brisbane were compelled to help people move important belongings before the raging fires tore through their homes, seeing that the uncontrollable bushfires were headed toward Numinbah Valley.