RESIDENTS FLEE AS GRASSFIRE THREATENS SOUTHERN AUSTRALIA ON CHRISTMAS DAY

Wed 25 December 2024:

Residents in Adelaide’s north, South Australia have been forced to evacuate their homes during Christmas lunch as a grassfire threatened property there.

The fire started in a rail corridor and spread south amid hot, dry and windy conditions in the suburb of Smithfield, according to ABC News.

The Metropolitan Fire Service commander of Northern Operations Stuart Dawes said the fire was intense, burning through more than 10 hectares (24.7 acres) in an hour fanned by strong winds.

“The fire started along the rail corridor, or in the vicinity of that area, and quickly spread through the paddock assisted by the strong winds, and was impacting the structural facilities of the [adjacent] army barracks,” he said.

He said the water-bombers were invaluable in saving surrounding homes and structures.

Fires have also been spotted across the state of Victoria, southeastern Australia, as an out-of-control bushfire in Victoria’s west is traveling in a southeasterly direction.

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On Dec. 26, temperatures are forecast to hit the mid-40s in parts of Victoria, with troublesome hot winds that are expected to bring the worst conditions since the 2019 summer.

A total fire ban has been declared across the state, with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting temperatures into the 40s, with wind gusts of up to 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour) in elevated areas.

The 2019 Australian Black Summer was one of the most intense and catastrophic fire seasons on record in Australia, including a period of bushfires in many parts of Australia, which, due to its unusual intensity, size, duration, and uncontrollable dimension, was considered a mega fire.

Bushfires have been an integral part of Australia’s landscape for tens of thousands of years, shaped by its hot, dry climate and flammable vegetation. Indigenous Australians historically managed the land with controlled burns to reduce fuel loads and encourage biodiversity.

The arrival of European settlers in the late 18th century disrupted traditional practices, leading to a buildup of vegetation and increasing the severity of fires. Major bushfire events, such as the Black Friday fires in 1939 and Ash Wednesday in 1983, caused widespread devastation, prompting changes in fire management and policies.

In recent decades, climate change has exacerbated bushfire intensity and frequency. The 2019-2020 “Black Summer” bushfires were among the worst in recorded history, burning over 18 million hectares, destroying thousands of homes, and killing nearly 500 people, including from smoke-related illnesses.

Bushfires remain a defining challenge, and Australia continues to adapt through improved forecasting, community awareness, and land management strategies.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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