Australian Bushfires

“Australian wildfires declared among the 'worst wildlife disasters in modern history'” (Givetash 2020). It
is a well-known regular occurrence that affects the nature’s shaping of the Australian continent.
Therefore, it is also known as the Australian bushfire season, which occurs every year.

Cause

This seasonal disaster has one main factor. Eastern Australia is one of the most fire-prone regions in the
world. This is caused by the gradual drying of the Australian continent in the last 15 million years. The
dangerous fire weather conditions during spring 2019 are consistent with the increasingly severe fire
weather seen in many areas of the country, owing to increasing temperatures and reduced cool season
rainfall. Strong winds have also caused the fire to be more destructive.

Effects

After the initial devastation of the fires, impacts are ongoing. Lands, buildings, and houses are burned,
causing the loss of human lives. An estimated billion animals, such as koalas, possums, kangaroos,
wallabies, and many more bats and insects, are likely to die in total as a result of lost habitat and food
sources. Wildfires produce harmful smoke which can cause fatalities that threatens human health. The
effects of smoke exposure and inhalation range from eye and respiratory tract irritation to more serious
disorders, including reduced lung function, bronchitis, exacerbated asthma, and premature death.
Some businesses and institutions have been forced to close their doors during periods of excessive
levels of air pollution. The bushfires have burned grassland, destroyed livestock, and demolished
vineyards, with regrowth and recovery likely to stretch water resources that are already challenged by
drought. Meat, wool, and honey output may also be impacted.

Statistics

In the most recent 2019-2020 bushfire season, 18 million hectares were burned and 3 billion animals
were influenced. 5,852 buildings including 3,500 homes were destroyed. “At least 34 people lost their
lives. Early insurance claims were valued at 1.9 billion Australian dollars in February 2020” (Hughes
2021).
References:

 Givetash, L. (2020) Australian wildfires declared among the ‘worst wildlife disasters in modern
history’.
 <https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/australian-wildfires-declared-among-worst-wildlife-
disasters-modern-history-n1235071>
 (2021, March 10)

 Anon. (2019) Ten impacts of the Australian bushfires.

 <https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/ten-impacts-australian-bushfires>
 (2021, March 10)

 Anon. (2021) Bushfires in Australia.

 <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushfires_in_Australia>
 (2021, March 10)

 Anon. Explainer: what are the underlying causes of Australia’s shocking bushfire season?
 <https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jan/13/explainer-what-are-the-underlying-
causes-of-australias-shocking-bushfire-season>
 (2021, March 10)