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The Australia Wildfires in Pictures The Australia Wildfires in Pictures
(3 days later)
One of the worst wildfire seasons in Australian history has killed at least 18 people, destroyed more than 1,000 homes and left firefighters struggling to contain more than 100 blazes. Conditions are likely to grow worse, with high temperatures and strong winds expected to fan conflagrations across Australia’s southeast this weekend. Flames have blackened an area the size of Guatemala, destroyed some 2,000 homes and killed at least 20 people in one of the worst wildfire seasons in Australian history. More than 200 blazes are still burning, many of them completely uncontrolled.
In the state of Victoria, which declared a disaster on Thursday, some residents and tourists were evacuated by the Royal Australian Navy. Others were forced to join long lines of vehicles jammed onto escape routes. On Friday, two of the biggest infernos merged into what officials called a “mega-fire,” straddling the country’s two hardest-hit and most populous states, New South Wales and Victoria.
New South Wales also declared an emergency, and evacuations from parts of the state could be the largest in its history. Steady winds continue to drive the flames, but the record-breaking heat that made conditions worse last month and into the new year has abated, and the possibility of at least a little rain next week entered the forecast.
Here is a look at some of the most powerful images of the destruction, residents’ attempts to flee to safety and the continuing effort to contain the fires. The fire season began early this year, in September, enabled by heat, wind and drought that had left trees and brush tinder-dry. The blazes grew steadily worse and have consumed more than 41,000 square miles so far, spreading a harmful shroud of smoke across much of southeastern Australia, and even touching some suburbs of Sydney, the most populous city.
Here is a look at some of the most powerful images of the fires and the devastation they have left behind, the people and animals attempting to escape them, and the continuing effort to contain them.
A dehydrated and underfed wild horse was stumbling and close to collapse in the Bago State forest.
Rural Fire Service trucks refilling their water tanks as the Dunns Road fire increased in ferocity.
A helicopter flying low over the Dunns Road fire dropped water on the advancing blaze.
Mark Bourke, left, and Greg Lyons, members of the Rural Fire Service, near Maragle. The men were alone when the Dunns Road fire reached Tooma Road, where they battled to control its spread.
A lone fire truck near the Dunns Road fire. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Friday that there would be a thorough review of the fires and the government’s response.
Jill Rose cooled off her alpacas in Tomerong, in the Australian state of New South Wales, as fire approached.Jill Rose cooled off her alpacas in Tomerong, in the Australian state of New South Wales, as fire approached.
Burning bushland in Tomerong shortly after southerly winds tore through the area, stoking the fire front.Burning bushland in Tomerong shortly after southerly winds tore through the area, stoking the fire front.
Rural Fire Service vehicles waiting at a police road block in Cambewarra, New South Wales. Rural Fire Service vehicles waiting at a police roadblock in Cambewarra, New South Wales.
Gathering on the main road in North Nowra, near Cambewarra.Gathering on the main road in North Nowra, near Cambewarra.
A DC-10 dropping water on a fire front in Tapitallee, New South Wales. A jet aircraft dropping water on a fire front in Tapitallee, New South Wales.
People who had been evacuated from the coastal town of Mallacoota by the Australian Navy arrived in the port of Hastings.
A home, above, gutted by fire in Surf Beach, New South Wales.A home, above, gutted by fire in Surf Beach, New South Wales.
Waiting to be evacuated from Mallacoota, Victoria.
Royal Australian Navy vessels carried people away from Mallacoota, a coastal town.Royal Australian Navy vessels carried people away from Mallacoota, a coastal town.
A Rural Fire Service plane descended to fill its water tank on Friday in Moruya, in New South Wales.A Rural Fire Service plane descended to fill its water tank on Friday in Moruya, in New South Wales.
A center for evacuees in Batemans Bay, New South Wales.A center for evacuees in Batemans Bay, New South Wales.
A fire in Victoria, Australia’s second most populous state, which has declared a state of disaster. A fire in Victoria, Australia’s second-most populous state, which declared a disaster.
Monitoring a fire in East Gippsland, Victoria, where 17 people were missing.
Inspecting the wreckage of a fire truck that had veered off a dirt track near Lake Conjola, New South Wales, as a fire approached.Inspecting the wreckage of a fire truck that had veered off a dirt track near Lake Conjola, New South Wales, as a fire approached.
Smoke rising over the far shore of Lake Conjola.
Cars lined up waiting to leave Manyana in New South Wales.
Rural Fire Service crew members burning dry brush in an effort to prevent more catastrophic fires near Manyana.
Flames consumed trees along a road near Manyana, where hundreds of tourists were stranded.Flames consumed trees along a road near Manyana, where hundreds of tourists were stranded.
Cars waiting to leave Manyana in New South Wales.
Rural Fire Service crew members burning dry brush in an effort to prevent more catastrophic fires near Manyana.
A home threatened by fire in Sarsfield, Victoria.A home threatened by fire in Sarsfield, Victoria.
A firefighter spraying foam retardant ahead of an approaching fire in the New South Wales town of Jerrawangala.A firefighter spraying foam retardant ahead of an approaching fire in the New South Wales town of Jerrawangala.
Buildings destroyed in Sarsfield.Buildings destroyed in Sarsfield.
The owners of a business that was destroyed by fire in Cobargo, New South Wales. The owners of a business destroyed by fire in Cobargo, New South Wales.
The carcass of a burned cow in Coolagolite, New South Wales.The carcass of a burned cow in Coolagolite, New South Wales.
A man in Lake Conjola sprayed water as fire consumed the house next door. A kangaroo rushing past a burning house in Lake Conjola, New South Wales.
Fires in Yatte Yattah, New South Wales.
Firefighters in Lake Conjola.Firefighters in Lake Conjola.
A burned car in Conjola.A burned car in Conjola.
Fires in Yatte Yattah, New South Wales.
Tourists in Lake Conjola, a popular holiday destination, took refuge on a beach.Tourists in Lake Conjola, a popular holiday destination, took refuge on a beach.
A man defending his property at Fishermans Paradise, New South Wales.A man defending his property at Fishermans Paradise, New South Wales.