Australia fires: Scott Morrison cuts short Hawaii holiday after two firefighters die
5 years ago

Australia fires: Scott Morrison cuts short Hawaii holiday after two firefighters die

CNN  

CNN — Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday that he would return from his holiday immediately, after two volunteer firefighters died battling wildfires on Thursday. But I know that Australians would want me back at this time.” His return comes after volunteer firefighters Geoffrey Keaton, 32, and Andrew O’Dwyer, 36, died Thursday near the town of Buxton, southwest of Sydney. “Our thoughts are with their loved ones and the extended RFS family as we come to terms with the devastating news.” On Friday, Morrison expressed condolences for Keaton and O’Dwyer’s families, calling them “amongst our most courageous Australians.” He also expressed regret for his absence on holiday, saying that though his holiday had been arranged “some time ago,” the fires and deaths had “understandably caused a lot of anxiety.” “I deeply regret that and so does Jenny and to all those who were affected by the fires especially, we deeply regret it,” he said. Fighting fires in record-breaking heat A state of emergency was declared in NSW on Thursday for the second time in two months, granting “extraordinary powers” to the commissioner of the Rural Fire Service.

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History of this topic

Searing heatwave grips southeast Australia, raises extreme bushfire risks
4 days, 22 hours ago

Searing heatwave grips southeast Australia, raises extreme bushfire risks

India Today  

Australia's southeast sweated in a heatwave that intensified on Sunday, elevating bushfire risk and prompting authorities to issue fire bans for more parts of Victoria state. Australia is in the grips of a high-risk bushfire season, with firefighters last week battling a large blaze that ripped through Victoria's Grampians National Park, razing homes and farmland. The nation's weather forecaster warned …

Bushfire risk lingers as country swelters under heatwave
3 weeks, 3 days ago

Bushfire risk lingers as country swelters under heatwave

ABC  

Rachel Mealey: Parts of Australia are sweltering in an extreme heatwave with temperatures expected to climb to 47 degrees in some areas, eclipsing December records. David Estcourt: Despite Cree Marshall's home in the town of White Cliffs being exposed to some of the most brutal temperatures today, she expects it to remain completely cool, even without air conditioning. Cree Marshall: …

Australia, scarred by bushfires, on high alert for dangerous summer
1 year, 3 months ago

Australia, scarred by bushfires, on high alert for dangerous summer

The Hindu  

Four years since bushfires destroyed wide swathes of southeastern Australia, killing 33, the country is once again on high alert, bracing for what weather experts say will be the hottest, driest period since the so-called Black Summer. "Once we've actually dried out the landscape from the wet conditions it's starting from, it could be that we end up with a …

Australia’s east faces ‘worst heatwave in two years’ as bushfires continue to rage
1 year, 10 months ago

Australia’s east faces ‘worst heatwave in two years’ as bushfires continue to rage

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Bushfires continue to burn across New South Wales as Sydney and some other parts of …

Australia faces more fires, drought as climate continues to heat
4 years, 1 month ago

Australia faces more fires, drought as climate continues to heat

Al Jazeera  

Country’s weather bureau says higher temperatures and less rainfall creating conditions for more extreme weather events. Australia’s climate is expected become hotter and drier, increasing the risk of drought and extreme weather events such as the bushfires that devastated swathes of southeastern Australia in the last southern hemisphere summer, according to the latest climate report from the country’s weather bureau. …

How extreme conditions drove Australia's record bushfire disaster
4 years, 10 months ago

How extreme conditions drove Australia's record bushfire disaster

ABC  

Highlighted fire scarring near Newcastle and Sydney on 30 January 2020 From above, Australia is a nation torched and scarred. Fires burn across Queensland and northern New South Wales on 14 September 2019 Imagery from the Japanese Himawari weather satellite shows plumes of smoke clearly visible from space. Highlighted fire scarring at Gospers Mountain, 21 December 2019 Satellite imagery from …

Data | What made the Australian bushfires so severe this season?
4 years, 11 months ago

Data | What made the Australian bushfires so severe this season?

The Hindu  

Australia is facing one of its worst bushfire seasons in history, which has caused the deaths of at least 24 people and more than one billion animals as on January 8. Searing heat In 2019, Australia was 1.52°C warmer than the average temperature between 1961 and 1990, the hottest year on record since 1900. Record temperatures image/svg+xml 1.5 1 0.5 …

Scott Morrison\'s popularity plunges after Australian bushfires
4 years, 11 months ago

Scott Morrison\'s popularity plunges after Australian bushfires

Deccan Chronicle  

Melbourne: A political poll showed Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s popularity declined sharply as his government grappled with a bushfires crisis that has killed 28 people and destroyed 2,000 homes. “We have heard the message loud and clear from the Australian people,” Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said on Monday, when asked about the poll result as he announced a A$50 million …

Australia bushfire crisis: Prime Minister admits mistakes amid mounting criticism
4 years, 11 months ago

Australia bushfire crisis: Prime Minister admits mistakes amid mounting criticism

CNN  

CNN — Australia’s beleaguered prime minister, Scott Morrison, has admitted there were things he “could have handled much better” in the bushfire crisis and will propose a royal commission into the disaster. Wolter Peeters/The Sydney Morning Herald via Getty Images “These are sensitive environments, they are very emotional environments,” said Morrison, adding that “prime ministers are flesh and blood too …

Scott Morrison: The ‘daggy dad’ burned by Australia’s fire crisis
5 years ago

Scott Morrison: The ‘daggy dad’ burned by Australia’s fire crisis

Al Jazeera  

Australians are angry at the prime minister’s handling of the crisis and failure to take action on climate change. Canberra, Australia – When Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison arrived in the bushfire-ravaged New South Wales town of Cobargo last week, locals were less than welcoming. “Tell the prime minister he can go and get f***ed!” Several homes and businesses were …

Australian PM’s leadership criticized during wildfire crisis
5 years ago

Australian PM’s leadership criticized during wildfire crisis

Associated Press  

CANBERRA, Australia — As his country burned, Australia’s prime minister was cursed and jeered out of a town, called an “idiot,” a “moron” and worse, and skewered at home and abroad for his dismissive response toward climate change. The outpouring of frustration and rage from many Australians toward Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s lethargic wildfire response has been likened to the …

Scott Morrison meets bushfire victims on Kangaroo Island
5 years ago

Scott Morrison meets bushfire victims on Kangaroo Island

Daily Mail  

Scott Morrison has returned to the front line to meet with bushfire victims after he was snubbed by locals in one of Australia's worst hit areas last week. The Australian prime minister was on Kangaroo Island on Wednesday where he pledged to provide more support after an inferno ripped through the island, off the coast of South Australia, on Friday …

Australia Fires: Military deployed to keep deadly fires from spreading further — 'It's an atomic bomb,' say authorities
5 years ago

Australia Fires: Military deployed to keep deadly fires from spreading further — 'It's an atomic bomb,' say authorities

Firstpost  

Authorities claim that the evacuations are likely the largest peacetime maritime rescue operation in Australian history. “There’s nowhere safe,” said Liddy Lant, a hospital cleaner still in her uniform who had fled from her home on Saturday. “I could seriously just sit down and cry.” The Fire Commissioner of the Rural Fire Service in New South Wales, Shane Fitzsimmons, told …

Kangaroo Island bushfires destroy 56 homes, according to SA Government
5 years ago

Kangaroo Island bushfires destroy 56 homes, according to SA Government

ABC  

The South Australian Government has revealed more than 50 homes have been destroyed in the Kangaroo Island bushfires. Key points: Bushfires flared on Kangaroo Island last Friday, after starting in mid December Dozens of homes have been destroyed, along with other buildings The CFS is warning of high fire danger on Thursday Over the past three days, more than 230 …

Australia bushfire crisis: PM Morrison announces $2 billion for relief support
5 years ago

Australia bushfire crisis: PM Morrison announces $2 billion for relief support

The Hindu  

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday announced an additional 2 billion dollars over two years to a new agency to coordinate a national response to rebuild communities and livelihoods following the deadly bushfire crisis. “It’s a long road ahead and we will be with these communities every step of the way as they rebuild,” Morrison, who is facing widespread …

Photos | Wildfire-weary Australians see no end to unprecedented calamity
5 years ago

Photos | Wildfire-weary Australians see no end to unprecedented calamity

LA Times  

Exhausted firefighters welcomed cooler weather and patchy rain in blaze-ravaged southeastern Australia Monday after a calamitous few days, even as authorities warn of a return to dangerous conditions later this week. With no end in sight to the months-long crisis, authorities are counting the cost after the weekend saw properties in small towns on the south coast of New South …

Fire claims lives of pilot and son as blazes rip through more than a third of Kangaroo Island
5 years ago

Fire claims lives of pilot and son as blazes rip through more than a third of Kangaroo Island

ABC  

An experienced pilot and his son have been killed in catastrophic bushfires that have ravaged more than a third of Kangaroo Island and destroyed homes and businesses. "We are devastated to have lost two beloved members of our family — Dick Lang and his youngest son Clayton Lang — in such terrible circumstances," his family said in a statement. "Dick …

Australian PM \'inclined\' to cancel India visit amid bushfire crisis
5 years ago

Australian PM \'inclined\' to cancel India visit amid bushfire crisis

Deccan Chronicle  

Canberra: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is 'inclined' to cancel his visit to India scheduled for this month amid the worsening bushfire crisis in the country, local media reported. Morrison is slated to visit India from January 12 to January 16 and later to Japan. The Australian daily said that closer defence co-operation was to be a key priority for …

Australia wildfires: Firefighter who lost home refuses to shake prime minister Scott Morrison’s hand
5 years ago

Australia wildfires: Firefighter who lost home refuses to shake prime minister Scott Morrison’s hand

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A firefighter who lost his …

There’s a fire in Australia the size of Manhattan
5 years ago

There’s a fire in Australia the size of Manhattan

CNN  

CNN — Three fires have combined to form a single blaze bigger than the New York borough of Manhattan, as Australian firefighters battle what has been predicted to be the most catastrophic day yet in an already devastating bushfire season. Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images A Royal Australian Navy MH-60R Seahawk "Romeo" helicopter refuels onboard HMAS Adelaide during Operation Bushfire …

Kangaroo Island bushfire emergency sees tourist lodges ravaged as firefighters battle 'unstoppable' blaze'
5 years ago

Kangaroo Island bushfire emergency sees tourist lodges ravaged as firefighters battle 'unstoppable' blaze'

ABC  

Fire crews in South Australia have spent the night battling an emergency bushfire on Kangaroo Island, which is threatening to engulf most of Australia's third-largest island. Key points: The CFS is battling an emergency blaze on the western half of Kangaroo Island The island townships of Vivonne Bay and Parndana have been evacuated Ferries are running to get people off …

Scott Morrison bushfire crisis handling seen as a disaster from Hawaii holiday to hose comment
5 years ago

Scott Morrison bushfire crisis handling seen as a disaster from Hawaii holiday to hose comment

Daily Mail  

Scott Morrison's handling of Australia's bushfire crisis has been widely condemned - from his holiday in Hawaii to his cricket commentary as the death toll worsened. Scroll down for video Scott Morrison's handling of Australia's bushfire crisis has been a public relations disaster - from secretly holidaying in Hawaii to obsessing over the cricket amid tragedy Even Lara Bingle, the …

Australia deploys military, navy to evacuate thousands trapped along its east coast amid advancing bushfires; toll rises to 15
5 years ago

Australia deploys military, navy to evacuate thousands trapped along its east coast amid advancing bushfires; toll rises to 15

Firstpost  

Tens of thousands of holiday makers raced to evacuate popular seaside towns on Australia’s east coast on Wednesday, fleeing ahead of advancing bushfires, as military ships and helicopters planned missions to rescue thousands more trapped by the blazes Melbourne: Tens of thousands of holiday makers raced to evacuate popular seaside towns on Australia’s east coast on Wednesday, fleeing ahead of …

Australian prime minister is jeered in wildfire-ravaged zone
5 years ago

Australian prime minister is jeered in wildfire-ravaged zone

LA Times  

A helicopter dumps water on a wildfire outside the town of Batemans Bay in New South Wales, Australia, on Thursday. Locals in Cobargo, in New South Wales, yelled at him, made obscene gestures and called him an “idiot” and worse, criticizing him for the lack of equipment to deal with the fires in town. The outpouring of anger came as …

Prime Minister Scott Morrison confronted by angry locals in Cobargo as bushfires continue
5 years ago

Prime Minister Scott Morrison confronted by angry locals in Cobargo as bushfires continue

ABC  

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been confronted by angry residents in the bushfire-hit town of Cobargo in New South Wales. Key points: Scott Morrison said Australians should have confidence in state emergency services and show "patience" and "calm" Anthony Albanese is arguing that Australia needs to have more ambitious emissions-reduction targets One person told Mr Morrison he should be "ashamed …

Bushfires In Australia May Get Even Worse With 'Horrible Day' On Horizon
5 years ago

Bushfires In Australia May Get Even Worse With 'Horrible Day' On Horizon

NPR  

Bushfires In Australia May Get Even Worse With 'Horrible Day' On Horizon Enlarge this image toggle caption Darrian Traynor/Getty Images Darrian Traynor/Getty Images As hard as it may be to believe, the bushfires ravaging large swaths of Australia are likely to get worse in the coming days. Citing a menacing cocktail of high temperatures and gusty winds, Australia's Bureau of …

Fires in Australia: Seven people have died in the past 24 hours
5 years ago

Fires in Australia: Seven people have died in the past 24 hours

CNN  

CNN — Seven people have died in the past 24 hours in the Australian state of New South Wales as blazing wildfires continue to tear through bushland and towns. Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images A Royal Australian Navy MH-60R Seahawk "Romeo" helicopter refuels onboard HMAS Adelaide during Operation Bushfire Assist, on Sunday, January 5, in this image provided by the …

Australia fires: Thousands take refuge on a beach in Mallacoota, Victoria, as wildfires rage
5 years ago

Australia fires: Thousands take refuge on a beach in Mallacoota, Victoria, as wildfires rage

CNN  

CNN — Australians are facing a terrifying start to the new year, as bushfires rip through popular tourist spots on the country’s southeast coast, forcing thousands of people to take refuge on nearby beaches. Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images A Royal Australian Navy MH-60R Seahawk "Romeo" helicopter refuels onboard HMAS Adelaide during Operation Bushfire Assist, on Sunday, January 5, in …

Australia’s leader apologizes for vacation amid wildfires
5 years ago

Australia’s leader apologizes for vacation amid wildfires

Associated Press  

SYDNEY — Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison apologized Sunday for taking a family vacation in Hawaii as deadly bushfires raged across several states, destroying homes and claiming the lives of two volunteer firefighters. Morrison said this was not a time for political point-scoring, but a “time to be kind to each other.” He said that while he is not a …

Australia fires: PM Scott Morrison says he will ‘accept the criticism’ for vacationing in Hawaii as fires raged back home
5 years ago

Australia fires: PM Scott Morrison says he will ‘accept the criticism’ for vacationing in Hawaii as fires raged back home

CNN  

CNN — Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he regrets being away on vacation with his family as fires raged across South Australia, resulting in the deaths of three people earlier this week. “I accept the criticism.” More than 105 bush and grass fires continued to burn across New South Wales – a southeastern state of Australia — early Sunday, …

Scott Morrison says he accepts criticism for Hawaii holiday during bushfires, apologises for any upset caused
5 years ago

Scott Morrison says he accepts criticism for Hawaii holiday during bushfires, apologises for any upset caused

ABC  

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has conceded he caused "great anxiety in Australia" by taking a family holiday in Hawaii as bushfires burned across Australia, saying with the benefit of hindsight he would have made a different decision. Key points: The Prime Minister spoke at a press conference in Sydney after cutting short his family holiday Mr Morrison landed in Sydney …

Scott Morrison to end Hawaii holiday early, says he 'deeply regrets' any offence caused over leave
5 years ago

Scott Morrison to end Hawaii holiday early, says he 'deeply regrets' any offence caused over leave

ABC  

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will cut a Hawaiian family holiday short, saying he "deeply regrets" any offence caused by his decision to take leave as bushfires burned across Australia. Key points: Scott Morrison said the leave had been arranged "some time ago" Some Labor politicians criticised the leave, but Mr Morrison's Coalition colleagues insisted it was appropriate The holiday was …

Scott Morrison facing online criticism for pre-Christmas family overseas holiday
5 years ago

Scott Morrison facing online criticism for pre-Christmas family overseas holiday

ABC  

The Acting Prime Minister has insisted it is appropriate for Scott Morrison to be having an overseas holiday as bushfires continue to burn across Australia. Key points: The Prime Minister is overseas with his family at an undisclosed location The Acting Prime Minister has hit back at "naysayers" criticising Scott Morrison Labor's leader has refused to criticise Mr Morrison despite …

Sydney temperatures pass 41C as firefighters injured, homes destroyed, state of emergency declared
5 years ago

Sydney temperatures pass 41C as firefighters injured, homes destroyed, state of emergency declared

ABC  

Four bushfires flared to emergency level, at least 20 properties have been destroyed and three firefighters have sustained serious injuries as temperatures climbed past 42 degrees Celsius in Sydney. Key points: Gusty conditions are blowing heat and smoke across Greater Sydney NSW Health has issued warnings, with the mercury hitting 42C in some areas Australia's hottest day ever was Tuesday, …

At 41 degrees, Australia records hottest day in six years
5 years ago

At 41 degrees, Australia records hottest day in six years

India TV News  

Australia on Tuesday sizzled at 40.9 degrees Celsius, its hottest day in the last six years. Australia heated up this week as a mass of hot air swept east across the continent, with meteorologists forecasting "severe to extreme heatwave conditions". At the start of the week, Perth, the capital of Western Australia, recorded three days in a row above 40C …

As Australia fires rage, heat wave sees hottest day nationwide
5 years ago

As Australia fires rage, heat wave sees hottest day nationwide

CNN  

CNN — Australia experienced its hottest average day across the countryTuesday, with the national temperature soaring as devastating wildfires continued to burn across New South Wales state. That’s just the average nationwide figure – the heat has spiked even higher in some places, like the town of Ceduna in South Australia, which hit 45.5 degrees Celsius. SAEED KHAN/AFP via Getty …

‘Like a furnace’: Australia set to see hottest day ever with 50C forecast as devastating bushfires rage
5 years ago

‘Like a furnace’: Australia set to see hottest day ever with 50C forecast as devastating bushfires rage

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A “once in a lifetime” heatwave is set to sweep across Australia over the coming …

Australian PM Scott Morrison refuses to take blame for environmental policies causing unprecedented bushfires, insists govt was 'doing enough' to tackle climate change
5 years, 1 month ago

Australian PM Scott Morrison refuses to take blame for environmental policies causing unprecedented bushfires, insists govt was 'doing enough' to tackle climate change

Firstpost  

Australia’s Prime Minister on Thursday denied his climate policies had caused unprecedented bushfires ravaging the country and insisted his government was doing enough to tackle global warming Sydney: Australia’s Prime Minister on Thursday denied his climate policies had caused unprecedented bushfires ravaging the country and insisted his government was doing enough to tackle global warming. As blazes that have scorched …

Australia bushfires: Sydney ‘choking in smoke’ as city shrouded in hazardous fumes
5 years, 1 month ago

Australia bushfires: Sydney ‘choking in smoke’ as city shrouded in hazardous fumes

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Powerful winds fanned around 130 fires, which have been …

Australia bushfires: Conditions in East and West coasts to worsen further due to rising temperature, lightning strikes and gusty winds
5 years, 1 month ago

Australia bushfires: Conditions in East and West coasts to worsen further due to rising temperature, lightning strikes and gusty winds

Firstpost  

The country is already battling more than 120 bushfires, and firefighters work day and night trying to contain them Melbourne: Rising temperatures, lightning strikes and gusty winds further raised fire danger on both coasts of Australia on Sunday as the country already battles more than 120 bushfires, and firefighters work day and night trying to contain them. “Please, remain vigilant.” …

Australia bushfire death toll rises as fire risk spreads west
5 years, 1 month ago

Australia bushfire death toll rises as fire risk spreads west

Al Jazeera  

Four people are now known to have died in ferocious blazes on east coast with high temperatures raising risk in west. The death toll in the bushfires raging across Australia’s New South Wales state has risen to four after a man’s body was found in a scorched forest, as authorities warned on Thursday of worsening weather conditions to come. “The …

Australian bushfires: Firefighters rush to prepare for 'bad, if not worse' conditions in coming days after blaze kills three, razes more than 150 houses
5 years, 1 month ago

Australian bushfires: Firefighters rush to prepare for 'bad, if not worse' conditions in coming days after blaze kills three, razes more than 150 houses

Firstpost  

Firefighters in eastern Australia on Sunday rushed to prepare for ‘bad, if not worse’ conditions expected in the coming days after ferocious bushfires devastated communities Taree: Firefighters in eastern Australia on Sunday rushed to prepare for “bad, if not worse” conditions expected in the coming days after ferocious bushfires devastated communities. Wider swathes of the states — including outer Sydney …

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