Summer is always accompanied by tragedy in Australia. Bushfires have always been part of the environment and those who choose to live close to nature sometimes pay the ultimate price. In suburbia we only look on in horror but are never threatened by bushfires. There have been times when massive sheets of smoke and dust engulf us and bring home the reality of the nature of the bushfire. It is usually the smoke that kills the victims. People are told to evacuate or to stay inside their home but if your house is on fire, what do you do? If you are trapped on a road in your vehicle you will either cook inside your car, be burned alive or die of smoke inhalation.What seems incredible to me is that we have a firefighting force that is made up of volunteers. That's right, only the city folk get a professional fire brigade. The volunteers are called to perform superhuman efforts and receive no financial reward. It seems strange that a country that is taxed by its government to the hilt isn't looked after in the way that the government is expected, in the way the government is obliged.
Australia is a beautiful country but savage in fire, drought and flood.
7 comments:
Ohh, I think it's horrible to look at that link which shows where the fire is. It looks as if the whole continent is on fire.
Yes, it does look like that but most of the population is located in coastal areas. The fires are in the forest(bush) areas. Although people do live in the bush, such as farmers,the majority of the population are city dwellers.
He he, I took the test "what are you worth" As you have the link to on the top of your page. I'm worth $1.967.063 ...Not bad for an old sould...
But Lexcen, what about the animal- life??? I assume they live in the bush. Is there any left of the animals?
Kirsten, you're worth more than me. But I'm worth more than the lovely young female Jos, what is going on?
Bush animals do suffer with bushfires. We don't keep count.
I'm guessing these bush fires are part of the natural cycle in your area? Perhaps it's even required for balance.
As for the animals & nature I'm sure they've adapted. In fact maybe some are adapted so well that it's required for survival.
We get the same burn-offs in the northern boreal forests from time to time. As an example of adaptation, most of a Jack Pine trees cones only open when exposed to extreme heat of a fire. They do this so after a burn-off they get a head start repopulating the area!
Chris, you are correct. It is part of the natural cycle for the flora which regenerate, after five years, the bush is practically back to normal. The fauna either run/fly away. There is no known extinction of a species caused by bushfires. Humans are responsible for that.
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