wildfires

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As Nation Burns, Australians Turn Rage on Their PM

Anger is mounting over Scott Morrison's wildfire response

(Newser) - The question a few weeks ago was " where the bloody hell " was Scott Morrison. The question now is whether Australia's prime minister can survive the crisis at home and serve out a full three-year term. As the AP reports, there's been an eruption of anger over...

She Wanted to Help Australia's Fire Victims. Out Came the Nudes

'Naked Philanthropist' Kaylen Ward says she's brought in $700K, but the initiative has its downside

(Newser) - The "Naked Philanthropist" will be sending out a lot of nude photos after she says she raised $700,000 for victims of Australia's bushfires. Los Angeles model Kaylen Ward urged Twitter followers Friday to donate to groups such as the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, Victoria Country...

Golden Globes' Cause du Jour: Australian Wildfires

Russell Crowe was forced to miss ceremony due to fires in his homeland

(Newser) - Russell Crowe won a Golden Globe on Sunday night—but the Australian was in his homeland, helping protect his family and his home from raging wildfires. Presenter Jennifer Aniston read out his absentee acceptance speech for best actor in a TV miniseries, which Crowe won for his portrayal of Roger...

Nicole Kidman Throws $500K at Fighting Aussie Fires

Australian comedian's campaign tops $22M in 48 hours

(Newser) - A Facebook fundraiser to help firefighting efforts in Australia quickly topped $22 million on Sunday, with help from celebrities. Australian comedian Celeste Barber started the campaign, to benefit the Rural Fire Service in New South Wales, only 48 hours before. The athletes who have contributed include the No. 1 women'...

Big Name Pledges $500K to Help Fight Aussie Fires

Singer Pink steps up to help friends Down Under, where one blaze is now the size of Manhattan

(Newser) - More than 100 firefighters from the US and Canada have rushed to the other side of the world to help fight the wildfires in Australia that have killed nearly two dozen people and an estimated 500 million animals so far. CNN reports things don't look to get any better...

In Rare Move, US Sends Firefighters to Australia

Mass evacuations underway as danger rises

(Newser) - In 2018, around 140 firefighters from Australia and New Zealand helped fight wildfires in California and other western states. With wildfires now raging in Australia, the help is being repaid. Around 100 American firefighters have been sent to Australia over the last four weeks and at least 50 more will...

500M Animals Feared Dead in Australia Fires

'Our concern is that ... they're not there anymore, basically'

(Newser) - Those devastated to learn of the likely deaths of thousands of koalas in Australia's wildfires should take a deep breath. Ecologists from the University of Sydney now estimate some 480 million animals have been killed since September, per News.com.au . The outlet notes the figure is "likely...

From Inside the Fire Truck, This Is What They Saw

Videos show apocalyptic scenes amid Australia blazes

(Newser) - From inside the truck barreling through burning trees, it looked like the end of the world. Sparks flew past the windows as crew members with Fire and Rescue New South Wales confronted a blaze south of Nowra, Australia, on Tuesday. Then suddenly, there was nothing but flames. "The crew...

Raging Wildfires Trap 4K at Town's Waterfront

Death toll from Australia fires now at least 12

(Newser) - Wildfires burning across Australia's two most populous states Tuesday trapped residents of a seaside town in apocalyptic conditions, destroyed many properties, and caused at least two fatalities. In the southeastern town of Mallacoota, around 4,000 residents fled toward the waterside as winds pushed an emergency-level wildfire toward their...

Sydney: 'We Can't Cancel' Show Despite Conditions

The city's NYE fireworks display will likely go on

(Newser) - Cancel its world-famous New Year's Eve fireworks show? No way, say Australian officials, despite concerns about holding the event while over 100 wildfires rage across the country, CNN reports. Under pressure to cancel, Sydney's Lord Mayor Clover Moore said she was "moved by the outpouring of support...

Australia Fears Loss of Thousands of Koalas in Fires

As much as 30% of the marsupial's habitat has been destroyed

(Newser) - Thousands of koalas are feared to have died in a wildfire-ravaged area north of Sydney, further diminishing Australia's iconic marsupial, while soaring temperatures have increased the fire danger Saturday in the country’s east. The mid-northern coast of New South Wales was home to up to 28,000 koalas,...

'ScoMo, Where the Bloody Hell Are You?'

Australian PM ending Hawaiian vacation after deaths of 2 more firefighters in wildfires

(Newser) - Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison was enjoying the Hawaiian sunshine while two volunteer firefighters died battling bushfires at home Thursday, prompting what Reuters calls a "rare" apology. "I deeply regret any offense caused to any of the many Australians affected by the terrible bushfires by my taking leave...

Koala Who Touched World's Heart Has Died

Lewis, rescued from Aussie bushfire, had burns that were just too much to overcome

(Newser) - As wildfires ravage significant sections of Australia, a small moment of hope emerged last week after a woman saved a koala from a tree in bushland that had gone ablaze. The video of Toni Doherty's rescue went viral , and the story made headlines around the world. Now, per the...

'Catastrophic' Warning an Aussie First as Fires Rage

Fire officials portend 'most dangerous bushfire week this nation has ever seen'

(Newser) - Australia is on fire, and it's getting worse. Over the weekend, it was reported that New South Wales, the country's most populous state, was dealing with dozens of wildfires that killed at least three people and destroyed more than 150 homes. On Monday, 60 fires were still ablaze,...

Aussie PM: 'Devastating' Fires Are 'Absolutely Chilling'

100-plus wildfires blaze across New South Wales and Queensland, killing 3 and injuring dozens

(Newser) - Wildfires razing Australia's drought-stricken east coast have left three people dead, several missing, and dozens injured, with over 150 homes destroyed, officials said Saturday. Around 1,500 firefighters were battling more than 70 fires across Australia's most populous state, New South Wales, with the most intense in the...

LA Firefighter Racks Up $360K in Overtime in One Year

Audit finds 18 members of LAFD made more than $200K in overtime

(Newser) - A Los Angeles firefighter racked up an eye-popping amount of overtime pay last fiscal year, per an audit released Wednesday: $360,010. In fact, the audit by City Controller Ron Galperin reveals, more than 90% of sworn police and fire employees in the city got overtime (an average of $27,...

Trump to California: 'No More' Funding for You

The president unloads on Twitter

(Newser) - President Trump hit Twitter on Sunday and repeated an old plan of his: stop giving money to California to fight wildfires, USA Today reports. Gov. Gavin Newsom "has done a terrible job of forest management," the president wrote . "I told him from the first day we met...

SoCal Blaze Threatens 2.5K Homes, Buildings

But firefighters are making progress against the Maria Fire

(Newser) - Authorities lifted evacuation orders for a farm community Saturday as firefighters make progress on a large wildfire in Southern California that continues to threaten about 2,500 homes and buildings, the AP reports. Ventura County officials allowed an unknown number of residents in Somis to return home Saturday morning after...

'Darn Smart' Idea Helped Save Reagan Library

Goats ate vegetation around library, fending off flames

(Newser) - As a new wildfire started up in California's hillsides this week, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library became a target—and officials are now patting themselves on the back for a "darn smart" idea that may have helped save it. CNN reports that the Easy Fire kicked up on...

Fire Surrounds Reagan Library Amid Historic Winds

Wildfires continue to rage in California as Santa Ana winds buffet the state

(Newser) - Wildfires continue to rage in California as historic winds buffet the area, and on Wednesday morning, a fire broke out in Simi Valley and quickly surrounded the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. The Easy Fire had exploded to 1,300 acres by 10am and was threatening 6,500 homes, KTLA reports,...

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