Ten others, including two volunteer firefighters, have been killed so far this fire season. The blazes have also destroyed more than 1,000 homes and scorched more than three million hectares (7.4 million acres) — an area bigger than Belgium. Neighbouring South Australia is also experiencing “catastrophic” fire conditions. “Winds are gusting and unfortunately this is a dry lightning front that is going to move rapidly across South Australia,” he told national broadcaster ABC. Sydney has spent Aus$6.5 million ($4.5 million) on this year’s fireworks display — funds that the Change.org petition argues would be better spent on supporting volunteer firefighters and farmers suffering through a brutal drought.

Source: The Guardian December 30, 2019 09:22 UTC