MELBOURNE, Australia — Four people have been charged with unlawfully lighting a campfire that the authorities said sparked huge blazes on Fraser Island off the northeastern coast of Australia in October, ultimately razing more than 210,000 acres of the popular vacation spot. The conflagration was ultimately controlled earlier this month after heavy rains helped firefighters contain the blaze. Residents said they were traumatized by the smoke and rapid evacuations, but no injuries or deaths were reported. Local authorities said that the men were cooperating with authorities and felt deeply remorseful. A fifth male, 17, was also present, but as a minor, has not been charged.

Source: New York Times December 23, 2020 04:30 UTC