Since September of 2019, Australia has been hit hard with bushfires all across the continent. Blazes have burned through bushlands, the Blue Mountains, and wooded areas. The fires have damaged and destroyed thousands of homes and brought death tolls of at least 25 people and one billion wildlife animals across Australia.
Winthrop men’s tennis player and Australia native, Rhys Jones, took a trip home to Australia for winter break and witnessed the devastation first hand.
“I did go home for the winter break and it honestly felt heart breaking,” Jones said. “Many close family friends were either in danger of or were fighting fires to save their rural properties. The smoke cloud flying into Sydney was scary as you couldn’t see anything until 30 seconds to landing. We suffered a loss in our family and due to the fires my Aunty was unable to attend the funeral as the roads were closed and her property was close to being hit by the fires.”
So what’s causing these fires? The answer can be simplified to two words — Australian summers.
The summer season is also the fire season in Australia. The hot and dry climate doesn’t make the situation any better, as it makes the fires easier to spread. Experts say that the worsening of climate change has been a huge factor and has worsened the impact of natural disasters like flooding and dry lightning. What many don’t know is that people can be at fault as well. At least 20 people have been charged for intentionally starting bushfires and over 150 people have been charged with fire related offenses.
The fires have had a huge effect on Jones and his family and an even bigger effect on the nation as a whole.
“The fires have had the biggest effect on the rural area as farms with livestock and crops have been destroyed in an already drought affected area,” Jones said. “The fires have also affected everyone in Australia and as far as New Zealand with the smoke and air quality being extremely bad due to the fires. It has also affected transport throughout Australia with major road closures causing stress among many people, especially during the holiday period.”
Although the news of the fires is devastating, there is still hope in humanity as many people have been donating in efforts of reducing and/or ending the fires completely. Firefighters from outside the nation, including from the United States have travelled to help fight the fires as well. Thankfully, Australia has finally found relief from rainy weather, quieting a lot of the blazes around the country.
Jones shared how he and his family have helped the cause and how others can do the same.
“Personally myself and my family have donated money and lots of clothes to help those in need,” Jones said. “ At this stage with so many people donating clothes the fire service has said the only real way to help is by donating to the cause. So if others wanted to help the big help is through donations.”
Winthrop men’s basketball player and Australia native, Tom Pupavac, also expressed his concern for the fires and how others can help towards the issue.
“I’m from Australia and as you guys know, the bushfires are really bad at the moment,” Pupavac said in a video for Winthrop Athletics’ Twitter. “In my hometown, [the fires] haven’t hit it yet, but in surrounding areas it’s been really bad.
“Your donations will go a long way to the Red Cross. It will go to the firefighters, the firefighters’ families, and to the animals, where there has been millions and millions of animals who have died from these fires and millions of hectares have been burned of land all around the country. Your donations will go a long way and we’d be really thankful if you all would just lend us a hand,” Pupavac said.
If you would like to donate towards the cause, please visit redcross.org.au.
Photos provided by Rhys Jones
