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Bushfires

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Computer animation modelling the 1997-1998 El Nino.

A ‘globally catastrophic’ super El Nino could form by spring

An El Nino typically associated with a hot, dry spring for Australia is likely to form towards the end of winter – and one model rates the chances of a rare super El Nino at 20-25 per cent.

  • Caitlin Fitzsimmons

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Farmers Chris Dekkera, Brian Kelly and Michael Stubbe are worried about the response to rehabilitating land used for containment lines in the Longwood fire.

Fire breaks make for long and winding roads for burnt-out farmers

Farmers like Michael Stubbe fear their land is vulnerable to damage after containment lines were constructed to fight the Longford fire, but they’re still waiting for the CFA to make repairs.

  • Benjamin Preiss
In this iconic image from the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009, firefighter David Tree shares his water with an injured koala rescued from the scene, later nicknamed Sam.

Why a thirsty koala isn’t the feel-good story it seems

No matter how much we love them, the simple fact is: if koalas can’t climb trees, grab leaves and drink unaided, they won’t survive.

  • Margaret Gordon
Major General Andrew Freeman with Malaysian Army Major General Dato’ Azhan bin Hj Md Othman in Canberra last year.

Taxpayer funding pulled from disaster response team after allegations of fraud

Disaster Relief Australia was feted by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and led by two of Australia’s most decorated military commanders.

  • Eryk Bagshaw
A property on fire as a bushfire rages in Beechina, east of Perth.

Mundaring blaze threat downgraded after 70 hectares burnt

Vision from the scene appears to show an abandoned house and a large shed engulfed by flames.

  • Hannah Murphy
Victoria’s bushfire protocols are operating at peak performance, in part due to the recommendations of Susan Pascoe and others in the Black Saturday Royal Commission.

How the lessons learnt from Black Saturday are saving lives

Though January’s bushfires scorched nearly as much land as Black Saturday, just one person was killed. Experts and survivors attribute this to several improvements, but warn we must always remain vigilant.

  • Angus Delaney
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Lake Eyre/Kati Thanda flooding as seen from the air in October.

Fires and floods, fires and floods: Australia’s summer of extremes

Australia’s summer has been marked by repeated cycles of bushfires followed by floods, as Lake Eyre is set to be flooded for the second time in two years.

  • Bianca Hall
The fire in central Victoria on Tuesday, at the base of the Tallarook Ranges in Trawool.

‘We dodged a bullet’: Bushfire threat eases for central Victorian towns

An out-of-control bushfire threatened lives in three Victorian towns on Tuesday.

  • Alexander Darling and Angus Delaney
Vets at WA Wildlife during bushfire season.

The ‘hidden’ workers at the front line of WA’s bushfire response

WA’s bushfire season is in full swing and for wildlife veterinarians, it’s the busiest time of year. Nearly 90 people have just been trained up to help.

  • Holly Thompson
Janet Rogerson on her farm just outside of Simpson in western Victoria.

‘It’s getting pretty dire’: Disasters leave communities stranded without phone service

Residents across regional Victoria are furious about regular phone network failures. The situation, they say, is putting them in grave danger.

  • Benjamin Preiss