A grass fire is out of control near Melbourne, Australia. The region around Flowerdale, about 90 kilometers north of the city on the east coast, has been affected. By Wednesday, the widespread fire had spread over more than 700 acres of land.
The fire service tried to protect houses in the region from the flames. Residents were asked to heed warnings and prepare for a possible escape. About 350 emergency services fought the fire in the impassable terrain, including from the air with a dozen fire-fighting aircraft and helicopters. The weather is not cooperating with the fire brigade: meteorologists predicted a heat wave for the state of Victoria that would last at least three days.
Fear of many devastating forest fires
Many citizens were reminded of the catastrophic bushfires in Victoria in February 2009, which also raged in Flowerdale. The so-called Black Saturday bushfires are considered Australia’s worst bushfires. There were 173 confirmed fatalities, 3500 buildings were destroyed.
Experts warned Australia could be hit again by devastating bushfires this year after three extremely wet years. Grass in particular, but also other plants, grew very strongly during this time, the media quoted former New South Wales fire chief Greg Mullins as saying. When the weather turns hot, there is a risk of particularly violent fires.
“When we see days like 2019 and 2020 – with strong westerly winds, very high temperatures around 40 degrees and relatively low humidity – grass fires can grow out of control and turn into something we’ve never seen before,” Mullins warned.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
