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To put some of that in perspective, in particular for some Americans who are as unclear on what a “hectare” as I still am after 12 years here.


12.35 million acres of Australia have burned since September. Last year the California fires were 250,000 acres and 2 million acres of the Amazon burned, just to give some further perspective.

The half million animals dead is wildlife. I have not yet heard an estimate of the livestock or pets that may have been trapped in the fires. We do know for sure that large portions or entire populations of endangered animals were affected by the fires, several species of birds, reptiles and small mammals have likely been wiped out or made “functionally extinct” since September.

Just like parts of the Western US, some Australian species do require fire to regenerate. However, these fires are burning so hot and hard that those species will also be destroyed rather than regenerated. We have had many years of drought now which has meant preventative burns have been unsafe to perform in the cooler, wetter months. As a result there is a huge build up of dry fuel in these bush areas and fires have gotten quickly out of control.

Pray for rain please! We need this drought to break nation wide, as many areas are in drought but not currently burning.

I have been watching it on the news, and my heart aches for Australia. To our friends Down Under, ya'll stay safe.

I am from Western Australia Luckily My area is free from fire. I have family over east My heart cries for those that have been impacted by these fires. I can not imagine anything more frightening then having to face these fires. I especially feel for the animals both domestic and wild and the terror they must be feeling a they try to escape from the areas ablaze. Western Australia has so far been largely spared from the flames. We do have a few fires burning in WA one of which has cut the states only sealed road that links us with the Eastern States alot of our food and medical supplies come into the state by road. Currently they are all stopped at a road house on the nullabour plain as the road is closed. This road was closed just before Christmas also for a few days causing shortages in some items. Like Strawberries normally $1:99 to $3:50 a punnet being priced at $7 to $9 a punnet if available at all. We have been warned that we will face a food and medication shortages due to not only road closures but crops being destroyed by fires this could well be the biggest humanitarian crisis Australia has faced as a nation. I not only Pray for Rain across our beautiful country and ask for your prayers also. But more importantly when this is eventually over when ever that may be. These people and regions affected will need our support by putting money back into their communities . So take that holiday to Australia visit those towns buy their petrol their goods and use their services they will need to generate an income to survive. May the gods Bless this land her people and her Animals especially. Help them to survive and start to rebuild, repair. Aussies are a resilient bunch and we will rise and survive but we will need a helping hand even if some are to proud to ask.

Prayers for rain, for strength, for the animals and humans.