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Bushfires

Poor planning led to out-of-control prescribed burn that damaged WA wilderness retreat, report finds

A review obtained by the ABC finds preparation for the 2020 burn in the Kimberley was "underpinned by plans produced by a division based in Perth" and contained information irrelevant to the local landscape.
Image of a burned landscape stretching up to the side of a building in a remote part of the Kimberley.

People flock to the coast as another heatwave scorches Perth and parts of WA

As Perth and parts of Western Australia swelter through a second heatwave in as many weeks, data shows hot weather has left almost five times more people in hospital than bushfires in recent years.
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A group of people swimming in clear blue water

Lack of oxygen could have caused fatal plane crash that killed three people: ATSB

A preliminary report suggests hypoxia could be the reason three aerial firefighting crew members, including 22-year-old William Jennings from the US, died when their plane crashed in rural Queensland in November.
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An image of a young man smiling into a camera while wearing a tuxedo.

'It was a light bulb moment': Hear the stories young people told us about their changing climate

Natural disasters have punctuated most years of their high school life, but this year's Heywire winners only have tales of resilience to share. 
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A composite image of Spedding, Lar, Maya and Kimberly.

Life returns to scorched national park after bushfire burns almost 3,500 square kilometres

A researcher who had cameras stationed throughout a central Queensland national park has captured the devastation of a months-long bushfire and the green shoots of returning life.
Burnt bushland next to a picture of the bushland covered in greenery

Swimmers warned off two popular Victorian waterholes as mercury soars across the state

Swimmers are being warned to stay away from one of Victoria's busiest beaches and a popular High Country waterhole as extreme heat grips the state.
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A long distance shot of people walking along a beach that curves around with trees under a blue sky

Raging forest fires kill at least 46 in Chile; toll expected to rise

At least 46 people have been killed by wildfires in Chile with the death toll expected to rise.
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A man pours a bucket of water on a burning building.

Charges dropped against man accused of causing fire which destroyed 86 homes in Perth hills

The case against the man accused of causing the devastating Wooroloo bushfires - which destroyed more than 80 homes - has been dropped. .
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a man in a blue shirt covering his face with a piece of paper.

Hazard reduction burns increase risk of severe bushfires, report finds

Traditional fire management strategies such as hazard reduction burns, logging, and the thinning of undergrowth have increased the flammability of forests, new research has found.
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A firefighter in the middle of a blaze faces the camera

WA braces for another severe heatwave in a summer the BOM says 'has been very kind to us' so far

Temperatures are set to soar across WA this week as the state plunges into another heatwave, and while we may feel like having a grumble, the weather bureau says it's just a "fairly average" summer in the west.
Powerlines suspended between towers against orange dusk  sky.

Volunteer firefighter slams emergency water supply theft as 'nuts behaviour' in WA bushfire-prone towns

A brigade near Margaret River says emergency water supplies critical for firefighting have been stolen as the local shire investigates and more security measures are put in place.
A helicopter water bomber flies over flames and forest in WA's South West as a bushfire burns.

Unregistered vehicles could be used to prevent 'catastrophic' bushfires in new trial

The NSW Rural Fire Service says the trial is an opportunity to improve its relationship with farmers and share resources and responsibilities.
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A farmer holding a water hose leaking water.

Campgrounds closed as bushfire burns close to villages on NSW mid north coast

Strong winds are fanning the flames of a fire burning close to popular camping spots to the north of Wooli and west of Minnie Water.
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A large plane drops red fire retardant onto a bushland

Meet the family fighting fires as well as misconceptions around female firefighters

Colleen and her two daughters are part of a growing number of female volunteer firefighters who have signed up, helping to dispel enduring misconceptions around what it takes to be a firie.
A mother and two daughters in protective gear

Rangers vow to crack down on careless campers amid heightened long weekend bushfire risk

Victorian authorities say increased vegetation after recent floods has increased the risk of bushfires and are on patrol for unattended fires as people flock to campsites this weekend.
a photo of a woman in ranger uniform with dark hair crouching over burnt out fire

Weather-obsessed farmers now have a dedicated agriculture decision support team at BOM

Talking about the weather is a farming pastime, and it's dominating conversations after summer storms hit. A new Bureau of Meteorology team dedicated to agricultural decision-making will give farmers even more to talk about.
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Damian and Angela Stock stand arm-in-arm in front of debris and flood water in their paddock

Tasmania is home to the tallest flowering plants in the world. Fire is now their biggest threat

Brett Mifsud has travelled to Tasmania for more than 30 years to find and measure the state's largest trees. He fears increasingly frequent and intense fires mean this could be the last generation of giants. 
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A man standing next to a giant tree in the forest.

Bushfire victims move into donga accommodation as Tara recovery continues

Families who lost their homes in the destructive Tara bushfire in late 2023 have moved into dongas and caravans while they begin the slow process of rebuilding.
A woman and teenage girl give a thumbs up while sitting on the steps of a donga

Canadian fires pumped triple the country's annual emissions into the atmosphere. What does that mean for the climate?

Megafires were once rare, but they are becoming increasingly common, and 2023 is clear evidence of that. Experts say the events are being made worse by climate change. But how much are wildfires contributing to climate change themselves? 
Locals watch as a fires come over the hill

Artist spends 36 years building miniature Sydney Harbour Bridge cocktail cabinet

Michael Gill dedicated nearly four decades of his life to building a miniature version of the Sydney Harbour Bridge as a cocktail cabinet, but the ongoing threat of bushfires means it needs a safe home where the public can enjoy it.
Men with grey hair, glasses and yellow shirt, holding arm on miniature Sydney Harbour Bridge

Fears for East Kimberley's Gouldian finches after massive bushfires scorch habitat

Spotting an endangered Gouldian finch at Lake Argyle in the Kimberley is a treat for any bird lover, but the impact of two large bushfires, believed to have started from campfires, has worried locals and scientists.
Composite image of gouldian finch and Lake Argyle fires

Victims of one of SA's worst bushfires look back on loss and recovery

It has been 10 years since the Bangor bushfire raged through the southern Flinders Ranges, but those who witnessed it remember it like it was yesterday.
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A woman and a man holding a photo of a fire.

'It'll absolutely cause a firebomb': Piles of tree trunks and debris litter state forest after logging operation

Residents near the Ourimbah State Forest have aired concerns over debris left behind by loggers, with experts claiming the remains are a threat to homes and lives.
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A huge pile of tree logs inside a forest.

WA police say fire that caused $1 million in damage may have been arson

Police are investigating the cause of a blaze in Palmer, two hours south-east of Perth, which tore through 300 hectares of land during hot and windy conditions.
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Dense smoke through trees, above a road.

Widespread phone, internet and electricity outages reported in wake of severe summer thunderstorm

A summer storm has pummelled WA's Wheatbelt and eastern parts of Perth, with Western Power warning it could take days to restore services to all affected customers. 
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A storm is viewed off a coastal pathway