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12 results for "bushfires"
A Victorian farmer who barely survived a devastating bushfire as a child has spent four decades protecting others as a volunteer firefighter. Rob Armstrong's journey from victim to protector shows the lasting power of one heroic rescue. #
Scientists released 1,400 Watson's tree frogs into the wild after 80% of their habitat burned in Australia's Black Summer bushfires. The curry-scented amphibians with baritone calls disappeared for 19 years before being rediscovered in 2015.
Australia's volunteer firefighter numbers have dropped by thousands over the past decade, but cadet programs for teens are reversing the trend. Young volunteers like 17-year-old Hanalie are finding community, confidence, and purpose while preparing to protect their towns from increasingly severe bushfires.
After bushfires nearly wiped out 26 endangered plant species in Western Australia's Stirling Range, conservationists are bringing them back from the brink using frozen seeds and careful replanting. One critically endangered banksia had just 37 plants left in the world before the 2018 fires burned them all.
After watching their dream home burn in Australia's Black Summer bushfires, Bron and Donald Graham built a new house into a hillside that they're confident will never burn again. Their innovative earth-covered concrete home is inspiring a nationwide movement toward disaster-resilient housing.
After bushfires destroyed 54 homes, Mount Alexander Shire is pioneering a new approach to climate disaster funding. The council unanimously backed a proposal asking major polluters to contribute to a national climate recovery fund, shifting costs away from local taxpayers.
Conservationists are building artificial nests for endangered Carnaby's black cockatoos after January bushfires destroyed their breeding grounds in Western Australia. The team is racing against time to restore habitat before the birds return to nest in July.
After bushfires swept through Deep Creek National Park, South Australia launched a dedicated fund to help endangered species like the southern emu-wren recover. The park is already reopening sections to visitors while recovery work continues.
After two devastating summers of bushfires, the Victorian town of Halls Gap is bouncing back with creative new tours and winter attractions. Business owners are working together to rebuild a tourism industry that lost nearly $2 million per day during closures.
A rural Australian community raised $150,000 to buy their own mobile health van. The day after its launch, devastating bushfires hit, and the van swung into action helping fire victims.
When Australia's Black Summer fires turned forests to ash, camera footage revealed wombat burrows became underground sanctuaries for 56 species seeking shelter, water, and safety. The humble marsupials didn't lead rescue missions, but their engineering saved lives anyway.
Australian governments are nearly doubling recovery funding for communities devastated by this month's bushfires, with $160 million in new support for residents rebuilding their lives. Over 1,550 homes and structures have been damaged or destroyed, but help is flowing fast.