Earlier this year, the Australian Bushfires ravaged over five million hectares of land (about the size of Belgium), destroyed 449 homes, and 17 people lost their lives (as well as an estimated billion animals). It divided the country and caused an investigation into the effectiveness of the government's response.
Since then, the government has been issued a report with recommendations to better prepare for the fire season (which begun in Northern Australia last month). It recommends action now at the start of the season (not waiting until the fires are worse), new equipment and crews, and better training.
