New Australian Wildfires Start to Spread, Old Ones Re-ignite

With Australia still reeling from the devastation brought on by the wildfires that destroyed millions of acres of forest and killed over 200 people, new fires have started to emerge in the last couple days. And while the moderate temperature increases into the mid 80s F have not created the type of rapid fire spreading that occurred when temperatures had approached 120 degrees F in early February, the remnants of those original fires are now being aggravated once again.

In Melbourne, the capital of Victoria, fires are threatening the fringes of the city and at least one house was already destroyed in a nearby suburb. Residents are now being warned in advance to either evacuate well in advance of the spreading fires or prepare to fight the fires using whatever means necessary. Given the death toll from the first surge of fires, it seems that most are content to simply leave and hope for the best.

Meanwhile, the damage from the first round of fires is still smoldering and must be cleared away before any re-building can occur. The government of Australia and Victoria are going to compensate all of those who lost their homes during the fires and are also going to choose a contractor to go in and begin the clearing work that will ultimately be a massive demolition and construction project.

Arson is suspected in a few of the early fires and one arrest has already been made.