Unrelenting Fire Emergency

Over 2 million hectares of land have been burnt, dozens of fires are still burning and we are now bracing for heatwave conditions with temperatures of over 40 degrees forecast.

Distressingly there is little relief in sight as the Bureau of Meterology (BOM) are predicting a difficult summer with ongoing fire threats and extended drought conditions likely, due to expected drier than average conditions, below average rainfall and higher than average temperatures. 

WIRES have been rescuring and caring for wildlife for over 30 years and never before have we experienced emergency conditions like these. With the unprecented quality, size and scope of these fires, the loss of wildlife is heartbreaking. 

With estimates that over 2,000 koalas are likely to have died in the north coast alone, conservatively the losses of all native animals would be in the tens of thousands. Surviving animals will also face significant challenges caused by food and water shortages and lack of habitat, for an extended time.

On Friday several blazes combined north of Sydney to create a megafire with a 60 kilometre long fire front stretching all the way to Singleton. Fires are this are being described as too big to put out and the RFS are indicating that they will burn for weeks.

Although our volunteers cannot access fire areas until they have been declared safe, our volunteers are doing everything they can to assist all sick, injured and orphaned native animals being reported as quickly as possible. 

In just the first 8 days of December WIRES 1300 line received over 5,800 calls and WIRES attended over 880 rescues.

To help wildlife in need:

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