Australia fires Q&A | What you want to know

Why are the fires in Australia so hard to put out? Where are they? CBC's David Common answers viewer questions while on the ground in Cobargo, New South Wales.

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[felicitymcconville]

I am in Australia and learnt more about the extent of the fires and the damage than l have from our news and l thank you for that.

[sundance]

Please help our Wildlife 💔🦘🇦🇺🐨🇦🇺🦘💔.. You could donate to Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo, The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, The Kangaroo Island Animal Rescue, WIRES (animal rescue) and there may be animal rescue shelters in The Gippsland in Victoria. Or all Australian states have zoos.
Please donate to Help our Animals .. 🦘🐨🦘

[babyface]

Personally I was shocked at how few helicopters were being used to fight these fires . Australia with it's history of bush fires ( especially after Black Saturday ) should have been more prepared. More helicopters for just one example .Personally I think they needed 5 times the amount of helicopters doing the job . Plus more fire breaks .

[TheReeW]

We American crafters are sewing and crocheting like crazy to make pouches and liners for the poor rescued babies, as well as bat wrap wraps and the koala mittens for those burned. 😢. All over the US people are working for Australia!

[Dolanlol]

Hey CHINA, Due to the fact that the companies you own here on Australian land have stolen water by diverting water from our rivers, Can you send some of ya firefighters over to help.? Thanks.

[maddieandjemma]

My school in Canada are making pouches to fit any animals😘 but I hope these fires stop🙏🙏🙏🙏🔥🔥🔥❌❌❌❌

[Dolanlol]

Australia thanks NEW ZEALAND, Who sent firefighters first, ThAnkyou neighbors you guys are brilliantly amazing people and thankyou from all here in Australia✌💜💛💚💙

[ljh]

With every part of my being, I am wishing for healing rains and cooler temps for Australia! I know it doesn't help them, but for most of us, it is all we can do. My heart breaks for the people, animals and ecosytems. Please let us know if there is anything we can do.
Kudos and so much love for all those working so hard to help to quell these disastrous, devastating fires.❤😢🙏

[DeeDee-aL]

This is really a sad situation = My heart goes out to all of the firefighters and volunteers that are helping to stop the fire and to the residents = I pray that it will rain so hard and stop the wild fire

[brendancook]

The other differences between Australia and Canada and the United States is our gum trees contain eucalyptus oil in the leaves. Which is flammable. That also fuels fire. Great coverage.

[chinabluekurvinus]

Oh God please protect these helpless animals 💖😇🙏

[katherinemorelle]

There are no fires right in the middle of Australia because there’s nothing to burn. It’s desert.

It’s the bush that’s burning (kinda our term for scrubby forest). And that bush clings to the coasts, because that’s usually where the water is. The inside is desert, the coasts are not.

That’s why the inside hasn’t burned. There’s nothing to burn.

Also as for some numbers regarding wildlife, there’s the current estimate of 1 Billion (with a B) native animals dead in NSW. That’s just one state.

On Kangaroo Island, which was the habitat for the last remaining chlamydia free population of koalas, they’re estimating that well over half have died- current guesses are around 30, 000 koalas just on Kangaroo Island.

It’s not good. It’s very not good. Kangaroo Island was also the home to some species that lived only on that island. And it’s feared that those species (like species of dunnarts and potaroos) are now completely extinct.

The scale of the devastation to our wildlife is so large that it can’t really be comprehended.

[KerrieRedgate]

The question about Central Australia: we have a big desert region in our Centre, so not so much to burn. Our forested bushland regions are mostly in eastern and southern coastal regions, and Perth region in the south-western area.
Question on sea water: We don’t use sea water to put out major fires due to the salt content. It can destroy the regrowth of plantlife and create vast desert regions. Salinity is a problem in many parts of Australia.

[maamirzawar]

Allah almighty please save the lives of men and animals 😓😓😓

[sandrajdixon]

A very terrible thing to have to have broadcast about but extremely well done CBC Radio Canada! Very good questions asked and selected to answer . Very informative and factual. Climate deniers need to watch THIS broadcast. Awesome job!

[harland]

I'm Australian living in Victoria and this is the best update I have come across

[codedesigns]

One person mentioned using sea-water as an option. It is not recommended to use sea-water to put out fire on forestry as the salt can prevent future growth. Can it put out the fire...yes (and can be used on homes and whatnot). But _should_ it be used on forestry, probably not. We experience this issue here in Canada along roads and highways during the winter when salt is used on roadways and plows push salt back into easements - and we consistently see tree-life not doing very well in those areas that salt is used. Best to use fresh-water when possible.

[TPristinMiracles]

Thank you CBC. We're watching for a long time in tears...so sooo sad for public of Australia, for animals, for nature :(.. It's a big disaster not just for Australia; it is for whole world. We pray for all of you. God bless you all and hero firefighters . Hope this disaster stops and hope everyone gets healed. Please accept our condolonces for who passed away, for koalas, for nature.

[bodybalanceU]

you forgot the NZ fireys that are there and the ones that were applauded at the airport was from nz - we are across the ditch how could you not mention us

[Michelen]

Salt water is bad for soil. It may put fires out if it was accessible but crucial regeneration wouldn't happen.