A FIERCE fire has swept through 1200 hectares of bush and destroyed 69 homes in New South Wales, Australia.
The fire engulfed the seaside town of Tathra on 18 March after starting in nearby bushland. A mix of 38掳C heat and gusty winds created a 鈥減erfect storm鈥�, says of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service.
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By the evening of 20 March, . The town was evacuated so no one was killed, but it is feared burning houses may have released toxic asbestos into the air.
The autumn timing of the bushfire is odd. Fires typically affect Australia between December and February.
鈥淪adly, fires like this, well into autumn, are an increasing part of the southern Australian experience, as we move further towards climate disruption,鈥� says at Curtin University in Perth.
A 2015 report by Australia鈥檚 Climate Council predicted that , as climate change makes heatwaves and droughts more common and intense.
Australia has experienced since 2005.
A similar picture is emerging globally. , and severe fires strike at odd times of year.
For example, California experienced its largest wildfire ever in December even though it normally gets most fires between .
