Police in Australia are not taking the wildfires lightly. As of now, at least 24 people have officially been arrested and charged in conjunction with the fires since November of last year, and over 180 people total are facing some level of legal action.
Of those 180, 53 are looking at charges related to not complying with the fire ban, and another 47 have been fined or cited for discarding a lit cigarette or match without properly putting it out, which could have easily started another fire in Australia’s conditions.
The fires going on in Australia are not good, and there is no nicer way to put that. On Saturday, several major fires merged into one, creating a single blaze that was larger than the entire city of Manhattan.
The wildlife damage is so extreme, many species may simply not survive. Experts believe at least one-third of the wild population of koalas have perished since the start of the wildfire season, with many thinking there isn’t enough of a population to sustain another generation.
This may be the last wild generation of koalas ever.
According to a statement by the Australian Prime Minister earlier this week, at least 24 people have perished in the fires so far. Over 2,000 homes have been completely destroyed, and thousands more have been evacuated.
Over 21 million acres of land have been burnt to the ground since the start of the wildfire season, and with it, the University of Sydney estimated about 480 million animals in New South Wales alone.
Obviously, those arrested for intentionally starting fires are going to see some major legal troubles.
In Australia, setting a bushfire intentionally and being “reckless” with its flames can land you up to 21 years in prison. Being “reckless” basically means not monitoring the fire or properly handling it, which can cause it to spread.
Legal actions for those with lesser charges will result in anywhere from minor warnings to major fines, depending on the severity of the crime.
Australia is going through the worst wildfire season it has ever seen, and they certainly haven’t seen the last of it yet. Hopefully, such strict legal action will help prevent intentional fires from being started in the future.
