Incredible outback photo illustrates ominous summer prediction
The impactful image, taken in the tiny outback town of Prairie, southwest of Townsville in Queensland, shows the true toll fighting fires takes on volunteers.
An incredible image has captured the brief moment eight exhausted volunteer firefighters paused to rest during a remarkable 14-day battle to contain an out-of-control blaze on the east coast.
Taken in the tiny outback town of Prairie in Queensland earlier this month, the impactful shot highlights the huge strain fighting fires takes on volunteers. The group are pictured lying in the red dirt, utterly drained, with hazy air swirling and water-filled utility trucks nearby.
Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Queensland RFS Deputy Chief Officer Tony Johnston said some of the volunteers pictured — largely community members and property owners in the town with a population of about 50 people — worked 18-hour days to contain the enormous blaze which tore through the area on November 5.
"A lot of primary producers don't want to leave a fire until it's actually contained," Johnstone told Yahoo. "Those guys were just taking a well-deserved rest, a break between meals, trying to catch up on a few hours sleep when they could."
Two weeks after the image was snapped up, the fire is now contained. But Johnstone said it took a total of 14 days to stabilise the area, where approximately 165,000 hectares were burnt.
"That particular fire is completely contained now and burning well within the containment lines," he said.
"But even yesterday, bits of fire were burning through a gorge, but they're not going to cause any problems. Some of those guys work probably 18 to 20 hour days for a couple of days straight, making sure they did all the back burns."
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Johnstone said across the state's north, there are currently 25 fires burning, many not yet contained. He urged the public to prepare ahead of what the Bureau of Meteorology warned may be one of Australia's hottest summers on record.
Though, he conceded, it's "really hard to tell" what the coming months may bring. "It's been a busy period for everyone, and it could be a busy period over Christmas, depending on if we do get the rain before Christmas or not," he said.
"People need to be aware of their surroundings. Take note of the warnings that are going out, and if they're after information, go to the Queensland Fire Department website or their local government website to find out information about fires."
What's in store for the Australian summer?
Australia is set to experience one of its hottest summers on record, with the BOM forecasting significantly higher-than-average temperatures nationwide. This outlook is largely driven by exceptionally warm ocean temperatures around Australia, a trend that has persisted globally since early last year.
The elevated sea temperatures are expected not only to increase air temperatures but also to add moisture to the atmosphere. This heightened moisture content raises the likelihood of frequent storm outbreaks and above-average rainfall throughout the summer.
Additionally, the unusually warm oceans may lead to one of the most active cyclone seasons in recent years. The BOM anticipates approximately 11 named storms in the Australian region, with a greater chance of severe cyclones rated at category three or above.
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