Fanning the Flames (1/12)
A firefighter climbs down from his truck as a bushfire approaches the town of Labertouche, east of Melbourne. Aircraft dropped water bombs on the bushfires, but wind speeds of more than 100 km/h fanned the flames creating a deadly wall of fire. (Photo: Reuters)
Victoria Burning (2/12)
A NASA satellite image of the Australian wildfires in southeastern Australia taken on February 9, 2009. The red boxes indicate the location of the fires. Strong winds drove smoke clouds far to the north. (Photo: Reuters)
Unpredictable Danger (3/12)
The smoke from a bushfire on the outskirts of Labertouche, east of Melbourne. An arriving cold front changed the wind direction in the region. Suddenly the fires changed direction and surprised firefighters and residents. In addition, the extreme heat of the days preceding the fires created air turbulence that drew in super-dry air from atmospheric layers several kilometers above the Earth. (Photo: Reuters)
Fed by Drought (4/12)
Smoke from bushfires rises over the hills near the town of Wandong, north of Melbourne. After more than a decade of drought and an especially hot week with maximum temperatures of more than 45 degrees Celsius, the flames consumed the cinder dry bush instantly. (Photo: Reuters)
Stay and Fight? (5/12)
Residents battling to save their homes from approaching bushfires with wet towels and garden hoses run for cover in a Sydney suburb during a fire in 2002. Australia's 'stay and fight policy' allows home owners to defend their property against bushfires. With record death tolls, the recent bushfires have now cast doubts on the approach.(Photo: Reuters)
Toxic Smoke (6/12)
A firefighter, overcome from toxic bushfire smoke, breathes oxygen after battling a bushfire north of Sydney in 2002. Smoke poisoning is probably the single most dangerous health risk in a fire. An estimated 50 to 80 percent of fire deaths are the result of smoke inhalation rather than burns. Wet cloths can grant some protection from dangerous fumes and carbon monoxide. Firefighters use proper gas masks and oxygen flasks. (Photo: Reuters)
Tragic Losses (7/12)
A horse that was trapped by the raging fires lies dead at the side of the road near the community of Kinglake, north east of Melbourne. Weary firefighters and rescuers pulled the remains of hundreds of people from charred buildings and cars in what has become Australia's deadliest bushfires ever. (Photo: Reuters)
Saving Sam (8/12)
A koala named Sam is given a drink of water by volunteer fire fighter Dave Tree as he rescued the animal after deadly fires swept through the area of Mirboo North, southeast of Melbourne. Sam, a bewildered and badly burned koala, has emerged from the ashes of Australia's deadliest bushfires, a small beacon of hope after days of devastation. (Photo: Reuters)
The Aftermath (9/12)
Molten metal seeps from a car destroyed by bushfires in the town of Steels Creek, northeast of Melbourne. Near gale-force winds turned simple bushfires into an extremely hot and fast wall of flames that devoured everything in its path. (Photo: Reuters)
Rebuilding the Ruins (10/12)
A farm house lies in ruins near the fire-ravaged town of Whittlesea, north of Melbourne. While many victims of the fires still mourn their loved ones, government experts are discussing how and if destroyed property should be rebuilt. The Victorian Government has announced potential changes regarding land use and building standards to avoid similar disasters. (Photo: Reuters)
Victim Support, Lessons Learned(11/12)
Messages on a community notice board for victims of the bushfire disaster in a refuge center in the town of Yea, north of Melbourne. Victims received a lot of support from fellow citizens. Churches across the country held services to mourn those perished in the fires. The government vowed to create an early warning system to avoid a repetition of the disaster. (Photo: Reuters)
Aid for the Homeless (12/12)
A woman leaves a donation center with the help of an Australian Army soldier in the town of Kinglake, north of Melbourne. With more than 7,000 homes destroyed, many people in the region have lost all or most of their belongings. Aid and donation centers all over the region cater for the displaced and the homeless. (Photo: Reuters)
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