A respite but no end to Aussie wildfires

The prime minister of Australia, feeling the political pressure from devastating bushfires that have swept across his nation for months, unveiled a two-year plan Sunday aimed at recovering from the historic blazes.

“The scale of the disaster is enormous,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in unveiling plans for the National Bushfire Recovery Agency. “It is a reminder of the terrible threat that nature provides in this country.”

Fire season typically begins in December in Australia, but some of the fires have been burning since September. The toll has been high: At least 24 people killed and 2,000 homes destroyed. Authorities in New South Wales, a focal point for the carnage, estimated that 500 million birds, reptiles and other animals have died.

Sunday did bring a brief respite with calmer winds and a break in the heat. But authorities warn the fires will continue for months.

New South Wales, where Sydney is located, declared a seven-day state of emergency that started Friday. Firefighters were combating 136 fires Sunday, about half of them uncontained.

It’s summer in Australia, and 2019 was the hottest year on record for the nation of 25 million people. The latest blast of heat and strong winds further fueled blazes already well fed by drought-stricken vegetation.

Navy ships have rescued hundreds of people from beaches, and tens of thousands were urged to flee. The U.S. Embassy warned tourists to leave.

Morrison has drawn criticism for being slow to react to the crisis, even vacationing while his country burned. He has ordered 3,000 reservists to help battle the fires and committed millions of dollars to lease firefighting aircraft from overseas.