People.com
Human Interest
The Most Heartbreaking Photos of the Devastating Australian Wildfires

The Most Heartbreaking Photos of the Devastating Australian Wildfires

The fires, which continue to burn, have charred millions of acres of land across the continent

By Andrea Wurzburger

January 20, 2020 04:21 PM

Skip gallery slides

1 of 30

Credit: Nick Moir/The Sydney Morning Herald/Getty

Bushfires destroy properties in the township of Hillville on the Mid North Coast of NSW, Nov. 12, 2019.

2 of 30

Credit: STEVEN SAPHORE/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The sun is seen through bushfire haze next to the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia, on Dec. 19, 2019.

3 of 30

Credit: Nathan Edwards/Getty

A female koala, named Anwen, recovers from burns at The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital on Nov. 29, 2019, in Port Macquarie, Australia.

Continued on next slide.

4 of 30

A home blazes in a bushfire on Hassall Road in New South Wales, Buxton, Australia on Dec. 19, 2019.

5 of 30

Credit: DEAN LEWINS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Smoke from a bushfire approaches the Old Hume Highway near the town of Tahmoor, New South Wales, Australia, on Dec. 19, 2019.

6 of 30

Credit: State Government of Victoria/AP/Shutterstock

Photo provided by State Government of Victoria shows wildfires in East Gippsland, Victoria state, Australia on Dec. 30.

Continued on next slide.

7 of 30

Credit: JAMES ROSS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

A burnt carcass of a Kangaroo is seen on Dec. 31, 2019, in Sarsfield, East Gippsland, Victoria, Australia.

8 of 30

Credit: SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty

In a photo taken on New Year's Eve, a horse tries to move away from nearby bushfires at a residential property near the town of Nowra in the Australian state of New South Wales.

9 of 30

Credit: Brad Fleet/Newspix

Taken on Jan. 1, 2020, the burnt body of a juvenile kangaroo which became trapped on a fence trying to escape the bush fires in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia.

Continued on next slide.

10 of 30

Credit: SEAN DAVEY/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

ABC photographer Matt Roberts reacts to seeing his sister's house destroyed by a bushfire in Quaama, New South Wales, Australia, on Jan. 1.

11 of 30

Credit: AP/Shutterstock

Massive smoke rises from wildfires burning in East Gippsland, Victoria, on Jan. 2.

12 of 30

Credit: Darrian Traynor/Getty

Poignant graffiti is seen on a bridge on Jan. 3 in Bairnsdale, Australia.

Continued on next slide.

13 of 30

Credit: Justin McManus/The Age/Fairfax Media/Getty

This isn't a filter: the sky turned blood-red in Mallacoota, Victoria, Australia, as a change in the wind sparked fire activity in the area on Jan. 4.

14 of 30

Credit: Matt Loxton Photography/Newspix/Getty

A playground stands, plastic melted by the blaze, after a bushfire on Kangaroo Island, South Australia.

15 of 30

Credit: Darrian Traynor/Getty

The Australia Flag flies under red skies from the fires on Jan. 4.

Continued on next slide.

16 of 30

Credit: Wolter Peeters/The Sydney Morning Herald/Fairfax Media/Getty

Destruction from the Currowan fire on Tallowa Dam Rd. in Kangaroo Valley on Jan. 5.

17 of 30

Credit: Kate Geraghty/The SMH/Fairfax Media via Getty

A koala named Tinny Arse sits in the water tanker of Damian Campbell-Davys, the man who rescued her from a bushfire zone, on Jan. 5.

18 of 30

Credit: DAVID MARIUZ/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Dead stock is seen on Kangaroo Island, Australia, on Jan. 6.

Continued on next slide.

19 of 30

Credit: LUKAS COCH/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

A kangaroo is seen in bushland surrounded by smokey haze in Canberra, Australia on Jan. 5.

20 of 30

Adelaide wildlife rescuer Simon Adamczyk holds a koala he rescued at a burning forest near Cape Borda on Kangaroo Island, Australia on Jan. 7.

21 of 30

Credit: Mark Brake/Getty

Vet nurse Georgia Brown comforts a koala named Robert as he receives treatment at Adelaide Koala Rescue on Jan. 8 in Adelaide, Australia.

Continued on next slide.

22 of 30

Credit: Sam Mooy/Getty

Bush fires continue to blaze throughout the country.

23 of 30

Firefighters manage a controlled burn near Tomerong, Australia, in an effort to contain a larger fire nearby on Jan. 8.

24 of 30

Credit: Rick Rycroft/AP/Shutterstock

A firefighter manages a controlled burn near Tomerong, Australia on Jan. 8, 2020.

Continued on next slide.

25 of 30

Credit: JAMES GOURLEY/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The remains of a burnt-out train carriage which used to be a cafe in Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia, on Jan. 16.

26 of 30

Firefighter Trevor Stewart surveys a fire on Jan. 11 in Tumburumba, Australia.

27 of 30

A red-neck wallaby shelters near burnt-out bushland near Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia on Jan. 16.

Continued on next slide.

28 of 30

Credit: JAMES GOURLEY/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

A horse grazes in front of a burnt-out property affected by the fires on the outskirts of Cobargo, New South Wales, Australia.

29 of 30

Credit: JAMES GOURLEY/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Gary Henderson lies next to a young, injured kangaroo on Jan. 16. Henderson and his partner, Sara Tilling, are nursing the animal back to health in Cobargo, Australia. The pair used to run the Cobargo Wildlife Sanctuary from their home, which was lost in a bushfire along with all their animals, and have only been able to rescue one kangaroo.

30 of 30

Credit: Brook Mitchell/Getty

A kangaroo joey who is under the care of Wytaliba, Australia residents and wildlife carers Julie Willis and Gary Wilson. The couple is currently looking after 50-60 kangaroos.

Replay gallery

Up Next

By Andrea Wurzburger

Account

More

The Most Heartbreaking Photos of the Devastating Australian Wildfires

1 of 30

1 of 30

2 of 30

2 of 30

3 of 30

3 of 30

4 of 30

4 of 30

5 of 30

5 of 30

6 of 30

6 of 30

7 of 30

7 of 30

8 of 30

8 of 30

9 of 30

9 of 30

10 of 30

10 of 30

11 of 30

11 of 30

12 of 30

12 of 30

13 of 30

13 of 30

14 of 30

14 of 30

15 of 30

15 of 30

16 of 30

16 of 30

17 of 30

17 of 30

18 of 30

18 of 30

19 of 30

19 of 30

20 of 30

20 of 30

21 of 30

21 of 30

22 of 30

22 of 30

23 of 30

23 of 30

24 of 30

24 of 30

25 of 30

25 of 30

26 of 30

26 of 30

27 of 30

27 of 30

28 of 30

28 of 30

29 of 30

29 of 30

30 of 30

30 of 30

Share the Gallery

Up Next

Share the Gallery

Everything in This Slideshow