Photo of sea foam in Australia

Deluge in Australia Drenches Fires and Eases 3-Year Drought

WELLINGTON, New Zealand  — Drought, wildfires and now flooding have given Australia's weather an almost Biblical feel this year. The good news is that a recent deluge in eastern parts of the country has drenched deadly fires and helped ease a crippling drought...
Photo of Wollemi pine trees

Australia Firefighters Save World’s Only Rare Dinosaur Trees

CANBERRA, Australia — Specialist firefighters have saved the world’s last remaining wild stand of a prehistoric tree from wildfires that razed forests west of Sydney, officials said Thursday. “The Wollemi Pine is a particularly important species and the fac...
Photo of New South Wales Rural Fire Service crew members from Horsley Park RFS carrying the casket of Andrew O'Dwyer

Australian Crews Race to Contain Blazes as Damage Bill Soars

BALMORAL, Australia — Bolstered by cooler weather and desperately needed rain, exhausted firefighters in Australia raced to shore up defenses against deadly wildfires before the blazes flare again within days when scorching temperatures are expected to return....