Australia usually has fires during the summer season due to hot and dry weather.  Usually natural causes are to blame, but fires can also be started intentionally. Australia is experiencing one of their worst droughts, which makes the fires even more dangerous.  24 people have been charged for starting bush fires on purpose, and legal actions have been taken against 183 people for fire-related offenses since November. Fires have been recorded in every state of Australia, but New South Wales has had it the hardest. The state has had 12.1 million acres burned.  The fires have even affected cities in Australia.  Melbourne and Sydney have had fires damaged their suburbs and have had thick smoke. There was so much smoke in Sydney that the air quality was 11 times the hazardous level.  Throughout the nation 28 people have died and New South Wales have had more than 3,000 homes affected. Entire towns have gone in flames and 17.9 million acres have been burned across 6 states. Many animals have also been affected by the fires. In New South Wales half a billion animals have been affected and millions have died. A third of koalas have been killed in New South Wales and a third of their habitats have been ruined. More than 2,000 firefighters have been working in NSW and more help is being sent. Other countries like the United States, Canada, and New Zealand. the federal government has also sent military assistance to help aid. The fires are very likely to not entirely end.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/01/australia/australia-fires-explainer-intl-hnk-scli/index.html