The images coming out of Australia have been described as apocalyptic.
Bushfires have raged across that continent for months and have shown few signs of slowing down. Death, displacement and the potential for long-term ecological damage have come in their wake.
Even in the Pacific Northwest, where wildfires are common and expected to become more so as the climate changes, there is nothing in North America that can compare to the Australian fires.
Below are important things to know about those fires, what caused them and the effects they may have on the future.
Just how bad are the bushfires in Australia?
It’s difficult to overstate the scope of the fires currently burning in Australia.
More than 15 million acres have burned since the fires began September. More than 25 people have died, including some firefighters.