Unless you’ve been under a rock for the past month, you’ll be very aware that Australia has suffered from some of the worst bushfires ever seen. The country is no stranger to these fires, but the sheer scale, intensity and speed in which they struck across millions of acres of the continent were completely unprecedented.

The stark news reports which showed walls of burning flames, millions of dead and injured animals, homes burnt to the ground and orange skies seen from over 1,000 miles away demonstrated this was no ordinary fire. Was this a disaster caused by climate change? Is it a sign of what is to come in the future?  

While the focus of this documentary is the catastrophic fires in Australia, it is evident that wildfires are increasing across the globe. In 2018 Sweden faced the worst fires in its history – burning vast areas of land. In 2018 and 2019 the United Kingdom suffered its worst wildfires in history – particularly the Marsden Moor in Yorkshire. While these fires are not on the same scale as the Australian bush fire, it is very disconcerting that across the globe there were five times as many wildfires in August 2019. In the EU there were three times as many as the previous decade. 

Australia on Fire: Climate Emergency charts the story of the terrifying battle to save Australia from the destructive fires. It includes first-hand accounts from the firefighters on the front line who risked their lives to fight the flames. It also includes testimony from those who barely escaped with their lives as the fire tore down properties. Drone footage shows the extent of the damage the bush and residential areas. Reporter Kylie Morris also examines the long term impact of the fires on the ecology and diverse animal population. 

The fires claimed the lives of 27 people, burnt out over 2,000 properties and destroyed over 18 million acres of land. Over 800 million animals were lost. 

Watch the Best UK TV Abroad 

TVMucho offers 1-Hour a day forever free trial for Live UK TV and 7 days of Catch Up TV. You can sign up for the free trial here to watch UK TV Abroad. Also, check our UK TV Guide.  

Check current prices for Live UK TV and 7 Days of Catch Up here. They start at €4 per month for the annual subscription.  

There is no better way to watch the best TV picks from the UK when you’re abroad.