Photos: From Australian bushfire ashes, a community rises in solidarity

Updated On Jan 19, 2020 09:45 pm IST

After New Year bushfires swept through the Australian landscape destroying its homes, wildlife and people, many residents of the fire-threatened towns and villages heeded advice to leave and head to evacuation centres elsewhere. But Cobargo's less than 1,000 people chose not to abandon their town.

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The Cobargo town sign board that was burnt during the bushfire, in New South Wales. For two weeks, builder Rod Dunn has been living at a showground in a borrowed caravan, wearing an old coat donated by a friend. His house, car, sheds and work tools were wiped out by the ferocious New Year bushfires that swept through the Australian town of Cobargo, killing three of its residents and destroying dozens of homes. (Alkis Konstantinidis/ REUTERS)

Updated on Jan 19, 2020 09:45 pm IST

The Cobargo town sign board that was burnt during the bushfire, in New South Wales. For two weeks, builder Rod Dunn has been living at a showground in a borrowed caravan, wearing an old coat donated by a friend. His house, car, sheds and work tools were wiped out by the ferocious New Year bushfires that swept through the Australian town of Cobargo, killing three of its residents and destroying dozens of homes. (Alkis Konstantinidis/ REUTERS)

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Standing outside a shabby caravan with plastic chairs and dogs roaming around, Dunn recalls how a friend risked his life to rescue him from the blaze, and how strangers from a town 70km away gave him and his wife a tent to sleep in. “That tent saved us,” said the 62-year-old. “I’m totally overwhelmed by what we’ve seen here, the generosity of mankind.” (Alkis Konstantinidis / REUTERS)

Updated on Jan 19, 2020 09:45 pm IST

Standing outside a shabby caravan with plastic chairs and dogs roaming around, Dunn recalls how a friend risked his life to rescue him from the blaze, and how strangers from a town 70km away gave him and his wife a tent to sleep in. “That tent saved us,” said the 62-year-old. “I’m totally overwhelmed by what we’ve seen here, the generosity of mankind.” (Alkis Konstantinidis / REUTERS)

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A danger sign is hung in front of an area cordoned off by the Emergency State Services. Wildfires on a massive scale have killed 29 people since September in Australia, fuelled by record temperatures and tinder-dry conditions, turning swathes of farms and woodlands black, and blanketing the sky in haze. (Alkis Konstantinidis/REUTERS)

Updated on Jan 19, 2020 09:45 pm IST

A danger sign is hung in front of an area cordoned off by the Emergency State Services. Wildfires on a massive scale have killed 29 people since September in Australia, fuelled by record temperatures and tinder-dry conditions, turning swathes of farms and woodlands black, and blanketing the sky in haze. (Alkis Konstantinidis/REUTERS)

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A bird perches on new electricity poles that will replace poles that were burnt during the bushfires. While residents of many of the fire-threatened towns and villages heeded advice to leave and head to evacuation centres elsewhere, Cobargo’s less than 1,000 people chose not to abandon their town. (Alkis Konstantinidis/REUTERS)

Updated on Jan 19, 2020 09:45 pm IST

A bird perches on new electricity poles that will replace poles that were burnt during the bushfires. While residents of many of the fire-threatened towns and villages heeded advice to leave and head to evacuation centres elsewhere, Cobargo’s less than 1,000 people chose not to abandon their town. (Alkis Konstantinidis/REUTERS)

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People attend a gathering in the town’s pub to commemorate the loss of three members of the community and honour the efforts of the local firefighters. Word quickly spread that a commune was forming. Caravans in tow, more evacuees arrived, among them farmers. (Alkis Konstantinidis/REUTERS)

Updated on Jan 19, 2020 09:45 pm IST

People attend a gathering in the town’s pub to commemorate the loss of three members of the community and honour the efforts of the local firefighters. Word quickly spread that a commune was forming. Caravans in tow, more evacuees arrived, among them farmers. (Alkis Konstantinidis/REUTERS)

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Volunteers arrange donated clothes at a centre that has been turned into an unofficial donation point in the town of Cobargo. A kitchen, laundry facilities and a food bank were set up, and medics, a counsellor and a chaplain joined to support the displaced. Meetings were held nightly and trucks rolled up daily, bringing water, food, animal feed and huge hay bales for farms. (Alkis Konstantinidis/REUTERS)

Updated on Jan 19, 2020 09:45 pm IST

Volunteers arrange donated clothes at a centre that has been turned into an unofficial donation point in the town of Cobargo. A kitchen, laundry facilities and a food bank were set up, and medics, a counsellor and a chaplain joined to support the displaced. Meetings were held nightly and trucks rolled up daily, bringing water, food, animal feed and huge hay bales for farms. (Alkis Konstantinidis/REUTERS)

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Mark Ayliffe, captain of the Cobargo Rural Fire Service, holds his own portrait that was given to him by members of the community for his efforts in the recent bushfires, during a gathering in the town’s pub. (Alkis Konstantinidis/REUTERS)

Updated on Jan 19, 2020 09:45 pm IST

Mark Ayliffe, captain of the Cobargo Rural Fire Service, holds his own portrait that was given to him by members of the community for his efforts in the recent bushfires, during a gathering in the town’s pub. (Alkis Konstantinidis/REUTERS)

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Children play inside an Australian Army vehicle that was expedited to help with the recovery of the town following the bushfires, during a gathering in the town. (Alkis Konstantinidis/REUTERS)

Updated on Jan 19, 2020 09:45 pm IST

Children play inside an Australian Army vehicle that was expedited to help with the recovery of the town following the bushfires, during a gathering in the town. (Alkis Konstantinidis/REUTERS)

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“There has been so much help and support. Everybody looks after each other. There are so many good people here,” said Philippe Ravanel, a Swiss blacksmith, standing in the rubble of a 150-year-old home that he bought in 2006, of which only the fireplace remains. (Alkis Konstantinidis/REUTERS)

Updated on Jan 19, 2020 09:45 pm IST

“There has been so much help and support. Everybody looks after each other. There are so many good people here,” said Philippe Ravanel, a Swiss blacksmith, standing in the rubble of a 150-year-old home that he bought in 2006, of which only the fireplace remains. (Alkis Konstantinidis/REUTERS)

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The remains of a car, burnt by a bushfire, stands in front of a destroyed structure. Homes are already becoming available. Peter Hisco is moving to Sydney, Australia’s largest city, and will rent his two-storey house to two displaced families. “My wife has a new job in Sydney so we’ll rent both floors out at a reasonable price.” (Alkis Konstantinidis/REUTERS)

Updated on Jan 19, 2020 09:45 pm IST

The remains of a car, burnt by a bushfire, stands in front of a destroyed structure. Homes are already becoming available. Peter Hisco is moving to Sydney, Australia’s largest city, and will rent his two-storey house to two displaced families. “My wife has a new job in Sydney so we’ll rent both floors out at a reasonable price.” (Alkis Konstantinidis/REUTERS)

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Rod Dunn, the builder, said a friend had kindly offered him use of his property, rent-free for a year. “It’s a good place too,” he said, smiling. “I should know, I built the bloody place.” (Alkis Konstantinidis/REUTERS)

Updated on Jan 19, 2020 09:45 pm IST

Rod Dunn, the builder, said a friend had kindly offered him use of his property, rent-free for a year. “It’s a good place too,” he said, smiling. “I should know, I built the bloody place.” (Alkis Konstantinidis/REUTERS)

News / Photos / News / Photos: From Australian bushfire ashes, a community rises in solidarity

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