The raging inferno that has engulfed a large swath of Australia is horrifying. More than 1,500 homes have been destroyed, 25 people have died and millions of kangaroos and koala bears and other animals may have been lost.
Radical environmental extremists and Hollywood celebrities have blamed the fires on climate change. But it turns out — climate change has nothing to do with the humanitarian crisis unfolding Down Under.
It turns out — many of the fires were set by arsonists.
The Australian reports more than 180 people have been arrested since the start of the bushfire season.
Swinburne University professor James Ogloff told the newspaper about 50 percent of bushfires were lit by firebugs and impending fire seasons excited them.
“They’re interested in seeing fire, interested in setting fire and quite often the information around how fires burn and accelerate excites them,” Ogloff told the newspaper.
Note that the professor mentioned the “impending fire seasons.” The bushfires are a regular occurence in Australia.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack dismissed concerns that climate change had anything to do with the massive fires. He blamed the outcry on “raving inner-city lefties” who were ignoring the needs of rural Australians.
“We’ve had fires in Australia since time began,” he told BBC.
