Front Burner

Life inside Australia's devastating wildfires

Today on Front Burner, we speak to Australian author Jessica Friedmann about climate change, why this wildfire season is so devastating and how she thinks the government should be responding to the crisis.
Nancy Allen and Brian Allen stand outside the house as high winds push smoke and ash from the Currowan Fire towards Nowra, New South Wales, Australia January 4, 2020. (Tracey Nearmy/Reuters)

Australia's eastern coast has been ravaged by wildfires that have killed at least 25 people, damaged precious ecosystems, and left an estimated 500 million animals dead. Today on Front Burner we hear from someone who knows what it's like to see the sky burn orange and watch ash drop like rain.

Jessica Friedmann, author of Things That Helped, a book about maternal mental health, hails from Braidwood, a small town in New South Wales, Australia. She's written about her family's experience with the wildfires. We speak to her today about why this wildfire season is so devastating and how she feels the government should be responding.

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