SYDNEY _ Volunteer firefighters battling blazes in Australia's most populous state will receive financial support from the government, as a heatwave threatens to escalate the crisis.
The announcement Sunday is an about-turn for Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who'd previously rejected opposition calls to pay volunteers. The ferocious and early start to the bushfire season has triggered an emotive debate about global warming in Australia, amid criticism the government is not doing enough to curb emissions.
"The early and prolonged nature of this fire season has made a call beyond what is typically made on our volunteer firefighters," Morrison said in a statement. "I don't want to see volunteers or their families unable to pay bills, or struggle financially as a result of the selfless contribution they are making."
New South Wales state has borne the brunt of the fires that started months ago in the southern hemisphere winter amid a prolonged drought gripping much of the country. The blazes have burnt out more than 6 million acres of forest and bush land in the state _ an area larger than New Jersey _ destroying the habitat of native animals such as koalas. Images of the marsupials drinking water from bottles after being rescued have gone viral on social media in recent days.
Volunteers who are self-employed or work for small and medium businesses who've been called out for more than 10 days to battle blazes will receive up to $4,100 each, Morrison said in a joint statement with NSW state Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
