101 East

Australia: In the Line of Fire

Australians living in the world’s most fire-prone region grapple daily with a life-or-death choice: fight or flight.

The Jacobs family is just about to sit down to Christmas lunch when they notice the smoke. The blue sky above their home is turning orange.

“When we saw the smoke directly overhead, then it was pretty apparent that we were going to get hit by the fire,” says Tom Jacobs.

In Australia, summers bring bushfires – and the loss of lives and homes every year.

The question for those in the line of fire is whether to fight or flee.

As 101 East discovers, it can be a life-changing choice.

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