Australians come together in long, hot and fiery summer

Heart-rending stories lead to national show of support for victims and volunteer firefighters

Left: People are wearing surgical masks on the streets as toxic haze shroud the skyline in Sydney. PHOTO: BLOOMBERG
Sydney Opera House is lit with images to show support for those affected by the fires and to express gratitude to the emergency services and volunteers. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Above: Sydney Opera House is lit with images to show support for those affected by the fires and to express gratitude to the emergency services and volunteers.
People are wearing surgical masks on the streets as toxic haze shroud the skyline in Sydney. PHOTO: BLOOMBERG
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This has been a strange summer in Sydney.

For weeks, Australia's largest city has been surrounded by ferocious blazes. Though they reached only the city's outskirts, the crisis has felt ominously close for residents.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on January 12, 2020, with the headline Australians come together in long, hot and fiery summer. Subscribe