In no way underestimating the tragedy this season has represented to many in oz, I gather there are around 700 species of eucalyptus, which make up 90% of Australia’s forests – these gummy trees have developed with particular adaptive resilience to regular natural bush fire conditions as WO'N's mate noted.

What’s more, some trees cannot survive without periodic blazes. Lodgepole and jack pines are serotinous species (nice word, huh?!) - their cones open and their seeds germinate only after they have been exposed to fire.