The blaze swept across the small island, located off the coast of South Australia, on Friday, January 3, destroying more than 50 homes and claiming the lives of two people, as well as more than 50,000 koalas.

More than 160,000 hectares of the island were devastated by the fire, and the formerly luscious, green Flinders Chase National Park is now a barren, charred expanse of land.
Eye-opening photos show exactly how much damage the fire did to the beautiful island, comparing recent photos with pictures taken by a man named Aaron Coleman.
Images were taken this week show the same road surrounded by black, leafless trees, which stand on grey, desolate land for as far as the eye can see. As well as destroying homes, the fire wiped out an award-winning, luxury lodge located on the island. Images from the lodge’s website show the building in its former glory, but scenes captured show how the fire destroyed it completely.
Firefighters on Kangaroo Island continue to work tirelessly to establish containment lines for the ongoing fire, but time is of the essence as hot and windy conditions, which could fuel the flames, are forecast for this Thursday, January 9.