Heartbreaking Photos Of Australian Family Fleeing Wildfires

Children cling to their grandmother while floating in a jetty — a desperate attempt to escape the blaze that destroyed 90 homes.

On Jan. 4, Tammy Holmes and her grandchildren — ranging in age from 2 to 11 — took refuge under a jetty in the Tasmanian town of Dunalley while a fire destroyed about 90 homes.

Image by Tim Holmes / AP

This summer has brought record heat and fire risk to Australia. On Tuesday, the average temperature was 104 degrees — the highest ever on record, the New York Times reports.

Image by Tim Holmes / AP

Image by Tim Holmes / AP

Image by Tim Holmes / AP

Image by Tim Holmes / AP

6. Here, the family explains the story behind the photos:

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=0ceyLRogRlk.