More than 180 people have been arrested in Australia for bushfire-related offenses — including 24 for arson — since November, the New South Wales Police Force announced in a news release Monday.

"Of note, 24 people have been charged over alleged deliberately-lit bushfires, 53 people have had legal actions for allegedly failing to comply with a total fire ban, and 47 people have had legal actions for allegedly discarding a lighted cigarette or match on land," the release stated.

Australia has been engulfed with flames since late July as part of the worst wildfire season in decades. The state of New South Wales has experienced the deaths of at least 18 people, the destruction of millions of animals, and the scorching of 4.9 million hectares of land.

The fires prompted two Australian states — New South Wales and Queensland — to declare states of emergency last November. Since then, the fires have continued to worsen, eventually garnering international attention.

Climate change? Not so fast

The news may come as a surprise to viewers of Sunday's Golden Globe Awards or followers of several candidates in the Democratic presidential field, as many on the left have insisted that man-made climate change was most certainly the cause of the Australian bushfire crisis.

Australia is on fire. Nearly half a billion animals have been killed with more than 14.5 million acres burned. This is climate change. pic.twitter.com/Mvy6JRe9o2

— Earth (@earth) January 3, 2020

Just last week, Democratic candidates Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and former candidate Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) took to Twitter to rally support for environmental initiatives and decry climate change deniers.

I say to those who are delaying action on climate change: Look at the blood-red sky and unbreathable air in Australia because of raging forest fires.



Our futures are all connected. That is why we must bring the world together and enact a Green New Deal. pic.twitter.com/GBQQpDc4vE

— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) January 2, 2020





The catastrophic scenes from Australia's wildfires should alarm all of us. Climate change is driving even more dangerous and destructive fires across the world, from California to New South Wales—and we must fight together to defeat this crisis. https://t.co/DQMd9O75mt

— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) January 3, 2020





We're seeing it in Australia.

We're seeing it in California.



Our entire planet is in the midst of a climate crisis. There is already devastating, irreversible damage happening. We must act swiftly to combat it. https://t.co/kPhVFcb6Dy

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) January 4, 2020

On Sunday, Australia's bushfire crisis took center stage at Hollywood's annual Golden Globe Awards. During the ceremony, several celebrities used their time at the podium to comment on the fires.

While most simply expressed well-wishes to those affected, some actors — such as Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett — were sure to mention climate change.

Crowe, who was absent from the ceremony protecting his property in New South Wales, had actress Jennifer Anniston read a statement for him in his absence.

"Make no mistake: the tragedy unfolding in Australia is climate-change based," Aniston read. "We need to act based on science, move our global workforce to renewable energy and respect our planet for the unique and amazing place it is. That way, we all have a future."

Blanchett remarked: "When one country faces a climate disaster we all face a climate disaster. So we're in it together."

Nearly 200 people have already been arrested for deliberately starting the disastrous fires in Australia.



Celebrities, the media, and leftist politicians don't care. "CLIMATE CHANGE" is a far more useful narrative. pic.twitter.com/uLav9wllVM

— PragerU (@prageru) January 7, 2020

(H/T: Townhall)