Major historic bushfires
The Eyre Peninsula bushfires in South Australia began on 10 January 2005. The fires were contained by emergency services, but weather conditions helped push the outbreaks through containment lines on 11 January. Wind speeds were 70 km/h and temperatures exceeded 40 ° C. Nine people died as a result of the fires and another 110 were injured. More than 145,000 hectares of land burnt including 48 thousand hectares around the townships of Wangary, Wanilla, North Shield, Pooinindie, Louth Bay, Greenpatch and Yallunda Flat near Port Lincoln. Source: Emergency Management Australia
On 18 January 2003, several devastating bushfires combined to wreak havoc on Australia’s capital city, Canberra. The fire storm resulted in four deaths, more than 100 injuries and the destruction of around 500 homes. The rapid movement and ferocity of the fire storm was indicated by the large percentage of homes in its path which were destroyed (91%). With only a few exceptions, buildings were destroyed once ignition was established.
The unique meteorological conditions associated with the approaching fire front caused extreme wind conditions in localised areas of south west Canberra. These fierce winds uprooted trees, downed powerlines, blew in house windows, stripped tiles from roofs and even embedded pot plants in house roofs.
The longest official continuous bushfire emergency in New South Wales was between 21 December 2001 and 13 January 2002 when widespread severe bushfires burned throughout much of the State and the Australian Capital Territory. In New South Wales the alert covered the north east, the central coast, the Greater Sydney region, the Blue Mountains, the central west, and the south coast and hinterland. The emergency occurred during mainly extreme weather conditions across eastern New South Wales. Unusual fire behaviour was observed in many areas as a result of variable winds and extremely dry fuel. Source: Emergency Management Australia
On 16 February 1983, which is referred to as 'Ash Wednesday', widespread and extreme conditions across much of Victoria and South Australia resulted in a deadly rapid spread of the bushfires. In Victoria, the fires were fanned by winds gusting to more than 100km/h. Wind gusts of 109 km/h were registered at Laverton and stronger gusts were recorded on the coast. The maximum temperature in Melbourne was 43.2°C with relative humidity readings of only 6%. The fires destroyed approximately 2,500 homes or major buildings. A total of 75 people died as a result of the fires although the exact number varies at official levels depending on when victims succumbed to their injuries. In all 28 people died in South Australia and 47 in Victoria, including 13 Country Fire Authority employees and two other firefighters. Approximately 2,676 were injured. In Victoria the losses included 1,719 houses while 300 were also lost in South Australia. Overall, 82 commercial properties such as hotels, restaurants and stores, along with 23 dairies were lost. Another 1,238 farms were damaged, contributing to a total of approximately 1,700 minor buildings damaged across the two states. A large number of vehicles also were destroyed. Source: Emergency Management Australia
During the four days leading up to these fires, a period of extreme temperature and low humidity was experienced. The fire index was 96 on the day of the fire, one of the highest readings on record and winds were up to 110 km/h (Bureau of Meteorology). There were 62 deaths, 900 injuries and more than 7,000 people were made homeless. The fires resulted in the death of 500 horses, 1,350 cattle, 60,000 sheep, 24,000 chickens, 600 pigs and other animals. More than 3,000 buildings were destroyed, including 1,293 homes and 128 major buildings such as factories, churches, schools and post offices. In addition, about 80 bridges, thousands of power poles, 1,500 vehicles, 5,400 kilometres of farm fences and 265,000 hectares was burnt, including orchards containing 20% of the State’s fruit crop as well as other crops, pasture and forests. The original estimated cost of the fire in 1967 values was A$45 million with insurance losses of A$14 million. Source: Emergency Management Australia
Black Friday bushfires of 13 January 1939 destroyed more than 700 homes, 69 sawmills and many businesses, farms and other buildings. A total of 1,300 buildings were lost. The temperature on that day in Melbourne was 45°C. Between 1.5 and two million hectares were burnt and 75% of the State was affected in some way. A Royal Commission set up after the fires said ’it appeared the whole State was alight on Friday, 13 January 1939’. Also in his commission report, Judge Leonard Stretton said the experience of the past could not guide the victims to an understanding of what might, and did, happen. However, the findings of the Royal Commission played a significant role in increasing bushfire awareness and prevention throughout Australia. Source: Emergency Management Australia
Forest fires raged across large areas of Gippsland throughout February and into early March. Sixty people died and there was widespread damage to, or destruction of farms, homes, sawmills and 400,000 hectares of forests. The fires climaxed on 14 February when 31 people died at Warburton near Melbourne. Source: Emergency Management Australia