Jump to content

Black Saturday bushfires

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Raptus Regaliter Cattus Petasatus (talk | contribs) at 21:46, 8 February 2009. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

2009 Victorian bushfires
MODIS Aqua satellite image of the fires in eastern Victoria during the afternoon of the 7th.
Date(s)7–9 February 2009 (ongoing)
LocationVictoria, Australia
Statistics
Land useUrban/Rural Fringe Areas, Farmland, and Forest Reserves/National Parks
Impacts
Deaths108[1][2]
(confirmed as of 02:55AEDT, still being counted)
Non-fatal injuries78+ in hospital[3]

Bushfires across the Australian state of Victoria in February 2009 resulted in at least 108 deaths and caused major property damage, destroying at least 750 homes, mostly in Kinglake and surrounding areas. The fires are the deadliest in Australia's recorded history.[1][5] They occurred during an exceptional heat wave, and began on Saturday 7 February, a day when several localities across the state, including the state capital of Melbourne, recorded their highest temperatures since records began over 150 years previously.[6] The bushfires have been described as the worst in Australia, exceeding the Black Friday fires in 1939, and the Ash Wednesday fires in 1983.[7][8][9]

Hundreds of buildings are suspected to have been destroyed, particularly in the Kinglake fire complex, north-east of Melbourne and in west Gippsland. 78 people have been admitted to hospitals across Victoria with burns, at least 11 in a critical condition.[10]

The mountain towns of Kinglake and Marysville, to the north east of Melbourne have been badly damaged by fire, with more than 80% of Marysville destroyed.[11][12]

Small spot and grass fires were burning across much of the greater Melbourne area, with many outlying suburbs and towns affected. Several train lines were closed including the Belgrave, Gippsland, Seymour and Warrnambool lines, and the main line between Melbourne and Sydney.[13] The Hume and Princes Freeways and numerous other major roads and highways were closed for various periods of time.[14]

Major fires

The major fires include:[10]

North and central

Kinglake fire complex

Smoke over the Yarra Valley and Kinglake area being blown across Melbourne's northeast, on the 7th of February.

The Kinglake fire complex, centred on Kinglake, was created by the merger of two earlier fires, the Kilmore fire and the Murrindindi Mill fire.[15] The complex had burned out over 210,000 hectares (520,000 acres) as of 8 February.[16]

A fire starting at Kilmore East, on the afternoon of 7 February, pushed 30 kilometres (19 mi) south-east towards Kinglake through Wandong and Clonbinane.[17] As many as 30 houses were feared destroyed at Wandong and Heathcote Junction on 7 February.[18] By 8 February it was estimated that 150 houses had been destroyed at Wandong, and four people killed.[19] The fire led to the closure of the Seymour railway line and parts of the Hume Highway.[19] The cool change passed through the area around 7:30pm, bringing south-westerly winds, which switched the fire's movement north-east towards Kinglake.[20] By the evening of 8 February, as many as 100 people displaced by the Kilmore fire were sheltering at an emergency relief centre established in a basketball stadium at Wallan, many of them unable to return to their homes because of safety roadblocks.[21]

The fire front pushed through the Kinglake area late on 7 February, and it was to be the worst impacted area in the state, with more than 550 houses destroyed.[22] In Kinglake at least 12 people were confirmed dead, with another 12 deceased in Kinglake West.[10]

The town of Marysville (at the eastern end of the complex) was almost entirely destroyed by the fire.[23] Late in the afternoon of 7 February, residents had anticipated that the fire front would bypass Marysville, but within minutes the town was enveloped in fire.[23] At about 5pm, power was lost to the town and the wind dropped away; minutes later the wind returned from a different direction, bringing the fire up the valley with it.[24] About 30 residents waited out the night at Gallipoli Park, and were evacuated to Alexandra on the afternoon of 8 February.[24] A police sergeant said that the main street in Marysville had been destroyed: "The motel at one end of it partially exists. The bakery has survived. Don't ask me how. Everything else is just nuked."[25] Unknown damage to the water treatment plant at Marysville likely rendered local water supplies unsafe to drink.[26]

An eyewitness reported that 95 per cent of the houses in nearby Narbethong were also destroyed.[27] Other localities affected by the same fire included Taggerty and Buxton.[28]

To the south, visitors and residents were stranded at Yarra Glen when fire surrounded the town on three sides.[29]

Beechworth fire

Smoke mixes with cloud over Warrandyte, looking northeast across the Yarra River, towards the Kinglake Fire Complex on the 8th of February.

In Beechworth, a fire has burnt over 30,000 hectares (74,000 acres) and threatens the towns of Yackadandah, Stanley, Bruarong, Dederang, Khancoona, Khancoona South, Coralbank, Glen Creek and Running Creek.[30] The fire started at 7pm on 7 February, 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) south of Beechworth, before being driven south through pine plantations by hot northerly winds.[31]

The fire destroyed an unknown number of buildings at Mudgegonga, south-east of Beechworth.[32] Dense smoke and cloud cover had hindered assesment of the Beechworth fire, but as conditions cleared late on 8 February, aerial crews were anticipating being able to commence surveys of the situation.[33]

Bendigo fire

A fire to the west of the city of Bendigo burned out 500 hectares (1,200 acres).[34] The fire broke out at about 3pm on the afternoon of 7 February, and burned through Long Gully and Eaglehawk, coming within 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) of central Bendigo, before it was brought under control late on 8 February.[34] It destroyed approximately 45 houses in Bendigo's western suburbs, and damaged an electricity transmission line, resulting in blackouts to substantial parts of the city.[35] One Long Gully resident, ill and confined to his house, was killed in the fire despite the efforts of his neighbours to rescue him.[35] A second person was later confirmed dead.[36] The fire changed direction late on 7 February with the cool change, and headed back towards Eaglehawk; it was contained around lunchtime on 8 February, though it was still burning within containment lines later that day.[37]

A relief centre was set up at Kangaroo Flat Senior Citizens Centre.Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page). During the fire, residents from Long Gully, Eaglehawk, Maiden Gully, California Gully and West Bendigo were evacuated and advised to assemble at the centre.[36] A town meeting was held for the affected residents on 8 February.[34] On the same day, the Victoria Police indicated that they were investigating whether arson was the cause of the fire.[34]

Redesdale fire

In Redesdale, there has been 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres) burnt, with the fire starting 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) west of the town. The fire is reported as threatening the towns of Baynton and Glenhope.[10]

East

Fire threatening houses near Dean Street in Long Gully, west of Bendigo.

Bunyip fire

Bunyip State Park had houses lost at Longwarry after the fire jumped the Princes Highway.[38]

Dandenong Ranges fire

In Ferntree Gully and Upper Ferntree Gully all major roads were closed. Located within the Dandenong Ranges, fire damaged the rail track around Upper Ferntree Gully, causing the closure of the Belgrave railway line.[13] The fire, which was contained by CFA crews within three hours, burned at least 2ha along the railway.[39]

Narre Warren

In Narre Warren there have been several fires.[40] Six homes were destroyed in Narre Warren South and three in Narre Warren North.[41]

Churchill fire

The Churchill fire complex saw the deaths of at least nine people.[42] There is a potential threat to the Loy Yang Power Station—which produces one third of Victoria's electricity.[10] The fire is threatening coastal towns such as Yarram, Langsbrough and Manns Beach.[38]

West

Horsham fire

The Horsham fire burnt 5,700 hectares (14,000 acres), including the golf club and three homes.[17] A fire truck was also destroyed.[43]

The fire was started at 12:30pm on 7 February when strong winds felled a power pole at Remlaw, west of the city,[44] before heading south-west and then south-east, across the Wimmera Highway and Wimmera River to the Horsham Golf Course and then to Haven, south of the city.[45] Firefighters managed to save the general store, town hall and school at Haven, though flames came within metres of those buildings.[46] Winds of up to 90 kilometres per hour (56 mph), that changed direction three times throughout the day, produced conditions described by the local CFA incident controller as the worst he had ever seen.[44] To the south-west of Horsham, a taxi driver collected his fare, an 82-year-old wheelchair-bound woman and her daughter, from her house as the fire was no more than 100 metres (110 yd) away; the house was alight as the taxi drove off, and burned down within minutes.[47]

At 3pm more than 400 personnel were engaged in fighting the fire,[45] as well as two water-bombing aircraft, 54 CFA tankers and 35 DSE units.[46] By 6pm the front had moved east, and as the wind changed, was then pushed north-east across the Western Highway to Drung, east of Horsham.[45]

Coleraine fire

Coleraine had 770 hectares (1,900 acres) burnt, with one man left nursing severe burns. The fire is reported to be under control.[10]

Weerite fire

At Weerite, east of Camperdown, a fire burnt 1,300 hectares (3,200 acres), and damaged the rail line between Geelong and Warrnambool.[48] The fire caused unquantified losses of stock, and destroyed several outbuildings, but all houses under threat were saved by CFA firefighters.[49] The fire was thought to have been started by sparking power lines along the Princes Highway, which remained closed as of midday 8 February.[49]

Response

Government

The Premier of Victoria, John Brumby, has advised that he has accepted an offer from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to provide assistance from the Australian Defence Force. Victoria Police Commissioner Christine Nixon has formed a taskforce to assist in identifying bodies.[50] Prime Minister Rudd described the bushfires as an "appalling tragedy for Victoria", saying "Hell and all its fury has visited the good people of Victoria in the last 24 hours".[51]

Humanitarian effort

Aid agencies are beginning to run appeals to help those affected by the bushfires. The Australian Red Cross has started an appeal.[52] 3,733 people have registered with the Red Cross after evacuating their properties.[53]

Police

Victoria Police have said that arsonists could be charged with murder, a police spokeswoman stating, "They could be charged with manslaughter or they could be charged with murder."[54]

Community

On 7 February the Australian Broadcasting Corporation established a [message board] where people could offer or request help, and was innundated with replies.

From the start of the bushfires on 7 February, several organisations and individuals used the microblogging service Twitter to post updates on the developing situation. Most notably these were a conversion of the Country Fire Authority's RSS stream, @cfa_updates, and the ABC's @774melbourne], the local emergency radio station. Users also established [#bushfire] and [#bushfires] channels.

Casualties

File:09 Victorian bushfires locator map.png
Map of locations affected by bushfires in Central Victoria and West Gippsland.

108 people have been confirmed to have been killed by the fires.[1][10][55] Popular former Seven Network and Nine Network personality Brian Naylor and wife Moiree are confirmed as being amongst the victims in the Kinglake West area.[56][57][58]

Kinglake complex

Churchill

Bendigo

Beechworth

Unknown

  • 20 - Location details not specific.


It has also been reported that up to 78 people have been hospitalised suffering from burns.[3]

Gallery

  • Smoke from the Kinglake complex reaching Wagga Wagga, NSW
    Smoke from the Kinglake complex reaching Wagga Wagga, NSW

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Bushfire toll hits 96". News Limited. Geelong Advertiser. 2009-02-09. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  2. ^ "Australia's worst bushfire disaster". ABC News. 2009-02-09. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  3. ^ a b "Death toll in Australia fires reaches 65". AP.org. Yahoo.com. 8 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  4. ^ "Bushfires in Victoria kill 35, fears death toll will rise". Herald Sun. 8 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  5. ^ "Death toll rises from bushfires". Staff Reporters. The Age. 2009-02-08. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  6. ^ Townsend, Hamish (7 February 2009). "City swelters, records tumble in heat". The Age. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
  7. ^ "Bushfires in Victoria kill 14 more deaths feared". Herald Sun. 7 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
  8. ^ "http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/744864/worst-day-in-history-vic-fires-kill-14". Ninemsn. Retrieved 2009-02-08. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  9. ^ "Bushfire death toll reaches 84". Geelong Advertiser. 8 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g "Victoria under siege as fires rage across state". Herald Sun. 7 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
  11. ^ "Marysville almost destroyed in Victorian bushfires". Sydney Morning Herald. 8 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  12. ^ "'Absolute devastation': Victoria gutted by deadly bushfires". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 8 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
  13. ^ a b "Gippsland, Seymour & Warrnambool lines ~ Services suspended due to bushfires ~ Sun 8 Feb". V/Line. 2009-02-08. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  14. ^ "Nine bushfires out of control in Victoria". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. 2009-02-07. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
  15. ^ "Reports of major casualties at Kinglake". Geelong Advertiser. 2009-02-08. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  16. ^ "At a glance: where bushfires are burning". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2009-02-08. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  17. ^ a b "Death toll may reach more than 40: police". The Age. 7 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
  18. ^ Barry, Evonne (2009-02-07). "30 homes burn near Kilmore". Herald Sun. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  19. ^ a b "Huge Wandong blaze kills 14 people, rips through homes". The Age. 2009-02-08. Retrieved 2009-02-09. {{cite news}}: Cite uses deprecated parameter |authors= (help)
  20. ^ "Kilmore fires cause grave concern". Geelong Advertiser. 2009-02-08. Retrieved 2009-02-09. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  21. ^ Donovan, Samantha (2009-02-08). "Fire victims seek refuge". PM. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  22. ^ "Grieving Victoria takes stock as toll nears 100". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2009-02-09. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  23. ^ a b Cowan, Jane (2009-02-08). "Wiped out: Town destroyed by killer fires". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  24. ^ a b Davies, Julie-Anne (2009-02-09). "Razed township fears for missing". The Australian. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  25. ^ Coslovich, Gabriella (2009-02-09). "Sickening wait for proof of life, or death". The Age. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  26. ^ Zwartz, Barney (2009-02-09). "Fire prompts water warning for Marysville, Buxton". The Age. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  27. ^ "Wiped out: Towns destroyed by killer fires". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
  28. ^ "Yea-Murrundindi map" (PDF). CFA. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  29. ^ "'We can see flames': people stranded in Yarra Glen". The Age. 8 February 2008. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  30. ^ ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 8 February 2009 http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/08/2485588.htm. Retrieved 2009-02-08. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  31. ^ "Fast-moving blaze hit with little warning". Herald Sun. 2009-02-09. Retrieved 2009-02-09. {{cite news}}: Cite uses deprecated parameter |authors= (help)
  32. ^ "Buildings destroyed near Beechworth". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2009-02-08. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  33. ^ "Smoke, cloud restrict Beechworth fire info". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2009-02-08. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  34. ^ a b c d "Meeting held for fire-affected Bendigo residents". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2009-02-09. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  35. ^ a b "The man up the road is on fire". Herald Sun. 2009-02-09. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  36. ^ a b "BENDIGO BATTLES WALL OF FLAMES". Bendigo Advertiser. 2009-02-08. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  37. ^ Kennedy, Peter (2009-02-09). "'Fire had a mind of its own, like a beast'". The Age. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  38. ^ a b "Bushfires in Victoria kill 14 more deaths feared". Herald Sun. 8 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
  39. ^ "Owners flee as fires gut homes". Herald Sun. 2009-02-08. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  40. ^ "Many may be trapped in homes". Sydney Morning Herald. 8 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  41. ^ "Fire crews mop up after Narre Warren South blaze". Dandenong Leader. 8 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  42. ^ http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/5307094/nine-confirmed-dead-in-gippsland-fires-still-burning/
  43. ^ "Horsham assesses bushfire damage". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
  44. ^ a b Thom, Greg (2009-02-09). "It's frightening in the firing line". Herald Sun. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  45. ^ a b c "Horsham fire: The latest report". Wimmera Mail-Times. 2009-02-08. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  46. ^ a b "Haven school, hall, general store saved". Wimmera Mail-Times. 2009-02-07. Retrieved 2009-02-07.
  47. ^ Flitton, Daniel (2009-02-09). "Molly flees the scene of 61 good years in a cab". The Age. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  48. ^ "Urgent travel advice - Train disruptions to continue on Sunday due to bush fires". VLine. VLine. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  49. ^ a b "BREAKING NEWS: Fire races through Pombo". Warrnambool Standard. 2009-02-08. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  50. ^ Moncrieff, Mark (8 February 2009). "Emotional Premier gives fire warning". The Age. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  51. ^ "Hell's fury unleashed on Victoria: Rudd". Ninemsn. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  52. ^ "Victorian bushfires 2009 - Appeal". Australian Red Cross. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  53. ^ "Bushfires in Victoria kill 66, death toll will rise". Herald Sun. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  54. ^ "Police say arsonists charged over Victoria's bushfires, could face murder charges". News.com.au. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  55. ^ Cooper, Mex (8 February 2009). "Death toll rises from bushfires". The Age. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  56. ^ "Bushfire death toll reaches 84". Geelong Advertiser. 8 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  57. ^ "Brian Naylor and wife die in Kinglake inferno". Geelong Advertiser. 9 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-09.
  58. ^ "TV legend Brian Naylor found dead". The Herald Sun. 9 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-09.

External links

Wikinews has related news:
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2009 Victorian bushfires.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Black_Saturday_bushfires&oldid=269394048"