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List of Australian bushfire seasons

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This article is about a list of bushfire seasons in Australia. For a list major bushes in Australia, including major bushfire seasons, see List of major bushfires in Australia.

NASA MODIS burned area detections from June 2001 to May 2019 showing regions affected by fires in Australia in red

This is a list of specific seasons of bushfires in Australia including some significant bushfire events from each season. Events are listed if they cause fatalities, destroy houses, or burn more than 100,000 hectares (250,000 acres) of land. Across Australia, seasonality of bushfires varies significantly; however, is generally aligned with the weather patterns in the south of the continent so that each season begins in June (the beginning of the Australian winter) and runs through the following May (the end of the Australian autumn). The worst season recorded is 1974-75, with 117 million hectares (290 million acres) burned, equivalent to 15 percent of Australia's physical land mass that equates to the entire area of France, Spain, and Portugal combined.

1800s

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  • Red Tuesday: 12 fatalities, 2000 buildings were destroyed, and 260,000 hectares (640,000 acres) were burnt in Victoria (DSE 2003b).[1]
  • Black Thursday bushfires: 12 fatalities, one million sheep and thousands of cattle were killed, and the fire burnt the second largest area (approximately 5,000,000 hectares (12,000,000 acres)) in history (CFA 2003a; DSE 2003b).[citation needed]

1920s

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1930s

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1940s

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1960s

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  • The 1967 Tasmanian fires: 110 separate fire fronts burnt through 264,000 hectares (650,000 acres) of land in southern Tasmania. The destruction included 1,293 homes, around 62,000 farm animals, over 1,700 other buildings, 80 bridges, 4,800 sections of power lines, 1,500 motor vehicles and over 100 other structures.
  • 1961 Western Australian bushfires The towns of Dwellingup[3] and Karridale were basically destroyed, along with many small settlements that were not rebuilt. The Dwellingup fire migrated to the town of Pinjarra where it burned a significant number of buildings. From January to March of that year, about 1,800,000 hectares (4,400,000 acres) was burnt throughout the south-west, with a large loss of livestock.

1970s

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  • 1974-75 Australian bushfire season: approximately 117 million hectares (290 million acres)[a] burned.[4][6][7] The area burnt, 117 million hectares (290 million acres), is equivalent to 15 percent of Australia's physical land mass that equates to the entire area of France, Spain, and Portugal combined.[5]

1980s

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  • 1984-85 Australian bushfire season: NSW in 1984-85, 3,500,000 hectares (8,600,000 acres) were burnt, four lives were lost, 40,000 livestock were killed and $40m damage to property was caused (RFS 2003a).
  • 1982-1983 Australian bushfire season: The Ash Wednesday fires of 16 February 1983 caused severe damage in Victoria and South Australia. In Victoria, 210,000 hectares (520,000 acres) were burnt, 2,080 houses destroyed, more than 27,000 stock lost and 47 people lost their lives (CFA 2003a; DSE 2003b, 2003d). Property-related damage was estimated at over $200m and more than 16,000 fire fighters, 1,000 police and 500 defence personnel fought the fires in Victoria. In South Australia, 208,000 hectares (510,000 acres) were burnt, 383 houses were destroyed, 28 people were killed and property-related damage was estimated to be more than $200m (DSE 2003d).[1]

1990s

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  • 4 fatalities and 10 houses lost on 20 November at Menai in New South Wales[9][10]
  • 23 houses lost from September to November in southeast Queensland.[13]
  • 2 fatalities and 14 houses lost on 16 October in western Sydney and the Central Coast in New South Wales[9]
  • 1 fatality and 3 houses lost at Mount Tamborine in Queensland[11]
  • 3 fatalities in Queensland[11]
  • 8 houses lost on 23 December across New South Wales[9]
  • 1 fatality and 17 houses lost on 27 December at Strathbogie[14]

2000s

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  • Black Christmas bushfires: 109 houses lost and 733,342 hectares (1,812,130 acres) burned from 24 December to 16 January at numerous locations in New South Wales.[9]
  • 1 house lost in March at Glenaroua in Victoria[14]
  • 11 houses lost from 1–9 February at Tulka in South Australia.[23]

2010s

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  • The most destructive bushfire season in terms of human life and property loss since the 2008–09 Australian bushfire season prior to the 2019-2020 bushfires. Insurance losses of around A$353 million[28]
  • At least 317,000 hectares (780,000 acres) burned
  • Loss of 408 houses and at least 500 non-residential buildings
  • 8 deaths as a direct result of fire: 6 people died in Western Australia, 2 in South Australia. In New South Wales a volunteer firefighter died due to unrelated health complications while on duty.[29]
  • 2015 Esperance bushfires: 4 fatalities; 19 buildings destroyed
  • 2015 Pinery bushfire: 2 fatalities; 470+ buildings destroyed
  • 2016 Tasmanian bushfires: catastrophic impact on Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area lands
NASA image showing the Snowy River bushfire in Eastern Victoria at night in February 2014. The bushfire which lasted for 70 days grew to 165 800 ha and was roughly the same size as Melbourne. Also visible are the fires at the Hazelwood coalmine and Kilmore. Source: NASA Earth Observatory.

2020s

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NASA satellite imagery on 7 December 2019 showing bushfires across the east coast of Australia.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ The 1974-75 bushfire season burnt over 100 million hectares (250 million acres), but there are different figures reported:
    • In 1995, the Australian Bureau Statistics reported 117 million hectares (290 million acres)[4]
    • The 2004 National Inquiry on Bushfire Mitigation and Management reports a total of 102 million hectares (250 million acres)[5]
    The extent of the 1974-75 bushfire season was not known until after the event when satellite images were analysed, due to the fires being mostly located in very remote areas of the continent.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b "1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2004 - Bushfires". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 February 2004.
  2. ^ GORDON, CHRIS (4 March 2015). "Remembering the 1965 Chatsbury-Bungonia Fire | Photos, Audio". Goulburn Post. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  3. ^ "The Dwellingup Fire – Bushfire Front". Bushfire Front. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  4. ^ a b Cheney, N. P. (1 January 1995). "BUSHFIRES – AN INTEGRAL PART OF AUSTRALIA'S ENVIRONMENT". 1301.0 – Year Book Australia, 1995. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 14 January 2020. In 1974-75, lush growth of grasses and forbs following exceptionally heavy rainfall in the previous two years provided continuous fuels through much of central Australia and in this season fires burnt over 117 million hectares or 15 per cent of the total land area of this continent.
  5. ^ a b Ellis, Stuart; Kanowski, Peter; Whelan, R. J. (31 March 2004). "National Inquiry on Bushfire Mitigation and Management, Council of Australian Governments". Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 14 January 2020 – via University of Wollongong.
  6. ^ a b Chang, Charis (8 January 2020). "How the 2019 Australian bushfire season compares to other fire disasters". news.com.au. Retrieved 14 January 2020. The 1974/75 fires had almost no impact and much of the damage was found by satellite after the fact.
  7. ^ "New South Wales, December 1974 Bushfire - New South Wales". Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience. Government of Australia. Archived from the original on 13 January 2020. Retrieved 13 January 2020. During the summer between 1974 and 1975, Australia experienced its worst bushfire season in 30 years. Approximately 15 per cent of Australia's physical land mass sustained extensive fire damage. This equates to roughly around 117 million ha.
  8. ^ "BUSHFIRE - LINTON (NEAR BALLARAT)". Australian Emergency Management Institute. Archived from the original on 13 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Brief History of Bush Fires in NSW". NSW Rural Fire Service. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  10. ^ "BUSHFIRE - SYDNEY, HUNTER, PILLIGA". Australian Emergency Management Institute. Archived from the original on 13 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  11. ^ a b c d e "Understanding bushfire: trends in deliberate vegetation fires in Australia: Queensland" (PDF). Australian Institute of Criminology. p. 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 February 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  12. ^ "BUSHFIRE - DANDENONG RANGES AND MORNINGTON PENINSULA". Australian Emergency Management Institute. Archived from the original on 13 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  13. ^ "BUSHFIRE - EAST COAST QUEENSLAND". Australian Emergency Management Institute. Archived from the original on 13 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  14. ^ a b c d e f "Major fires in Victoria". Country Fire Authority. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  15. ^ Robinson, Natasha (18 December 2009). "Rain and milder temperatures bring relief to firefighters, but danger not over yet". The Australian. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  16. ^ Noonan, Amy (23 December 2009). "Houses lost at Port Lincoln as fire threatens town". Adelaide Now. Archived from the original on 25 December 2009. Retrieved 23 December 2009.
  17. ^ "WA fire declared a natural disaster". ABC Online. 30 December 2009. Archived from the original on 2 January 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2009.
  18. ^ "CFA volunteer killed in truck roll". ABC News. Australia. 10 January 2010. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
  19. ^ Williams Matt; Robertson, Doug; Schriever, Jordanna (14 January 2009). "Devastating Port Lincoln blaze under control". News.com.au. Archived from the original on 13 February 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2009.
  20. ^ "Search on for suspected arsonist in Vic bushfires". ABC News. Australia. 1 February 2009. Archived from the original on 4 February 2009. Retrieved 11 February 2009.
  21. ^ Goldfields Fire 13 (Boorabbin fire)Post Incident Analysis. Dept of Environment and Conservation August 2009
  22. ^ "BUSHFIRE - BOORABBIN NATIONAL PARK". Australian Emergency Management Institute. Archived from the original on 13 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  23. ^ a b c "Bushfire History". South Australian Country Fire Service. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  24. ^ a b Knox, Joe; Talbert, Rebel (2006). "Grassfire spreads 38km in New Year heat Junee Section 44 - "Jail Break Inn"" (PDF). BUSH FIREjournal. 28 (1). New South Wales Rural Fire Service: 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  25. ^ "BUSHFIRE - VICTORIA". Australian Emergency Management Institute. Archived from the original on 13 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  26. ^ "BUSHFIRE - SYDNEY". Australian Emergency Management Institute. Archived from the original on 13 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  27. ^ "BUSHFIRE - CANBERRA". Australian Emergency Management Institute. Archived from the original on 13 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  28. ^ "Catastrophic summer events cost insurers more than $550m". ABC News. Australia. 25 March 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  29. ^ "Volunteer firefighter dies of suspected heart attack". ABC News. Australia. 26 November 2015. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
  30. ^ "Pilbara bushfire threatens homes and lives". WA Today. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  31. ^ "All-clear ends Pilbara bushfire alert". WA Today. 28 September 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  32. ^ "Farmer dies battling bushfire north of Adelaide". ABC News. Australia. 1 November 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  33. ^ "Emergency warnings downgraded for Victoria fires as South Australia gets rain after 32 homes gone". Adelaide Now. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  34. ^ "Adelaide Hills bushfire: Up to 38 houses destroyed, Kersbrook worst hit". ABC News. Australia. 6 January 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  35. ^ "Update – Damage assessment and fire investigation" (PDF) (Press release). New South Wales Rural Fire Service. 19 October 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  36. ^ "Lake Munmorah bushfire victim Walter Linder died defending home". ABC News. Australia. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  37. ^ Browne, Rachel. "Aircraft fighting NSW bushfire crashes, pilot killed". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  38. ^ "Residents begin to return home after 52 properties lost to Perth Hills fire". PerthNow. News Limited. 16 January 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  39. ^ "Grampians blaze claims more homes than previously thought". ABC News. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  40. ^ "Huge bushfires in South Australia destroy at least 15 properties during extreme weather". The Advertiser. News Limited. 19 January 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  41. ^ "South Australia fire destroys seven homes". ninemsn. 12 November 2012. Archived from the original on 14 December 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  42. ^ "Fire destroys properties on Stradbroke Island". ABC News. Australia. 10 December 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  43. ^ "BUSHFIRE - DUNALLEY - JAN 2013". Australian Emergency Management Institute. Archived from the original on 13 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  44. ^ Sands, Mark (18 January 2013). "New Tasmanian fire destroys 30 homes". Post Online. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  45. ^ "Firefighter dies in Tasmania while fire threatens world-leading observatory in NSW". news.com.au. 14 January 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  46. ^ "BUSHFIRE - COONABARABRAN AND NEW SOUTH WALES". Australian Emergency Management Institute. Archived from the original on 13 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  47. ^ "Residents angry over Victorian fire info". The Age. Melbourne. AAP. 9 January 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  48. ^ Nino Bucci; Bridie Smith; Adrian Lowe (9 January 2013). "Blaze near Ballarat destroys homes". The Age. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  49. ^ Van de Wetering, Jodie; et al. (17 January 2013). "PM Julia Gillard visits Coonabarabran". 702 ABC Sydney. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  50. ^ "75yo charged over Aberfeldy bushfire". ABC News. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  51. ^ "Two firefighters killed battling Victorian blaze". ABC News. Australia. 13 February 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  52. ^ "Esperance fire destroys home and machinery". Herald Sun. News Limited. 4 February 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  53. ^ "Boddington bushfire still out of control". 7 News. Yahoo7. 5 February 2013. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
  54. ^ "Homes lost in 'deadly' SW fire". The West Australian. Yahoo7. 14 February 2013. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  55. ^ "16 homes confirmed lost in Dereel fire". ABC News. 28 March 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  56. ^ Williamson, Brett (11 May 2013). "Cherryville bushfire contained". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  57. ^ "BUSHFIRE - AUGUSTA, MARGARET RIVER". Australian Emergency Management Institute. Archived from the original on 13 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  58. ^ Quatermaine, Lisa (12 January 2011). "Lake Clifton fires: homes lost, lives threatened". PerthNow. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  59. ^ "Weather offers reprieve in Gippsland blaze". ABC News. Australia. 2 February 2011. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
  60. ^ "BUSHFIRE - PERTH HILL BUSHFIRES". Australian Emergency Management Institute. Archived from the original on 13 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  61. ^ Tiernan, Finbar; O'Mallon, Eamonn (10 January 2020). "Australia's 2019-20 bushfire season". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  62. ^ Green, Matthew (14 January 2020). "Australia's massive fires could become routine, climate scientists warn". Reuters. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  63. ^ "Victorian bushfires death toll rises as authorities confirm contractor's death was fire-related". ABC News. Australia. 15 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  64. ^ "The numbers behind Australia's catastrophic bushfire season". SBS News. 5 January 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  65. ^ Bungard, Matt (23 January 2020). "Three dead as air tanker fighting bushfires crashes near Snowy Mountains". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  66. ^ Staff. "Australian Bushfires". wwf.org.au. WWF-Australia. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  67. ^ Noble, Freya (14 January 2020). "Government set to revise total number of hectares destroyed during bushfire season to 17 million". 9NEWS. Australia. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
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