Bushfires in Australia

Looking towards the town Swifts Creek, Victoria, in December 2006 during the Victorian Alpine Fires
Intense bushfires can seriously impact the environment, such as here by the Big River, near Anglers Rest, East Gippsland, after the 2003 Victorian fires

Bushfires are frequent events during the warmer months of the year, due to Australia's mostly hot, dry climate. Each year, such fires impact extensive areas. On one hand, they can cause property damage and loss of human life. Certain native flora in Australia have evolved to rely on bushfires as a means of reproduction, and fire events are an interwoven and an essential part of the ecology of the continent. For thousands of years, Indigenous Australians have used fire to foster grasslands for hunting and to clear tracks through dense vegetation.

Major firestorms that result in severe loss of life are often named based on the day on which they occur, such as Ash Wednesday and Black Saturday. Some of the most intense, extensive and deadly bushfires commonly occur during droughts and heat waves, such as the 2009 Southern Australia heat wave, which precipitated the conditions during the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires in which 173 people lost their lives. Other major conflagrations include the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfires, the 2003 Eastern Victorian alpine bushfires and the 2006 December Bushfires.

Global warming is increasing the frequency and severity of bushfires.[1]

Categories

The word "bushfire" builds on the concept of "the bush", referring to sparsely-inhabited regions. Bushfires in Australia are generally defined as uncontrolled, non-structural fires burning in a grass, scrub, bush, or forested area. Australia, being a geographically and meteorogically diverse continent, experiences many types of bushfires. There are two main categories, depending on local topography.

  • Hilly/mountainous fires – burn in hilly, mountainous or alpine areas which are usually densely forested. The land is less accessible and not conducive to agriculture, thus many of these densely forested areas have been saved from deforestation and are protected by national, state and other parks. The steep terrain increases the speed and intensity of a firestorm. Where settlements are located in hilly or mountainous areas, bushfires can pose a threat to both life and property.
  • Flat/grassland fires – burn along flat plains or areas of small undulation, predominantly covered in grasses or scrubland. These fires can move quickly, fanned by high winds in flat topography, and they quickly consume the small amounts of fuel/vegetation available. These fires pose less of a threat to settlements as they rarely reach the same intensity seen in major firestorms as the land is flat, the fires are easier to map and predict, and the terrain is more accessible for firefighting personnel. Many regions of predominantly flat terrain in Australia have been almost completely deforested for agriculture, reducing the fuel loads which would otherwise facilitate fires in these areas.

Common causes of bushfires include lightning, arcing from overhead power lines, arson, accidental ignition in the course of agricultural clearing, grinding and welding activities, campfires, cigarettes and dropped matches, sparks from machinery, and controlled burn escapes.

Looking towards Dargo, Victoria from Swifts Creek, 11 January 2006

History

Epicormic shoots sprouting vigorously from epicormic buds beneath the thick bushfire damaged bark of a Eucalyptus tree – one of the strategies evolved by plants to survive bushfires
Bushfire damage to forests in East Gippsland, Victoria from the Bogong Fire Complex of 2003, two years after fires swept through the area, showing the recovery of trees and undercroft

The natural fire regime in Australia was altered by the arrival of humans. Fires became more frequent, and fire-loving species—notably eucalypts—greatly expanded their range.[2] It is assumed that a good deal of this change came about as the result of deliberate action by early humans, setting fires to clear undergrowth or drive game.[3]

Plants have evolved a variety of strategies to survive (or even require) bushfires, (possessing epicormic shoots or lignotubers that sprout after a fire, or developing fire-resistant or fire-triggered seeds) or even encourage fire (eucalypts contain flammable oils in the leaves) as a way to eliminate competition from less fire-tolerant species.[4]

Some native animals are also adept at surviving bushfires.[5]

Warnings

In 2009, a standardised Fire Danger Rating (FDR) was adopted by all Australian states. During the fire season the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) provides fire weather forecasts and by considering the predicted weather including temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and dryness of vegetation, fire agencies determine the appropriate Fire Danger Rating.[6] In 2010, following a national review of the bush fire danger ratings, new trigger points for each rating were introduced for grassland areas in most jurisdictions. See for example the following glossary[7]

Fire Danger Ratings are a feature of weather forecasts and alert the community to the actions they should take in preparation of the day. Ratings are broadcast via newspapers, radio, TV, and the internet.

Fire Danger Rating
Category Fire Danger Index
Catastrophic / Code Red Forest 100+ Grass 150+
Extreme Forest 75–100 Grass 100–150
Severe Forest 50–75 Grass 50–100
Very high 25–50
High 12–25
Low to moderate 0–12

Regional management

The Australasian Fire Authorities Council (AFAC) is the peak body responsible for representing fire, emergency services and land management agencies in the Australasian region.

Queensland

The Rural Fire Service (RFS) is a volunteer-based firefighting agency and operates as part of the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services.[8]

New South Wales

The New South Wales Rural Fire Service (RFS) is a volunteer-based firefighting ,agency and statutory body of the Government of New South Wales.[9]

South Australia

The Country Fire Service is a volunteer based fire service in the state of South Australia. The CFS operates as a part of the South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission (SAFECOM). Bushfires tend to occur mainly near Adelaide.

Victoria

Major bushfires in Victoria in the 2000s

In Victoria, the Country Fire Authority (CFA) provides firefighting and other emergency services to country areas and regional townships within the state, as well as large portions of the outer suburban areas and growth corridors of Melbourne not covered by the Metropolitan Fire Brigade.[10]

Responsibility for fire suppression and management, including planned burning on public land such as State Forests and National Parks, which makes up about 7.1 million hectares or about one third of the State, sits with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP).

Western Australia

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services of Western Australia (DFES) and the Department of Parks and Wildlife (P&W) have joint responsibility for bushfire management in Western Australia.[11] DFES is an umbrella organisation supporting the Bush Fire Brigade volunteers, Emergency Services Cadets, Fire and Rescue Service, State Emergency Service, Volunteer Emergency Service, Volunteer Fire Service, Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service, and the Volunteer Marine Rescue Services.

Guidelines for survival

Local authorities provide education and information for residents in bushfire-prone regions regarding the location of current fires,[12] preservation of life and property[13] and when to escape by car.[14]

Seasonality

Bushfires in Australia can occur all year-round, though the severity and the "bushfire season" varies by region.[15] These seasons are commonly grouped into years such as "2006-07 Australian bushfire season" and typically run from June one year until May the next year.

In southeast Australia, bushfires tend to be most common and most severe during summer and autumn (December–March), in drought years, and particularly severe in El Niño years. Southeast Australia is fire-prone, and warm and dry conditions intensify the probability of fire.[16] In northern Australia, bushfires usually occur during the dry season (April to September),[17] and fire severity tends to be more associated with seasonal weather patterns. In the southwest, similarly, bushfires occur in the summer dry season and severity is usually related to seasonal growth. Fire frequency in the north is difficult to assess, as the vast majority of fires are caused by human activity, however lightning strikes are as common a cause as human-ignited fires and arson.

Climate change

Australia's climate has been trending toward more bushfire weather over the last 30 years.[18] The Climate Commission found that "The intensity and seasonality of large bushfires in south-east Australia appears to be changing, with climate change a possible contributing factor."[19]

A 2006 report by the Bushfire CRC acknowledges the complexity of climate predictions pointing out "Much of [Australia's] vegetation has a complex evolutionary and dependent relationship with fire. Fire has been part of these environments for tens of thousands of years and much native flora and fauna remains dependent on it in various ways."[20] In 2007, a study by the CSIRO (the national government body for scientific research in Australia), found evidence that climate change will lead to increases in very high and extreme fire danger rating days and earlier onset of the fire season.[21] Other studies investigating the historical record identify significant changes in Australia's bushfire season as a result of human activity.[22]

Major bushfires in Australia

Bushfires have accounted for over 800 deaths in Australia since 1851 and the total accumulated cost is estimated at $1.6 billion.[23] In terms of monetary cost however, they rate behind the damage caused by drought, severe storms, hail, and cyclones,[24] perhaps because they most commonly occur outside highly populated urban areas.

Some of the most severe Australian bushfires, in chronological order, have included:

FireState(s) /
Territories		Approximate area burnedDateFatalitiesProperties damagedNotes
haacres
Black Thursday bushfiresVictoria5,000,000 12,000,0006 February 1851about 121 million sheep; thousands of cattle[25][26]
Red Tuesday bushfiresVictoria260,000 640,0001 February 1898122,000 buildings[26]
1926 bushfiresVictoriaFebruary – March 1926601,000[27]
Black Friday bushfiresVictoria2,000,000 4,900,000December 1938 – January 1939, peaking 13 January 1939713,700
1944 bushfiresVictoria1,000,000 2,500,00014 January – 14 February 194415–20more than 500 houses[26]
1951 – 52 bushfiresVictoriaSummer 1951 – 52at least 10[28]
Black Sunday bushfiresSouth Australia39,000–160,000 96,000–395,0002 January 1955240 dwellings including the Governor's summer residence at Marble Hill
1961 Western Australian bushfiresWestern Australia1,800,000 4,400,000January – March 1961Nil160 homes[29]
1962 bushfiresVictoria14 – 16 January 196232450 houses[27]
Southern Highlands bushfiresNew South Wales5 – 14 March 1965359 homes
Tasmanian "Black Tuesday" bushfiresTasmania264,000 650,0007 February 1967621,293 homes[26]
Dandenong Ranges bushfireVictoria1,920 4,70019 February 196853 homes; 10 other buildings
1969 bushfiresVictoria8 January 196923230 houses[27]
1974 Moolah-Corinya bushfires, Far West NSWNew South Wales1,117,000 2,760,000Mid December 1974340 homes, 10,170 kilometres (6,320 mi) of fencing, 50,000 livestock[30][31][32][33]
1974 Cobar bushfireNew South Wales1,500,000 3,700,000Mid December 1974[30][31][32][33]
1974 Balranald bushfireNew South Wales340,000 840,000Mid December 1974[31][32][33]
1974/75 New South Wales bushfiresNew South Wales4,500,000 11,000,0001974/1975 season6[34][35][36]
Western Districts bushfiresVictoria103,000 250,00012 February 19774116 houses, 340 buildings
1978 Western Australian bushfiresWestern Australia114,000 280,0004 April 197826 buildings (drop in wind in early evening is said to have saved the towns of Donnybrook, Boyup Brook, Manjimup, and Bridgetown.)
1979 Sydney bushfiresNew South WalesDecember 1979528 homes destroyed, 20 homes damaged[37]
1980 Waterfall bushfireNew South Wales1,000,000 2,500,0003 November 19805 firefighters14 homes[38]
Grays Point bushfireNew South Wales9 January 19833 volunteer firefighters[39]
Ash Wednesday bushfires
  • South Australia
  • Victoria
418,000 1,030,00016 February 198375about 2,400 houses
1984 Western New South Wales grasslands bushfiresNew South Wales500,000 1,200,00025 December 198440,000 livestock, $40 million damage[31][32][33]
1985 Cobar bushfireNew South Wales516,000 1,280,000Mid January 1985Nil[31][32]
1984/85 New South Wales bushfiresNew South Wales3,500,000 8,600,0001984/1985 season5[31][32][33][34][35][36]
Central Victoria bushfiresVictoria50,800 126,00014 January 19853180+ houses
1994 Eastern seaboard bushfiresNew South Wales400,000 990,00027 December 1993 – 16 January 19944225 homes[40]
Wooroloo bushfireWestern Australia10,500 26,0008 January 1997Nil16 homes
Dandenongs bushfireVictoria400 99021 January 1997341 homes[41]
Lithgow bushfireNew South Wales2 December 19972[41]
Perth and SW Region bushfiresWestern Australia23,000 57,0002 December 199721 home lost
Linton bushfireVictoria2 December 19985
Black Christmas bushfiresNew South Wales300,000 740,00025 December 2001 – 2002Nil121 homes
2003 Canberra bushfiresAustralian Capital Territory160,000 400,00018 – 22 January 20034almost 500 homes[26][41]
2003 Eastern Victorian alpine bushfiresVictoria1,300,000 3,200,0008 January – 8 March 2003341 homes
TenterdenWestern Australia2,110,000 5,200,000December 20032
2005 Eyre Peninsula bushfireSouth Australia77,964 192,650a10 – 12 January 2005993 homes
2006 Central Coast bushfireNew South WalesNew Years Day, 2006
Jail Break Inn Fire, JuneeNew South Wales30,000 74,000New Years Day 2006NilLivestock losses estimated to be over 20,000. Seven homes, seven headers and four shearing sheds destroyed. 1,500 kilometres (930 mi) of fencing damaged.[42][43]
2005 Victorian bushfiresVictoria160,000 400,000December 2005 – January 2006457 houses, 359 farm buildings, 65,000 stock losses, fires occurred in the Stawell, Moondarra, Anakie, Yea, and Kinglake regions.[44]
Grampians bushfireVictoria184,000 450,000January 20062
Pulletop bushfire, Wagga WaggaNew South Wales9,000 22,0006 February 2006Nil2,500 sheep and 6 cattle killed, 3 vehicles and 2 hay sheds destroyed as well as 50 kilometres (31 mi) of fencing.
The Great Divides bushfireVictoria1,048,000 2,590,0001 December 2006 – March 2007151 homes
2006 – 07 Australian bushfire season
  • New South Wales
  • South Australia
  • Tasmania
  • Victoria
  • Western Australia
1,360,000 3,400,000September 2006 – January 20075Over 100 structures including 83 houses; numerous non-residential structures[45][46][47][48][49][50][51]
Dwellingup bushfireWestern Australia12,000 30,0004 February 2007Nil16
Kangaroo Island bushfiresSouth Australia95,000 230,0006 – 14 December 20071
Boorabbin National ParkWestern Australia40,000 99,00030 December 20073Powerlines and Great Eastern Highway, forced to close for 2 weeks.
Black Saturday bushfiresVictoria450,000 1,100,0007 February 2009 – 14 March 20091732,029+ houses, 2,000 other structures.
Toodyay bushfireWestern Australia3,000 7,40029 December 2009Nil38
Lake Clifton bushfireWestern Australia2,000 4,90011 January 2011Nil10 homes destroyed.
Roleystone Kelmscott bushfireWestern Australia1,500 3,7006 – 8 February 2011Nil72 homes destroyed, 32 damaged, Buckingham Bridge on Brookton Highway collapsed and closed for 3 weeks whilst a temporary bridge was constructed and opened a month after the fires.
Margaret River bushfireWestern Australia4,000 9,90024 November 2011Nil34 homes destroyed including the historic Wallcliffe House.[52]
Tasmanian BushfiresTasmania20,000 49,0004 January 20131At least 170 buildings
Warrumbungle bushfireNew South Wales54,000 130,00018 January 2013NilAt least 53 homes, 118 sheds, agricultural machinery and livestock. Infrastructure destroyed at Siding Spring Observatory.[53]
2013 New South Wales bushfiresNew South Wales100,000 250,00017 October – 28 October1As of 19 October 2013 at least 248 buildings destroyed statewide (inc. 208 dwellings), another 109 damaged in Springwood, Winmalee and Yellow Rock. Major fires also occurred in the Hunter, Central Coast, Macarthur and Port Stephens regions causing significant damage.[54][55][56]
Carnarvon bushfire complexWestern Australia800,000 2,000,00027 December 2011 – 3 February 2012Nil11 pastoral stations (fences, watering systems, water points, stock feed).
2014 Parkerville bushfireWestern Australia386 95012 January 2014Nil56 homes.
2015 Sampson Flat bushfiresSouth Australia20,000 49,0002 January – 9 January 2015Nil27 homes, 140 outbuildings
2015 O'Sullivan bushfire (Northcliffe - Windy Harbour)Western Australia98,923 244,44029 January – 20 February 2015Nil1 home and 1 inhabited shed, 5 farm sheds and thousands of hectares of production forests (karri and jarrah) or national parks.
2015 Lower Hotham bushfire (Boddington)Western Australia52,373 129,420January 2015Nil1 house, 1 farm shed, 1 bridge and thousands of hectares of production forest (jarrah) or national parks.
2015 Esperance bushfiresWestern Australia200,000 490,000October – November 20154About 10 houses and public buildings (Scaddan), 15,000 stock losses, 5 Nature Reserves et most area of Cape Arid national park.[57][58]
Perth Hills bushfire complex - Solus GroupWestern Australia10,016 24,75015 – 24 November 2015NilJarrah production forest and Conservation Park.
2015 Pinery bushfireSouth Australia85,000 210,00025 November – 2 December 2015291 dwellings
2016 Murray Road bushfire (Waroona and Harvey)Western Australia69,165 170,910January 20162181 dwellings (166 only in Yarloop) and thousands of hectares of Lane Poole Reserve and production forest (jarrah).[59]
2017 New South Wales bushfiresNew South Wales52,000 130,00011 – 14 February 2017Nil35 dwellings.[60]
2017 Carwoola bushfireNew South Wales3,500 8,60017 – 18 February 2017Nil11 dwellings destroyed; 12 damaged.[61]
2018 Tathra bushfireNew South Wales1,200 3,00018 – 19 March 2018Nil69 houses and 30 caravans/cabins destroyed; 39 damaged.[62]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Milman, Oliver (24 October 2013). "Climate Council finds 'clear link' between bushfires and climate change". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 October 2013. "There is a “clear link” between climate change and bushfires, with the current New South Wales fires influenced by a rising frequency of hot, dry days, according to the climate body that had its funding withdrawn by the Coalition government. * * * The Climate Council’s interim findings, drawn from 60 peer-reviewed studies, show climate change is influencing the number of extremely warm days in Australia, as well as prolonged periods of low rainfall."
  2. ↑ Flannery, T. (1994) "The future eaters" Reed Books Melbourne.
  3. ↑ Wilson, B., S. Boulter, et al. (2000). Queensland's resources. Native Vegetation Management in Queensland. S. L. Boulter, B. A. Wilson, J. Westrupet eds. Brisbane, Department of Natural Resources.
  4. ↑ White, M. E. 1986. The Greening of Gondwana. Reed Books, Frenchs Forest, Australia.
  5. ↑ Effects of fire on plants and animals "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 30 January 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2010. . Retrieved June 2012
  6. ↑ "New Warning System Explained". Country Fire Authority. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
  7. ↑ Country Fire service of South Australia website http://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/site/home/cfs_glossary.jsp. Retrieved September 2011
  8. ↑ "Rural Fire Service Queensland".
  9. ↑ "NSW Rural Fire Service". New South Wales Government. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
  10. ↑ "Country Fire Authority". Country Fire Authority. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
  11. ↑ "Welcome to DFES". Department of Fire and Emergency Services of Western Australia. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
  12. ↑ "NSW Current Fires". NSW Rural Fire Service.
  13. ↑ "How to survive a bushfire" (PDF). NSW Rural Fire Service. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  14. ↑ "Driving in a bushfire". Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  15. ↑ Luke RH, McArthur AG (1978). Bushfires in Australia. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.
  16. ↑ Sullivan, Rohan (11 February 2009). "Hot and dry Australia sees wildfire danger rise". The Association Press. Retrieved 13 February 2009.
  17. ↑ "Monsoonal Climate". Questacon. Retrieved 9 September 2006.
  18. ↑ "Bushfire weather in Southeast Australia: Media Brief", The Climate Institute, 26 September 2007. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  19. ↑ "The Critical Decade: Climate science, risks and responses" Archived 24 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine., The Climate Commission, 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  20. ↑ "CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACT ON THE MANAGEMENT OF BUSHFIRE" (PDF). Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre. September 2006. p. 4. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  21. ↑ CSIRO (2007). "Bushfire Weather in Southeast Australia Recent Trends and Projected Climate Change Impacts". Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  22. ↑ Jones, Roger. "Fire and climate change: don't expect a smooth ride". The Conversation. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  23. ↑ "Summary of Major Bush Fires in Australia Since 1851". Romsey Australia. Retrieved 29 October 2010.
  24. ↑ "EMA Disasters Database". Emergency management Australia. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
  25. ↑ Black Thursday. Retrieved 10 February 2009.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 ABS 1301.0 – Year Book Australia, 2004. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 24 March 2006. Retrieved 10 February 2009
  27. 1 2 3 "Major bushfires in Victoria". Department of Sustainability and Environment. Archived from the original on 2 September 2006. Retrieved 15 February 2009.
  28. ↑ "Chisholm, Alec H.". The Australian Encyclopaedia. 2. Sydney: Halstead Press. 1963. p. 207. Bushfires.
  29. ↑ Matthews, H (2011) Karridale Bush Fires 1961, Karridale Progress Association Inc. ISBN 978-0-9871467-0-0
  30. 1 2 "The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales". Newspapers.com. 21 December 1974. p. 1. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
  31. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Mac Dougall, I D (2003). "A National User-Driven approach towards a coordinated Fire Research Program" (PDF). The Australian Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre Program.
  32. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Bush Fires / Wild Fires - Australian Bushfire History". www.australiasevereweather.com. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
  33. 1 2 3 4 5 "Our Service's story" (PDF). NSW RFS Bush Fire Bulletin Souvenir Liftout 2010 Part Two. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  34. 1 2 Ellis, Kanowski & Whelan (2004). COAG National Inquiry on Bushfire Mitigation and Management (PDF). Commonwealth of Australia. p. 341.
  35. 1 2 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission Final Report (PDF). Parliament of Victoria. 2010. p. 347. ISBN 978-0-9807408-1-3.
  36. 1 2 "Bushfires in NSW: timelines and key sources" (PDF). NSW Parliament Issues Backgrounder Number 6. NSW Parliamentary Research Service. June 2014.
  37. ↑ "Bushfire – Sydney and Region:1 December 1979". Attorney-General's Department (Australia). Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  38. ↑ "1979 – 1980, Sydney and Region bushfire". Ministry for Police and Emergency Services. 18 September 2007. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  39. ↑ Mutton, Sheree (9 January 2014). "Shire fire horror still lingers 20 years on". St George & Sutherland Shire Leader. Fairfax Regional Media. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  40. ↑ "Bushfires – Get the Facts". Attorney-General's Department. Retrieved 9 January 2013
  41. 1 2 3 Norther Daily Leader, "Some past bushfires in Australia", p.3, 10 February 2009
  42. ↑ "Bushfire threat eases in NSW". The Sydney Morning Herald. 4 January 2006. Retrieved 20 March 2009.
  43. ↑ "Generous support coming in for farmers affected by bushfires". NSW Department of Primary Industries. New South Wales Government. 6 January 2006. Retrieved 20 March 2009.
  44. ↑ http://home.iprimus.com.au/foo7/firesum.html
  45. ↑ Kennedy, Les; David Braithwaite; Edmund Tadros (22 November 2006). "Man dies as early bushfire season grips NSW". The Age. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  46. ↑ "Report on the Tasmanian East Coast Fires: Community Recovery" (PDF). bodc.tas.gov.au. Australian Red Cross. p. 10. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  47. ↑ "Authorities investigate forestry worker's death". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 14 January 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  48. ↑ Morton, Adam; Orietta Guerrera; Bridie Smith (15 December 2006). "Bushfires claim first life". The Age. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  49. ↑ Switzer, Renee (18 January 2007). "One dead in SA bushfire". The Age. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  50. ↑ "Body found in fire wreckage". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 18 January 2007. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  51. ↑ "Woman fleeing bushfire burnt to death". Sydney Morning Herald. AAP. 3 February 2007. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  52. ↑ "Rain could help damp down WA bushfires". ABC News. 25 November 2011. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  53. ↑ Van de Wetering, Jodie (11 March 2013). "A timeline of the Coonabarabran bushfires". ABC (Western Plains). Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  54. ↑ "Update – Damage assessment and fire investigation" (PDF) (Press release). New South Wales Rural Fire Service. 19 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  55. ↑ "Watch and Act – Linksview Road Fire, Springwood (Blue Mountains) 19/10/13 11:40". NSW Rural Fire Service. 19 October 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  56. ↑ Madden, James. "Firestorm destroys NSW communities as hundreds of homes could be lost". The Australian. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  57. ↑ http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/esperance-bushfire-flares-up-again--and-more-lightning-could-be-on-the-way-20151121-gl4ho8.html
  58. ↑ Taylor, Roxanne; Powell, Graeme (18 November 2015). "German backpackers, farmer believed dead in Esperance fires". ABC News. ABC. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  59. ↑ Fergusson, Euan: Report of the Special Inquiry into the January 2016 Waroona Fire ("Reframing Rural Fire Management"), Government of Western Australia, Volume 1: Report, 29 April 2016.
  60. ↑ "35 homes razed in NSW blazes: RFS". SBS News. SBS. 15 February 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  61. ↑ Le Lievre, Kimberley; Groch, Sherryn; Brown, Andrew (18 February 2017). "Police investigate blaze near Queanbeyan as fire crews battle on". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  62. ↑ "Bushfire in Tathra wipes out 69 homes, residents still unable to return to NSW south coast town". ABC. 19 March 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
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