Black Saturday bushfires (Australia bushfires of 2009)
The Black Saturday bushfires, which ignited on February 7, 2009, in Victoria, Australia, represent one of the most catastrophic fire events in the country's history. Over the course of several weeks, nearly 400 individual fires swept across the region, resulting in the tragic loss of 173 lives and injuries to 414 others. The fires consumed over 450,000 hectares of land and destroyed approximately 3,500 structures, including around 2,000 homes, displacing countless residents. A combination of extreme heat, drought, and strong winds contributed to the rapid spread of the flames, leaving many communities unprepared for the devastation.
The environmental impact was profound, with an estimated one million animals perishing and numerous native species facing the threat of extinction due to habitat destruction. The economic toll was equally staggering, with damages estimated at $4.4 billion, not including agricultural losses. Following the disaster, a Royal Commission was established to investigate the government's response and the effectiveness of emergency warnings, leading to significant changes in fire management policies. The emotional and psychological scars left on survivors were profound, as many faced the loss of family, homes, and livelihoods. The Black Saturday bushfires continue to resonate in discussions about disaster preparedness and recovery in Australia.
Black Saturday bushfires (Australia bushfires of 2009)
The Black Saturday bushfires that began 7 February 2009 were a series of nearly four hundred fires that spread through Victoria causing widespread devastation and a great loss of life. Black Saturday was one of the worst bushfire events ever recorded. The fires were the deadliest in Australian history with 173 people reported killed. Another 414 were injured and more than one million wild and domesticated animals perished. The bushfires destroyed more than 430,000 hectares of land and 3,500 buildings, including 2,000 homes. Despite the efforts of more than 19,000 Country Fire Authority (CFA) members, the bushfires burned for weeks before being extinguished. In all, the bushfires caused billions of dollars in physical damage and took an emotional toll on those who lived through the event.
The Bushfires
A heatwave struck that Victoria and South Australia in the weeks before the Black Saturday bushfires began with temperatures soaring to 46 degrees Celsius. The high heat combined with drought and low humidity created extremely dry conditions throughout the region. On 6 February 2009, the day before Black Saturday, the Premier of Victoria, John Brumby, issued a public warning that fire conditions on the next day would be the worst in the history of the state.
On the morning of 7 February, winds exceeded 100 kilometres per hour. Around noon, the wind brought down powerlines in Kilmore East, creating the sparks that started the first bushfire. The fire spread quickly, crossing the Hume Freeway within hours. It burned through Wandong, reaching Mount Disappointment. The fire then headed toward Humevale, its embers igniting additional hot spots that erupted into fires. The Kilmore East fire was the most deadly, claiming 119 lives. The powerful winds made the fire advance extremely quickly, surprising homeowners and trapping them in their homes. Some residents who sought to escape by car died on roadways after their vehicles were overtaken by the flames.
By 7.00 pm, the fire had entered Kinglake National Park, sweeping through it along with other state and national parks. Flames from the raging fire were estimated to be higher than 30 metres. The Murrindindi fire, a separate bushfire, began around 3.00 pm and spread through Murrindindi State Forest and Black Range. The fire swept through Marysville, destroying all but fourteen properties. Despite firefighters’ efforts, the Murrindindi fire continued to burn for twenty-six days and was not under control until 13 March.
Other fires began across the state of Victoria in Churchill, Horsham, Bunyip, Redesdale, Beechworth, Bendigo, Narre Warren and the Upper Ferntree Gully. Nearly four hundred fires were burning by nightfall. The bushfires burned for weeks before they either ran out of fuel or were extinguished.
Impact
The Black Saturday Bushfires claimed 173 lives and burned more than 450,000 hectares, destroying 3,500 buildings including 2,000 homes. An estimated one million domesticated and wild animals died, with the fires decimating several native species and their habitats. Experts have estimated the impact of the bushfires as similar to 1,500 Hiroshima-style bombs exploding across south-eastern Australia.
The bushfires also caused significant environmental damage. Many animals that were not killed were severely burned and lost their habitats. Even after the fires had abated, kangaroos and other animals burned their feet while traversing over the still-hot ground. The bushfires even put some species in danger of extinction. For example, the Leadbeater’s Possum lives only in Marysville, which was a site of the bushfires. The fires destroyed nearly half of the possum’s natural habitat, prompting the federal government to move the species to the critically endangered list.
The Black Saturday bushfires harmed the environment in other ways. Smoke from the fires polluted the air and was so bad it showed up on satellite photos taken from space. Some land was so badly damaged that it was unsuitable for crops.
The economic impact from the bushfires was also staggering. About 2,000 homes had been destroyed and 1,500 buildings. The Bushfires Royal Commission estimated the cost of the damage caused by the bushfires at $4.4 billion, a figure that did not include agricultural losses. The Supreme Court of Victoria later awarded a class action settlement of $494 to victims of the bushfires; another out-of-court settlement awarded victims with $300 million.
The personal cost to survivors was also high. Some lost family members, and many sustained injuries. Many lost their homes and personal belongings. Those who worked in agriculture and tourism also suffered a loss of income. Some survivors in high-risk areas decided to relocate to new homes. Survivors were also affected by the loss of communication between towns and an increase in the price of fruits and vegetables because of the loss of farmland. Doctors and psychologists reported a rise in suicides among survivors and an increase in alcohol and drug abuse.
Soon after the bushfires were extinguished, the Australian government announced the formation of a Royal Commission to look into the disaster and the response of emergency personnel. The commission criticised the public warnings given by the Country Fire Authority (CFA) to towns in the fire’s path. Many people did not know that they were in danger until the fire was upon them. The commission also requested revision to the country’s ‘stay or go’ policy that had advised residents to choose between remaining and defending their homes and leaving the property as soon as possible. Since 113 people had died in their homes, the commission recommended that people be told to leave their homes early if they were in the path of a bushfire.
Bibliography
“Black Saturday Bushfires.” National Museum Australia, 9 Sept. 2020, www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/black-saturday-bushfires. Accessed 8 Dec. 2020.
“Black Saturday: The Bushfire Disaster That Shook Australia.” BBC News, 7 Feb. 2019, www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-47038202. Accessed 8 Dec. 2020.
“Bushfire—Black Saturday.” Australian Resilience Knowledge Hub, February 2009, knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/bushfire-black-saturday-victoria-2009/. Accessed 8 Dec. 2020.
Florence, Loretta. “Bushfire Experts Say It’s Time to Revisit Black Saturday Recommendations and Stop People From Building in Highly Dangerous Areas.” ABC News, 19 Jan. 2020, www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-20/government-buybacks-for-properties-extreme-bushfire-danger-zones/11851884. Accessed 8 Dec. 2020.
Gabbert, Bill. “Victorian Supreme Court Approves $494 Million Settlement for Black Saturday Bushfires.” Wildfire Today, 23 Dec. 2014, wildfiretoday.com/tag/black-saturday/. Accessed 8 Dec. 2020.
Manne, Robert. “Why We Weren’t Warned.” The Monthly, July 2009, www.themonthly.com.au/monthly-essays-robert-manne-why-we-weren-t-warned-victorian-bushfires-and-royal-commission-1780#mtr. Accessed 8 Dec. 2020.
Martin, Lee. “I’m Petrified: 10 Years On, Black Saturday Trauma Still Haunts.” The Guardian, 6 Feb. 2019, www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/feb/07/im-petrified-10-years-on-black-saturday-trauma-still-haunts. Accessed 8 Dec. 2020.
McFadden, Christopher. “7 of the Most Destructive Wildfires in Australian History.” Interesting Engineering, 24 Jan. 2020, interestingengineering.com/7-of-the-most-destructive-wildfires-in-australian-history. Accessed 8 Dec. 2020.