The Australian bushfire season ran from late December 2008 to April/May 2009. Above average rainfalls in December, particularly in Victoria, delayed the start of the season, but by January 2009, conditions throughout South eastern Australia worsened with the onset of one of the region's worst heat waves. On 7 February, extreme bushfire conditions precipitated major bushfires throughout Victoria, involving several large fire complexes, which continued to burn across the state for around one month. 173 people lost their lives in these fires and 414 were injured. 3,500+ buildings were destroyed, including 2,029 houses, and 7,562 people displaced.
Late 2008 had relatively few bushfires. Victoria in particular experienced higher than average rainfall in December, decreasing the fire danger in many regions of the state. Initial observations in October 2008 predicted an above average fire potential across Australia's coastal regions and a below average potential in Central Australia, where drought has reduced the available fuel.
In late January and early February, the effects of the 2009 southeastern Australia heat wave increased temperatures across south-eastern Australia, particularly in Victoria and South Australia, where several locations broke all time temperature records. Various days of high wind speed, combined with the hot dry conditions, created extreme bushfire conditions between 25 January and 7 February 2009.
Predictions and assessments In October 2008, fire potential in Australia was assessed as being above average around the coast of the continent and below average inland. La Niña conditions were observed during the latter portion of 2007 and early 2008. However, throughout the year the majority of the continent, except for far north Queensland and the northern Northern Territory, experienced much lower than normal rainfall.Bushfire CRC Central Australia had experienced below average rainfall for several years, reducing fuel and thus reducing the overall fire potential.
Fires of note
State Start date Deaths Injuries Houses lost Area (ha) Local govt. Impacted communities & destruction Duration Ref. SA 12 January 2009 4 Port LincolnPort Lincoln 2 tuna processing factories and a winery destroyed WA 16 January 2009 5 Bridgetown-GreenbushesBridgetown 4 non-residential structures and significant numbers of livestock destroyed 5 days VIC 28 January 2009 44 LatrobeBoolarra, Churchill, Mirboo North & Yinnar At least 80 non-residential structures, 10 cars and several other vehicles destroyed 12 days VIC 7 February 2009 Black Saturday 119 232 1242 Nillumbik, Mitchell, Yarra Ranges & WhittleseaArthurs Creek, Broadford, Chum Creek, Clonbinane, Dixons Creek, Flowerdale, Hazeldene, Heathcote Junction, Humevale, Kinglake, Kinglake West, Smiths Gully, St. Andrews, Strathewen, Wandong, Whittlesea & Yarra Glen 399 machinery sheds, 19 dairies, 26 wool sheds, 729 other farm buildings destroyed Over 1000 civilian and agricultural vehicles destroyed Scores of industrial, commercial and retail properties destroyed Churches, police stations, a fire station, SES management centre and Strathewen and Middle Kinglake primary schools destroyed 9 days 40 73 538 MurrindindiBuxton, Marysville, Narbethong & TaggertyTaggerty Marysville commercial centre is completely destroyed, including dozens of hotels and retail properties Marysville police station, primary school, kindergarten and health clinic destroyed Hundreds of civilian and agricultural vehicles destroyed Hundreds of other non-residential structures destroyed Severe damage to water and power infrastructure and numerous historic sites 26 days 11 35 145 Latrobe & WellingtonBalook, Callignee North, Callignee South, Callignee, Carrajung South, Devon, Hazelwood North, Hazelwood South, Jeeralang North, Koornalla, Le Roy, Traralgon South & Yarram Scores of non-residential structures and outbuildings destroyed, including commercial properties Over 100 civilian and agricultural vehicles destroyed 12 days 1 41 58 Greater BendigoEaglehawk, Ironbark, Long Gully, Maiden Gully & West Bendigo 115 outbuildings and scores of vehicles destroyed Several industrial properties destroyed 2 days 2 12 38 IndigoBeechworth, Dederang, Kancoona, Mudgegonga, Myrtleford & Stanley Several non-residential structures, vehicles and items of agricultural machinery destroyed 9 days 2 31 Cardinia & Baw BawDrouin West, Jindivick, Jindivick West, Jindivick North, Labertouche & Robin Hood Many non-residential structures, dozens of vehicles destroyed 25 days 1 14 Greater BendigoRedesdale 50 non-residential structures, several vehicles destroyed Significant livestock losses 2 days 13 HorshamHaven & Vectis Several vehicles, Horsham Golf Clubhouse destroyed 2 days 7 CaseyLynbrook & Narre Warren Many non-residential structures, vehicles and other structures destroyed 2 days 1 1 Southern GrampiansColeraine 2 days
Timeline
September–November In September, a lightning strike started a fire on the western side of Flinders Island in Bass Strait. Strong winds initially made containing the fire difficult.
December In Western Australia, bushfires were started by lightning strikes in the Cape Le Grand National Park, west of Esperance, on Friday, 19 December. Authorities maintained contact with 280 campers in the national park over the weekend and gave them the choice of leaving or staying. By Monday the 22nd, visitors to the park were unable to gain access; over 200 campers were relocated, while 75 campers decided to stay in the park. Crews from other regions of Western Australia were called in to assist local authorities over the weekend of 20–21 December.
January In late January, Victoria and South Australia experienced extreme fire conditions with temperatures in the low to mid 40s°C (104 °F) in Melbourne and Adelaide, higher in the northern parts of the states, and increasing wind speed.
The fires in late January were precipitated by the accompanying 2009 Southern Australia heat wave.
Victoria On 4 January, small fires in Koondrook, near Kerang, Victoria, burnt areas of river red gum forest along the Murray River.
On 28 January, multiple fires started throughout Victoria, the largest in McCrae on the Mornington Peninsula, which burnt of land alongside the Mornington Peninsula Freeway, threatening neighbouring houses. Authorities closed the freeway in both directions during the afternoon. The fire was contained by 6 pm with minimal property damage.CFA Incident report The same day, a fire also burnt near Mount Disappointment, where smoke posed a danger to road users in the Clonbinane area, and a grass fire south of Winchelsea in Wurdiboluc, that burnt .
On the night of 28 January, CFA fire crews dealt with a small fire near Delburn in Gippsland which had burnt of land, and on the afternoon of 29 January, attended two more fires in the same area, one of which threatened a local pine plantation. Also on 29 January, the CFA attended, and soon controlled, two small grass fires near the city of Sale, which were thought to have been deliberately lit.
Late on 29 January and into the following morning, the two fires at Delburn had joined, and were being fought by over 500 personnel; the fires had burnt 10 km2 in the area near Boolarra and Darlimurra, south of the city of Morwell. Also, a fire in Branxholme, near Hamilton, started, threatening homes in Branxholme, and Byaduk. After burning the fire was contained and later controlled the following day.
By 30 January, the Delburn fire had spotted east towards Yinnar and Boolarra, and south towards Mirboo North. 15 different 'urgent threat' messages were delivered to Darlimurla, Yinnar, Boolarra and Mirboo North residents. Almost thirty homes were destroyed in the area.
On the evening of 31 January, fire crews focused on containing the fire's northern flank, which was within 2 km of the main power transmission lines supplying electricity to Melbourne from the Latrobe Valley; the fires also threatened the Hazelwood Power Station.
By 1 February, containment lines had been established around the Boolarra fires, although it was not yet under control. The fire had burned through 65 km2 and destroyed 29 houses, along with various outbuildings and also livestock. On 3 February, authorities had divided the fires into six sectors, five of which were classified as contained, and only one, near Mirboo North, remained uncontained.
On 2 February, twenty-three new fires were lit – mostly due to lightning strikes – including three in the Bunyip State Park, and further fires near Drouin West and Leongatha. However, increased humidity helped contain the fires, according to a DSE duty officer.
Police believed that the fires that formed the Delburn/Boolarra complex were deliberately lit, and offered a reward for information leading to the arrest of suspected arsonists.
In the wake of the Gippsland fires, Bruce Esplin, the Victorian Emergency Services Commissioner, proposed a review of building regulations applicable in certain fire-prone areas, saying that "I believe that with the changes and the frequency and the severity of the bushfires we're experiencing, I think the community is going to have a rethink about where we build or if you build in a place like that". Also following those fires, Bob Cameron, the Victorian Minister for Emergency Services, announced that the Victorian government was considering ways to tackle arsonists, including the potential for a register of arsonists accessible to police.
South Australia A bushfire near Port Lincoln in South Australia destroyed two houses and several other buildings on 13 January. The fire was brought under control by midday on the 14th. The fire was driven by high temperatures (43 degrees Celsius; 109 degrees Fahrenheit) and strong north-westerly winds. A total of was burned by the fire, brought under control thanks to milder conditions on 14 January.
New South Wales In the Blue Mountains, three bushfires burning on privately owned land were in the process of being contained. Authorities want to ensure that the fires don't enter a nearby national park where they could potentially spread throughout the Blue Mountains National Park.
On 1 February 2009 the New South Wales Rural Fire Service declared a Section 44 for 2 bushfires burning near Tumut, New South Wales and one near Cabramurra, New South Wales after being started by dry thunderstorm overnight on 31 January 2009. The Meadow Creek fire was contained after burning 50 hectares of bushland in the Minjary National Park approximately 8 kilometres northwest of Tumut. The Mill Creek fire was burning uncontained which has burnt approximately 20 hectares of bushland approximately fourteen kilometres south east of Tumut. Happy Valley fire is burning in a steep gorge within the Kosciuszko National Park approximately kilometre from Cabramurra and has burnt 60 hectares.
Western Australia On 16 January 2009 a fire broke out around Bridgetown in the South West and destroyed at least three properties in the area. At the same time a fire that started in Two Rocks north of Perth burned over 8,000 hectares of bushland in and around Yanchep National Park. Also on 16 January, a fire burned 40 hectares of parkland in Kings Park, the most visited tourist attraction in the centre of Perth. The fire is suspected to have been deliberately lit.
February New South Wales On 2 February 2009 a lightning strike from a thunderstorm in the area started a bushfire approximately ten kilometres from Barmedman, the New South Wales Rural Fire Service declared a Section 44 for the bushfire at 3am AEDT 3 February 2009. The fire burnt on private property and burnt approximately 320 hectares of scrub. Victoria 7 February (Black Saturday)