Damon Mcknight
Australia has been ravaged by bushfires for as long as the continent has existed, but the fires of 2019-2020 were unprecedented in their scale and impact. The fires began in June 2019, before the official arrival of spring, and new blazes continued to spring up across the country over the following months. By November, increasing temperatures and a prolonged drought had escalated the situation into a full-blown crisis. This season of fires has been described as a once-in-a-century event, and it has had devastating consequences for the country's unique wildlife, communities, and economy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 2019-2020 |
| Location | New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania, Australian Capital Territory |
| Cause | Lightning strikes, drought, above-average temperatures |
| Impact | Over 11 million hectares burned, over 30 people killed, over 1 billion animals impacted, cost to tourism industry of $A1 billion, insured losses of $A1.9 billion |
| Comparison to previous fires | Worst fire previously was in 1974-75 when 15% of the country was burned |
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What You'll Learn
The 2019-2020 Australian bushfires
The fires ravaged over 24 million hectares of land, destroyed more than 3,000 buildings, and directly killed 33 people, with bushfire smoke causing an additional 417 deaths. The blazes also had a devastating impact on wildlife, affecting nearly three billion animals and pushing some species closer to extinction. The economic losses were significant, with insured claims reaching an estimated A$1.9 billion (US$1.3 billion). The fires also disrupted businesses, agriculture, fishing, and tourism, with the total economic impact expected to far exceed previous bushfire seasons.
The ongoing drought in eastern Australia, the most severe on record for some fire-affected areas, was a major contributor to the bushfire crisis. This was exacerbated by a prolonged run of above-average monthly temperatures, resulting in critically low fuel moisture content. Lightning strikes were identified as the primary cause of ignition for the fires in New South Wales and Victoria, while arson played a minimal role.
The Australian government faced criticism for its handling of the bushfire crisis, with accusations of insufficient preparation and a lack of acknowledgment of the role of climate change. Conservation and animal welfare groups have expressed concerns about the koala, with populations in Queensland, New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) halving since 2000. The bushfires also impacted over 300 threatened species, with their habitats in the fire zones severely affected.
The 2019-2020 bushfires highlighted the importance of fire management practices and the need to address the underlying factors contributing to the increasing frequency and intensity of bushfires in Australia.
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The 1974-75 bushfire season
The fires of this season had a significant impact on both the environment and human communities. An estimated 57,000 farm animals perished, along with farmers' crops, and nearly 10,200 kilometers (6,300 miles) of fencing was destroyed. Six people lost their lives in the blazes. The areas affected included Thargomindah, Bulloo Shire, Boulia Urandangie, and McKinlay Shire. The fire also impacted the Adelaide Hills and the arid and semi-arid zones in the northwest of the state.
The exact extent of the 1974-75 bushfire season was not immediately known due to the remoteness of the affected areas. It was only after the event, when satellite images were analyzed, that the true scale of the fires was revealed. This season serves as a reminder of the importance of fire management and the need to adapt to changing environmental conditions.
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Lightning strikes and drought as causes
Lightning strikes and drought conditions are two major factors that have contributed to Australia's devastating wildfires in the past. While lightning strikes are a natural phenomenon, their frequency and impact can be influenced by various atmospheric and climatic conditions.
In the context of Australia, lightning strikes are a common occurrence, particularly during thunderstorms. In a 24-hour period during thunderstorms in 2021, over one million lightning strikes were recorded across the country. More recently, in the first 42 days of 2025, over 10 million lightning strikes were recorded, with 7 million of those being ground strikes. This high frequency of lightning strikes can significantly increase the risk of wildfires, as lightning is a significant source of ignition for fires.
Drought conditions in Australia have also played a crucial role in the spread and intensity of wildfires. The 2019-2020 wildfire season, for example, was exacerbated by ongoing drought conditions across much of the country, including New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia. This drought was influenced by a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and a negative Southern Annular Mode (SAM), which shifted rainfall away from Australia and led to hotter and drier air over the continent. The combination of heat and drought resulted in critically low fuel moisture content, creating ideal conditions for wildfires to ignite and spread rapidly.
The impact of lightning strikes and drought conditions on Australia's wildfires cannot be understated. The 2019-2020 wildfire season, fueled by these factors, resulted in upwards of 46 million acres burned across the country. The state of New South Wales was particularly hard hit, with over 2,400 homes lost and 25 fatalities. The recovery from such wildfires can be prolonged and challenging, affecting not just the environment but also the economy, agriculture, and tourism.
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The impact on wildlife
Australia has a long history of battling bushfires, with the country experiencing an increase of nearly 1.0 °C (1.8 °F) in temperature since 1910, and the 2019-2020 bushfire season being one of the worst on record. The impact of these fires on wildlife has been devastating, with an estimated 800 million to 1 billion animals affected across the country. This includes iconic Australian species such as koalas, kangaroos, wombats, and possums, as well as livestock and domestic animals.
The fires have led to the deaths of millions of animals, with many more displaced or injured. The exact number of animals killed is unknown, but the impact of the fires on their populations is expected to be significant. Some species have been particularly vulnerable to the fires due to their slow speed or reliance on burrows and tree hollows for refuge. For example, koalas have been severely impacted, with reports of singed fur, burnt flesh, and blistered paws. The fires have also destroyed their habitat, with nearly a third of their tree cover in New South Wales (NSW) lost to the fires.
Other species at risk include the mountain brushtail possum, which survived the 2009 "Black Saturday" fires by sheltering in tree hollows, and the wombat, which struggles with heat and stress and is unable to escape the flames. The Kangaroo Island dunnart, a mouse-like marsupial, is also threatened by the fires, with concerns that it may become extinct. In addition, birds, lizards, insects, and bats have been affected, with slow-flying forest bats particularly vulnerable.
The impact of the fires on wildlife has been exacerbated by the drought and heatwave conditions that preceded them, leaving animals undernourished and vulnerable. The combination of heat and drought also contributed to the intensity of the fires, with low fuel moisture content leading to exceptionally high fire danger. The severity and size of the fires may limit the effectiveness of natural strategies for survival and ecosystem recovery.
The long-term impact on wildlife is expected to be significant, with concerns about the survival of endangered species and the potential for some species to become extinct. Scientists have urged for dedicated on-the-ground studies to understand the full extent of the impact and to inform conservation measures to protect vulnerable species and ecosystems.
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The economic impact
Australia's 2019-2020 bushfire season, also known as the “Black Summer” bushfires, had a significant economic impact on the country. The fires affected various regions of the state of New South Wales, eastern and north-eastern Victoria, South Australia, south-eastern Queensland, and areas of south-western Western Australia. The total output lost due to the fires was estimated to be $2.8 billion, impacting the tourism industry and supply chains.
The tourism industry in Australia is vital, with many jobs connected to it, especially in rural areas. The bushfires led to a reduction in business takings of more than 70% in the summer holiday period and disrupted the whole tourism supply chain. The impact of the fires on the tourism industry was felt across the country, with job losses in multiple states and territories. The images of the fires and their devastation also damaged Australia's reputation as a pristine tourist destination, which may have long-lasting effects on the industry.
The agricultural sector in Australia was also severely impacted by the bushfires, with losses estimated to be between $4 billion and $5 billion. The fires destroyed vast areas of farmland, leading to a significant drop in crop yields. The drought conditions that preceded the fires further exacerbated the economic impact on agriculture, as water scarcity affected productivity and increased costs.
The bushfires also had ecological implications, with a significant number of animals killed or displaced. This disrupted ecosystems and threatened biodiversity. The loss of so many animals and the destruction of habitats will have long-lasting effects on Australia's environment and could further impact the agricultural and tourism sectors.
Overall, the economic impact of the 2019-2020 bushfires in Australia was extensive, affecting multiple industries and resulting in significant financial losses and job losses. The country is still recovering from the impact of the fires, and there are concerns that the effects of climate change will lead to more frequent and intense bushfires in the future.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia has burned worse than the 2019-2020 bushfire season before. The 1974-75 bushfire season burned over 100 million hectares, affecting 15% of the country.
At least 33 people died in the 2019-2020 bushfire season, including four firefighters.
Over 11 million hectares of bush, forest and parks across Australia burned in the 2019-2020 bushfire season.
