Lexi Webster
Australia has experienced some of its worst wildfires in recent years, with millions of hectares of land burned and billions of animals killed. The 2019-2020 bushfire season was particularly devastating, with approximately 32,400 square miles of land burned, an area larger than the US state of Indiana. The fires destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people and millions of animals. The 2023 bushfire season was even bigger, with 84 million hectares of land burned, an area larger than the entire state of New South Wales. These fires were fueled by drought and extreme heat, and their intensity was exacerbated by climate change. The scale and speed of these fires have been difficult to comprehend, and they have had devastating impacts on both human and animal life in Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total area burned | 84 million hectares |
| Area burned in New South Wales alone | 5.4 million hectares |
| Total area burned in 2019 | 10 million hectares |
| Area of land burned in 2019 Amazon rainforest fires | 25.5 million acres |
| Area of land burned in 2019 California wildfires | 32,400 square miles |
| Area of land burned by Gospers Mountain fire by 15 December 2019 | 350,000 hectares |
| Area of land burned by Orroral Valley fire by 28 January 2020 | 2,575 hectares |
| Total area burned in 1974-75 bushfire season | 100 million hectares |
| Total area burned in 1974-75 bushfire season (as per Australian Bureau of Statistics) | 117 million hectares |
| Total area burned in 1974-75 bushfire season (as per National Inquiry on Bushfire Mitigation and Management) | 102 million hectares |
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What You'll Learn
- The 2019-2020 bushfires burned 4.9 million hectares in NSW alone
- The 2019-2020 bushfires killed 24 people and millions of animals
- The 2019-2020 bushfires destroyed over 1,000 homes
- The 2023 bushfires burned 84 million hectares in northern Australia
- The 1974-1975 bushfire season burned over 100 million hectares
The 2019-2020 bushfires burned 4.9 million hectares in NSW alone
The 2019-2020 bushfires in Australia were the most catastrophic bushfire season in the country's history. The fires were fuelled by drought and extreme heat, which Australia had been experiencing since September of that year. The New South Wales (NSW) Government declared a state of emergency in December 2019 after record-breaking temperatures and prolonged drought exacerbated the bushfires. Temperatures reached 49 °C (120 °F) in some areas.
The total area burned across Australia during the 2019-2020 bushfire season was estimated to be 18.6 million hectares (46 million acres), with up to 19 million hectares burned according to other sources. This included 12.6 million hectares of forest and bushland. The fires also destroyed over 5,900 buildings, including 2,779 homes, and killed at least 34 people. The Australian federal government announced the formation of a National Bushfire Recovery Agency and pledged $A2 billion (US$1.4 billion) in support for those affected by the fires.
The bushfires also had a devastating impact on Australia's wildlife. It is estimated that over a billion animals perished in the fires, including 800,000 in NSW alone. The koala population was particularly hard hit, with more than a third of the population thought to have been killed. The loss of habitat also significantly impacted the recovery of many species, with a study finding that 471 plants and 191 invertebrates were affected by the fires.
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The 2019-2020 bushfires killed 24 people and millions of animals
The 2019-2020 bushfires in Australia were the most catastrophic bushfire season ever experienced in the country's history. The fires started in June 2019 and raged on until February 2020, destroying lives, homes, wildlife, and natural landscapes.
The human death toll of the bushfires stands at 24, with some sources placing the number at 32 or 34. The fires destroyed over 1,000 homes, with some sources placing the number at 2,779 or 3,094. The fires also caused hazardous air quality, leading to the first recorded death from poor air quality on 2 January 2020 when an elderly woman suffered respiratory distress after exiting a plane in Canberra, which was blanketed by thick bushfire smoke.
The bushfires also had a devastating impact on wildlife, with nearly three billion animals killed or displaced according to a report by the World Wide Fund for Nature. This number includes 143 million mammals, 2.46 billion reptiles, 180 million birds, and 51 million frogs. The report also notes that some endangered species may be driven to extinction due to the fires.
The bushfires were fueled by drought and extreme heat, with rising temperatures and prolonged drought intensifying the fire season. The total area burned by the fires is estimated at 18.6 million hectares or 46 million acres, with some sources stating a higher number of almost 20 million hectares or 7.7 million hectares excluding tropical savannahs. The cost of dealing with the bushfires is expected to exceed $4.4 billion, and tourism sector revenues have fallen by more than $1 billion.
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The 2019-2020 bushfires destroyed over 1,000 homes
The 2019-2020 Australian bushfires were unprecedented in many ways. The fires, which began in June 2019, three months before the official start of spring, destroyed over 1,000 homes and burned across a massive expanse of land. By January 7, 2020, approximately 32,400 square miles (25.5 million acres) had burned—an area larger than the state of Indiana.
The bushfires destroyed 2,176 homes in New South Wales alone, along with 48 facilities and more than 2,000 outbuildings. In South Australia, the Cudlee Creek bushfire destroyed 72 homes, 404 outbuildings, and 227 vehicles. The total number of buildings destroyed across Australia was 5,900, including 2,779 homes.
The fires were fuelled by drought and extreme heat, with 95% of the state affected by drought and persistent dry and warm conditions. The scale of the fires was immense, with at least 4.9 million hectares burned or currently burning in New South Wales alone. The total area burned across all Australian states and territories was 18.6 million hectares (46 million acres), with approximately 30% of the forest in New South Wales burned.
The bushfires had a devastating impact on the environment and wildlife, with ecologists estimating that 480 million mammals, birds, and reptiles were lost, and concerns that entire species of plants and animals may have been wiped out. The fires also resulted in the deaths of at least 34 people and an estimated one billion animals. Air quality dropped to hazardous levels, and the smoke travelled over 11,000 kilometres to Chile and Argentina.
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The 2023 bushfires burned 84 million hectares in northern Australia
Australia has been experiencing massive bushfires for years, with the 2023 bushfires burning 84 million hectares in northern Australia. This is an area larger than the whole of New South Wales, or more than three times the size of the UK. The fires destroyed thousands of homes and killed at least 24 people and millions of animals.
The bushfires in Australia have been fuelled by drought and extreme heat, with the scale of the fires already burning causing them to intensify quickly when the weather heats up. The fires have also been exacerbated by the fact that most of Australia's vegetation is highly flammable, providing ample fuel for the fires to spread.
The 2023 bushfires in northern Australia burned a mix of desert and savannah landscapes. The main driver of these fires was the large fuel loads, which were the result of wet growing seasons and dry fuel. While climate change can make fire conditions more extreme, it was not the main cause of these particular fires. However, experts have noted that climate change is contributing to the historically intense fire seasons experienced in Australia.
To prevent massive fires in the remote parts of Australia, a long-term and well-funded strategy of using fire to control fuel across the desert landscapes is necessary. This technique has been used effectively for millennia and is supported by Indigenous ranger groups who conduct extensive burning operations to manage the vegetation and create a mosaic of patches with different fuel ages, which helps to hinder the spread of fires.
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The 1974-1975 bushfire season burned over 100 million hectares
Australia has experienced several bushfires that have burned large areas of land. The 1974-1975 bushfire season, in particular, was a devastating event, with fires burning across the country. The total area burned during this season was immense, with estimates ranging from 45 million hectares to over 100 million hectares. This season is considered one of the most destructive events in Australia's history in terms of hectares burned.
The 1974-1975 bushfires primarily affected sparsely populated inland areas, including New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia. The fires were fuelled by exceptionally heavy rainfall in the previous two years, which created favourable conditions for the fires to spread. Unfortunately, these blazes resulted in the loss of human lives, animal lives, crops, and infrastructure.
The impact of the 1974-1975 bushfires extended beyond the immediate losses. The fires caused extensive damage to the environment, affecting approximately 15% of Australia's physical land mass. This included the destruction of farmers' crops and the loss of farm animals, as well as the damage to natural habitats. The total cost of the fires was estimated to be around A$5 million (approximately A$36.5 million in 2020 values).
The scale and intensity of the 1974-1975 bushfire season highlight the destructive nature of bushfires in Australia. It is important to recognize that the impact of bushfires extends beyond the immediate losses and can have long-lasting effects on the environment, ecosystems, and local communities. The memory of this devastating season serves as a reminder of the importance of fire prevention, management, and mitigation strategies to protect lives, properties, and the unique Australian landscape.
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Frequently asked questions
The bushfires in Australia have burned a massive expanse of land. As of January 2020, approximately 32,400 square miles (25.5 million acres) have burned since the blazes began.
The burned area in Australia is around 5,000 square miles more than the area burned in the devastating Amazon rainforest fires in 2019, and 80 times larger than the total area burned in the 2019 California wildfires.
The area burned in Australia is a little smaller than Indiana. It is also larger than the combined area of Vermont and New Hampshire.
The bushfire risk is typically highest in New South Wales and Victoria, the most populous states. During the 2019-2020 bushfires, more than 5.4 million hectares burned in New South Wales alone. In comparison, the tropical savannah in Australia's north burns frequently and covers very large, remote areas.
The variation in the scale of fires across Australia is influenced by factors such as population density, vegetation, and weather conditions. For example, the 2019-2020 bushfires primarily affected forested land, while the 1974-1975 bushfire season mainly impacted arid and grass lands, burning over 100 million hectares.
