Leslie Massey
The 2019-2020 Australian wildfires, also known as bushfires, were the country's costliest natural disaster. The fires burned through more than 10.7 million hectares of land, an area larger than South Korea or Scotland and Wales combined. The cost of dealing with the fires is expected to exceed $4.4 billion, with tourism revenues falling by more than $1 billion. The human toll was also devastating, with 33 lives lost, thousands of homes destroyed, and the country's unique wildlife devastated. The fires also had a significant impact on the mental health and social well-being of Australians, with the intangible costs estimated to be even higher than the tangible ones. The Australian Defence Force and international firefighters provided support, and the fires sparked debates about fire management practices and climate change.
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What You'll Learn
- The 2019-2020 wildfires burned 18.6 million hectares, 5,900 buildings, and killed 34 people
- The cost of these wildfires is expected to exceed $100 billion, making them Australia's costliest natural disaster
- The 2019-2020 wildfires are 25 times larger than the 2009 Black Saturday fires, the country's deadliest bushfires
- The 1974-75 wildfires burned 117 million hectares, killed 6 people, and caused $36.5 million in damages
- The 2019-2020 wildfires were fuelled by drought, extreme heat, and invasive buffel grass
The 2019-2020 wildfires burned 18.6 million hectares, 5,900 buildings, and killed 34 people
The 2019-2020 Australian wildfires were unprecedented in their scale and impact, burning an estimated 18.6 million hectares of land, destroying over 5,900 buildings, and killing at least 34 people. The sheer size of these wildfires was staggering, with the fires burning through more land in New South Wales than any other blazes in the past 25 years and the state experiencing the longest continuously burning bushfire complex in the country's history. The Gospers Mountain fire, which started in December, became the biggest forest fire in Australian history, burning over 500,000 hectares.
The impact of the wildfires extended beyond the immediate destruction. An estimated one billion animals were killed, and some endangered species may have been driven to extinction. The fires also had a significant impact on the environment, with NASA estimating that 306 million tonnes of CO2 had been emitted by 2 January 2020. The smoke from the fires travelled across the Pacific Ocean, affecting air quality in Chile, Argentina, and even Antarctica, according to the World Meteorological Organization.
The cost of dealing with the bushfires was expected to be significant. The federal government promised A$2 billion for a National Bushfire Recovery Fund, but the total cost was expected to far exceed that. University of Queensland economist John Quiggin estimated the tangible costs to be close to A$100 billion, and that's without taking into account the intangible costs, such as the social impact on mental health, unemployment, and increases in suicide and domestic violence.
The 2019-2020 wildfires were a devastating event in Australia's history, and the full extent of their impact, both human and economic, may not be known for years or even generations to come. The scale of these wildfires has highlighted the growing threat of megafires, which are massive blazes that create unprecedented destruction to life and property.
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The cost of these wildfires is expected to exceed $100 billion, making them Australia's costliest natural disaster
The 2019-2020 Australian wildfires were unprecedented in their scale and destruction. The fires burned an estimated 18.6 million hectares, destroyed over 5,900 buildings, and killed at least 34 people and one billion animals. The cost of dealing with these fires is expected to exceed $100 billion, making them Australia's costliest natural disaster.
The sheer size of the fires was staggering. In New South Wales, the fires burnt through more land than any other blazes in the past 25 years and the state's worst bushfire season on record. The Gospers Mountain fire became the biggest forest fire in Australian history, burning over 500,000 hectares. The fires in eastern and northeastern Victoria burned out of control for four weeks, impacting suburban areas.
The federal government has promised to contribute at least AUD 2 billion to a National Bushfire Recovery Fund. However, the total cost of the wildfires is expected to far exceed this initial estimate. The University of Queensland economist John Quiggin estimated the tangible costs of the fires to be close to AUD 100 billion. This estimate does not include the social costs of mental health problems, unemployment, increases in suicide, substance abuse, relationship breakdowns, and domestic violence, which can peak years after a disaster.
The scale of the 2019-2020 wildfires far surpassed that of previous fires in Australia. The 2009 Black Saturday fires in Victoria, previously the deadliest bushfire event, directly killed 173 people and burnt 430,000 hectares. The 1974-1975 bushfires, while nationally much larger in terms of area burned, caused significantly less damage due to their lower intensity and remote location, resulting in approximately AUD 36.5 million in damages in 2020 values.
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The 2019-2020 wildfires are 25 times larger than the 2009 Black Saturday fires, the country's deadliest bushfires
The 2019-2020 Australian wildfires were unprecedented in scale and destruction, burning an estimated 18.6 million hectares (46 million acres) across all states and territories. This fire season was marked by its rapid spread, intensity, and impact on both human and natural environments.
Compared to the 2009 Black Saturday fires, which were previously Australia's deadliest bushfires, the 2019-2020 wildfires were approximately 25 times larger in size. The Black Saturday fires, which occurred on February 7, 2009, in Victoria, burned 430,000 hectares and killed 173 people. The 2019-2020 wildfires, while resulting in fewer fatalities, had a far greater geographic reach, with fires burning across multiple states and territories, including New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland.
The sheer magnitude of the 2019-2020 wildfires was evident in the vast areas of land they consumed. In New South Wales alone, the fires burned through more land than any other blazes in the past 25 years, with over 4 million hectares affected. The Gospers Mountain fire, which started in June 2019, became the biggest forest fire in Australian history, burning over 500,000 hectares by December 2019.
The impact of the 2019-2020 wildfires extended beyond the immediate loss of life and property. It is estimated that one billion animals were killed, pushing some endangered species closer to extinction. The fires also had a significant impact on air quality, with smoke reaching as far as Chile and Argentina, and resulting in the emission of an estimated 306 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.
The economic cost of the 2019-2020 wildfires is difficult to estimate, but it is expected to be Australia's costliest natural disaster, with costs approaching $100 billion. This includes tangible costs, such as the destruction of property and infrastructure, as well as intangible costs, such as the impact on mental health, tourism, and the environment. The federal government committed to providing at least $2 billion for the National Bushfire Recovery Fund, recognizing the immense scope and complexity of the recovery process.
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The 1974-75 wildfires burned 117 million hectares, killed 6 people, and caused $36.5 million in damages
The 1974–75 Australian wildfire season was a series of bushfires that burned across Australia for many months. The fires burned an estimated 117 million hectares, which is approximately 15% of Australia's land mass. The affected areas included New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia.
The 1974–75 wildfires caused extensive damage, with six fatalities, approximately 57,000 farm animals killed, and farmers' crops destroyed. The fires also resulted in the loss of nearly 10,200 kilometres of fencing and widespread damage to infrastructure, including communications, roads, and railways. The Australian Bureau of Statistics attributed the extent of the fires to "exceptionally heavy rainfall in the previous two years".
The 1974–75 wildfire season was the most destructive event in terms of hectares burned among historical fires in Australia. The Moolah-Corinya fire, which was part of the 1974–75 wildfires, burned 1.166 million hectares and had a perimeter of over 1,000 kilometres. It was described as "the largest fire ever contained by man in New South Wales without the help of the weather."
The fires caused around $5 million in damages (approximately $36.5 million in 2020 values). While the 1974–75 wildfires were vast, they had a lower intensity and occurred in remote locations, which contributed to the relatively lower cost of damages compared to more recent fires.
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The 2019-2020 wildfires were fuelled by drought, extreme heat, and invasive buffel grass
The 2019-2020 Australian wildfires were some of the most destructive in the country's history. They were fuelled by a combination of factors, including drought, extreme heat, and the presence of invasive buffel grass.
Drought conditions in eastern Australia played a significant role in the intensity of the fires. The period leading up to the wildfires saw record-breaking temperatures and prolonged drought, with the most severe conditions on record in some fire-affected areas. This resulted in critically low fuel moisture content, creating ideal conditions for the rapid spread of fires.
Extreme heat also exacerbated the situation. Australia experienced a run of above-average monthly temperatures for 36 months leading up to October 2019. This, coupled with the drought, led to the underlying dryness of the bushland, making it highly susceptible to fires.
Invasive buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) further worsened the impact of the wildfires. Buffel grass, which was introduced to Australia in the 1870s, is fast-growing and drought-resistant. It has invaded extensive areas in the Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia, and South Australia, with its presence spreading to New South Wales and Victoria. Buffel grass creates effective "monocultures," crowding out native plant species. This grass dries out quickly and provides ample fuel for grass fires. Additionally, its continuous regrowth promotes hotter and more frequent fires, impacting the survival of native plants and animals.
The combination of these factors resulted in a devastating wildfire season in Australia. The fires destroyed over 5,900 buildings, including homes, and led to the loss of an estimated one billion animals, with some endangered species potentially driven to extinction. The cost of dealing with the bushfires is expected to be significant, with estimates ranging from $4.4 billion to $100 billion, making it Australia's costliest natural disaster.
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Frequently asked questions
The wildfires in the 2019-2020 season burned an estimated 18.6 million hectares (46 million acres) and destroyed over 5,900 buildings.
At least 34 people were killed, along with an estimated one billion animals.
It's hard to estimate the exact cost of the fires, but it is expected to exceed the $4.4 billion cost of the 2009 Black Saturday fires, with some estimates putting the figure at $100 billion.
