Damon Mcknight
Bushfires have been a persistent issue in Australia, with major fire events dating back to the 19th century. The 2019-2020 bushfires were particularly devastating, with up to 19 million hectares burned, 33 lives lost, and around 3,094 homes destroyed. During this season, a woman was reported missing as the fires escalated near Moruya. The impact of these fires extended beyond the immediate loss of life and property, as an estimated 1.25 billion animals were killed, and the air quality dropped to dangerous levels across all affected states. The Australian Defence Force was mobilized to assist with rescue and recovery efforts, and the WWF-Australia launched a critical emergency fund to aid in wildlife and nature recovery.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of people missing in the Australian bushfires | 1 (a woman) |
| Date of incident | 2 January 2020 |
| Location | Near Moruya |
| Number of deaths | 33 |
| Number of homes destroyed | 3,094 |
| Number of animals killed | 1.25 billion |
| Number of acres burnt | 29 million |
| Number of deaths since 1851 | 800+ |
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What You'll Learn
The 2019-2020 bushfires killed 33 people
The 2019-2020 bushfires in Australia, also known as Black Summer, were one of the most intense and catastrophic fire seasons on record. The fires were unprecedented in scale and intensity, affecting 11 Australian bioregions and 17 major native vegetation groups. The fires burnt more than 24 million hectares and destroyed over 3,000 buildings.
The bushfires killed 33 people directly, with an additional 417 deaths attributed to bushfire smoke. The fires also had a devastating impact on wildlife, with an estimated three billion terrestrial vertebrates, mostly reptiles, killed or displaced. Some species may have been driven to extinction. The impact of the fires on wildlife led to the launch of the Australian Wildlife and Nature Recovery Fund by WWF-Australia, which raised over $50 million for wildlife and nature recovery.
The bushfires were a result of exceptionally dry conditions, a lack of soil moisture, and early fires in Central Queensland. The fire situation worsened due to increasing temperatures, prolonged drought, and high winds. The first major bushfires began before the official arrival of spring in June 2019, with new out-of-control fires starting in September and the situation deteriorating in November.
The impact of the bushfires extended beyond the immediate loss of life and destruction of property. The fires caused a decline in air quality to dangerous levels, affecting all affected states and even impacting weather conditions in other continents. The bushfires also released over 700 million tonnes of carbon emissions.
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The 1974-75 fires burnt 15% of Australia
Australia has a long history of bushfires, with the most deadly blazes being named according to the day they peaked, such as Black Saturday in 2009, Ash Wednesday in 1983, and Black Friday in 1939.
The 1974-75 bushfires were also a significant event in Australia's history of bushfires. Lasting from October 1974 to February 1975, these fires burnt approximately 15% of Australia's land mass, which equates to around 117 million hectares. This included parts of New South Wales, the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia. The fires killed six people and destroyed crops, nearly 10,200 kilometres of fencing, and approximately 57,000 farm animals. The Australian Bureau of Statistics attributed the extent of the fires to "exceptionally heavy rainfall in the previous two years".
The 1974-75 bushfires were not the first or the last time that Australia has been devastated by bushfires. In 1898, the South Gippsland Red Tuesday bushfires burned 260,000 hectares and claimed twelve lives. In 1925-26, the Black Sunday fires in Victoria killed 31 people. More recently, the 2019-2020 bushfires burnt 19 million hectares, destroyed 3,094 homes, and led to the deaths of at least 33 people and over 3 billion animals.
The impact of bushfires in Australia is far-reaching, with significant loss of life, homes, properties, livestock, and wildlife. The gradual drying of the Australian continent over thousands of years has created an environment prone to fire. While some plant species have evolved mechanisms to survive or encourage fires, others may be wiped out entirely. The impact of bushfires on the human population can be devastating, leaving people homeless, traumatised, and without access to essential services.
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The 2019-2020 fires destroyed 3,094 homes
The 2019-2020 bushfires in Australia were the most catastrophic bushfire season in the country's history. The fires were caused by years of severe drought and extreme weather, affecting all Australian states and territories. The bushfires destroyed 3,094 homes, with some sources reporting a lower estimate of over 3,000 buildings.
The bushfires started in October 2019, with multiple blazes threatening townships across south-eastern and northern Queensland, destroying several homes. In December 2019, a NASA analysis revealed that since 1 August, the New South Wales and Queensland bushfires had emitted 250 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. The fires continued to rage well into March 2020, with one fire escalating back to emergency level as the blaze headed towards the coastal town of Moruya.
The bushfires destroyed homes, properties, and livestock, leaving people homeless, traumatized, and without access to essential services. The impact of the fires will be felt for years to come. The Australian Wildlife and Nature Recovery Fund was launched in response to the bushfires, raising over $50 million for wildlife and nature recovery.
The bushfires also had a devastating impact on the environment, with up to 67%-83% of the globally significant rainforests and eucalypt forests and woodlands severely burnt. Ecologists estimated that 480 million mammals, birds, and reptiles were lost, with concerns that some species may have been wiped out by the fires. The fires also emitted over 700 million tonnes of carbon emissions, impacting weather conditions in other continents.
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The 2019-2020 fires killed 1.25 billion animals
The 2019-2020 bushfires in Australia were the most catastrophic bushfire season in the country's history. The fires burnt more than 18 million hectares of land, destroyed over 3,000 buildings, and directly killed 33 people. Bushfire smoke was responsible for an additional 417 deaths. The bushfires also had a devastating impact on wildlife, with an estimated 1.25 billion animals impacted in the states of New South Wales and Victoria alone. This figure includes mammals, birds, reptiles, and frogs, with the final number anticipated to be even higher.
The University of Sydney led research that estimated that 143 million mammals, 2.46 billion reptiles, 180-181 million birds, and 51 million frogs occupied areas hit by the fires. This means that a total of nearly 3 billion animals were killed or displaced by the bushfires, with some species potentially driven to extinction. The impact of the fires on wildlife was much greater than just the loss of koalas, which became the public face of the disaster internationally. Many of the reptiles affected were smaller species, and the fires also impacted other species such as native rats and mice, possums, gliders, and bats.
The bushfires had a severe impact on Australia's biodiversity, underlining the need to address the climate crisis and stop the clearing of land for agriculture and development. The fires occurred at a scale and intensity that was unprecedented, according to wildlife ecologist Sarah Legge. Up to 67%-83% of the globally significant rainforests and eucalypt forests and woodlands were severely burnt. The Australian Wildlife and Nature Recovery Fund was launched in response to the bushfires, raising over $50 million for wildlife and nature recovery.
The bushfires also had a devastating impact on the lives of many Australians, leaving people homeless, traumatized, and without access to essential services. The gradual drying of the Australian continent over thousands of years has produced an environment prone to fire, and the risk of bushfires has been increased by human activities such as land clearing and climate change. The 2019-2020 bushfires were a stark reminder of the need to address these issues and improve fire management practices to prevent future disasters.
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The 2009 Black Saturday bushfires killed 173 people
The 2009 Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria, Australia, killed 173 people, making it the deadliest series of bushfires in the country's history. The fires also injured 414 people, destroyed more than 450,000 hectares of land, and led to the loss of over a million wild and domesticated animals. The fires were caused by extreme weather conditions, including a heatwave and low humidity, coupled with a severe drought that created tinder-dry vegetation.
The bushfires began on 7 February 2009, with north-westerly winds in excess of 100 kilometres per hour bringing hot, dry air from Central Australia to Victoria. Despite the efforts of over 19,000 Country Fire Authority members, the fires continued to spread due to the weather conditions and fuel loads. It took weeks for weather changes, reduced fuel loads, and human intervention to extinguish the fires.
The impact of the Black Saturday bushfires was immense, with 120 of the 173 deaths occurring in the Kinglake area alone. The fires destroyed 3,500 buildings, including more than 2,000 houses. The cost of the bushfires was estimated at $4.4 billion, including a value of $645 million placed on the lives lost.
The Victorian government pledged to implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission, including improvements to fire evacuation procedures and the "stay or go" policy. The emotional scars from Black Saturday continued to resonate for years, with many affected families refusing to rebuild their homes due to the risk of future fires.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2 January 2020, one woman was reported missing.
33 people died in the 2019-2020 Australian bushfires.
Over 800 people have died in Australian bushfires since 1851.
