2014–15 Australian bushfire season

2014–15 Australian bushfire season
Location Australia
Statistics
Date(s) Winter (June) 2014 – Autumn (May) 2015
Buildings
destroyed		 33
Injuries 139
Fatalities 1

The 2014–15 Australian bushfire season was expected to have the potential for many fires in eastern Australia after lower than expected rainfall being received in many area. Bushfire authorities released warnings in the early spring that the season could be particularly bad.[1]

Warmer and drier weather conditions were experienced during winter and extended into 2015, due to a developing El Niño event. Sydney was on track to record its hottest autumn on record and only had one fifth of the average rainfall in May. Adelaide recorded sixteen consecutive days of 20 °C (68 °F) in May 2014.[2]

Queensland sweltered through a heatwave with record October temperatures being set in many towns through the state. New October records included Toowoomba with 36.4 °C (98 °F), St George with 42.6 °C (109 °F), Amberley with 41.3 °C (106 °F) and Roma with 41.6 °C (107 °F).[3]

August

Northern Territory

Out of control bushfires threatened many properties around Humpty Doo as over 400 hectares (988 acres) of bushland was lost in the blaze. The fires were brought under control after spreading into burnt-out county.[4]

September

Northern Territory

Approximately 4,000 square kilometres (1,544 sq mi) of pastoral country was burnt out by a fire that burnt for over a week. Most of Birrimba Station, a large portion of Dungowan Station, some of Murranjai and a little of Killarney Station were burnt out.[5]

Western Australia

A large bushfire started 16 September and was finally brought under control 12 days later after burning through 75,000 hectares (185,329 acres) of mostly bushland.[6] The fire threatened the town of Tom Price and western portion of Karijini National Park.[7]

October

Queensland

After several days of above average temperatures several fires were burning in the Darling Downs Granite belt and Sunshine Coast hinterland regions. At least 18 fires were burning which were all though to have resulted from lightning strikes.[8]

November

New South Wales

Fires started near Katoomba in the Blue Mountains just as heatwave conditions commenced in the area on 1 November. The fire dropped over an escarpment and into inaccessible bushland.[9] The fire burnt out of control and one home was lost along Cliff Drive after 60 people were evacuated from the area.[10]

More fires started 14 November near Warrimoo in the Blue Mountains. The local school was evacuated as the out of control blaze spread from a difficult to reach area. Some 36 firefighters were brought in to control the fire which spread toward Blaxland.[11]

Queensland

Over 12,000 hectares (29,653 acres) of bushland was burnt out by fires near Ravenshoe south west of Cairns in the far north of Queensland. The fire threatened about 30 homes but was repelled by fire fighters, only a shed and caravan were lost.[12]

South Australia

One man died and two others were injured fighting a fire about 100 kilometres (62 mi) north of Adelaide. The fire burnt out about 1,800 hectares (4,448 acres) of grassland and scrub and was though to have started in a header while reaping lentils.[13]

Western Australia

Lightning ignited over a dozen bushfires in the Mid West region burning out over 6,000 hectares (14,826 acres) of pasture land and causing the evacuation of a primary school and several homes in Eneabba.[14]

December

Northern Territory

Fire fighters in the Northern Territory fought over 127 significant fires, hundreds of smaller fires and 14 large fires through the previous year. During the year there were 60 fire ban days compared to an average of 29 across the region.[15]

South Australia

Two fires broke out in the Barossa Valley area. A grassfire that burnt through 700 hectares (1,730 acres) near Springton where a firefighter was injured while containing the blaze. The second fire, near Angaston, ripped through 1,400 hectares (3,459 acres) in strong winds before being extinguished.[16]

January

South Australia

32 houses and 125 outbuildings were destroyed and 134 injured during the Sampson Flat bushfires originating in Sampson Flat in the Adelaide Hills.[17] Roughly 800 firefighters and 120 firetrucks battled the blaze, that destroyed approximately 12,500 hectares (31,000 acres) between 2–8 January.[18][19]

Victoria

2 houses, 4 farms and more than 3,000 livestock were destroyed during the Moyston fire which started 11:52am on Friday 2 January, a day of Total Fire Ban.[20][21][22] Within 5 hours the fire had progressed 21 kilometres, burned 4,400 hectares (11,000 acres) with a 64 kilometre perimeter. Around 90 farms were damaged with hundreds of kilometres of fencing being lost in one day. The fire caused large plumes of toxic smoke when it burned through over 30,000 tyres on a private property.[23]

Western Australia

One firefighter and one police officer injured as 6,600 hectares (16,000 acres) burned over 8–11 January around the north Perth suburbs of Bullsbrook, Chittering and Muchea.[24] The town of Waroona was threatened by bushfire on 31 January resulting in the loss of one home. A portion of the South Western Highway was closed and over 50 residents were evacuated with some 200 firefighters required to combat the blaze.[25]

A fire that had started 30 January near Northcliffe doubled in size on 4 February during a hot windy day. Over 58,000 hectares (143,321 acres) was burnt out and the fire, now considered indefensible, destroyed two homes and most residents were being evacuated to Pemberton.[26] By 6 February, although more favorable conditions returned, the area burned had increased to 80,000 hectares (197,684 acres) and was expected to be declared a natural disaster zone.[27]

February

Western Australia

A fire near Boddington destroyed over 2,000 hectares (4,942 acres) after being sparked by a lightning strike.[28]

References

  1. ↑ Bryant, Sally (3 September 2014). "NSW bushfire service helps Canada douse record forest fires". Weather Zone. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  2. ↑ Roza, Magdelena (28 May 2014). "It’s getting hot in here: how El Nino is messing with the program". Crikey. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  3. ↑ "Queensland storms: 12,000 properties without power following record setting day for October temperatures". ABC News (Australia). 26 October 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  4. ↑ "Bushfire threatens Humpty Doo properties". NT News. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  5. ↑ Brann, Matt (18 September 2014). "NT cattle stations working together to battle huge bushfire". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  6. ↑ "All-clear ends Pilbara bushfire alert". WA Today. 28 September 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  7. ↑ "Pilbara bushfire threatens homes and lives". WA Today. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  8. ↑ "Queensland heatwave: Crews brace for more bushfires in state's south". ABC News (Australia). 27 October 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  9. ↑ "Blue Mountains bushfire: Crews fight blaze at Katoomba as total fire ban declared for Sydney, NSW districts". ABC News (Australia). 1 November 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  10. ↑ "NSW bushfires: One Blue Mountains home destroyed as crews battle to control blazes". ABC News (Australia). 1 November 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  11. ↑ "Bushfire at Warrimoo in Blue Mountains". The Sydney Morning Herald. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  12. ↑ "Ravenshoe bushfire: 12,000 hectares of bush burned as blaze eases". ABC News (Australia). 8 November 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  13. ↑ "Farmer dies battling bushfire north of Adelaide". ABC News (Australia]]). 1 November 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  14. ↑ de Landgrafft, Tara; Prendergast, Joanna (27 November 2014). "Fires burn across Western Australia". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  15. ↑ Curtain, Carl (4 December 2014). "Northern Territory endures huge bushfire season with hundreds of blazes scorching the north". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  16. ↑ "Man injured in Barossa Valley bushfire". SBS World News (Australia). 17 December 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  17. ↑ "Adelaide Hills bushfire: Up to 38 houses destroyed, Kersbrook worst hit". ABC News (Australia). 6 January 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  18. ↑ "Adelaide Hills bushfire: Dogs and cats perish as blaze sweeps through Tea Tree Gully Kennels and Cattery". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  19. ↑ "Bushfire Advice Message: Sampson Flat". SA Country Fire Service. Government of South Australia. 9 January 2015. Retrieved 10 January 2015. 09/01/2015 17:52 Bushfire Advice Message: The CFS is currently monitoring a fire at Sampson Flat in the Mount Lofty Ranges near One Tree Hill, Humbug Scrub, Para Wirra Recreation Park, Mount Crawford, Kersbrook, Gumeracha, Kenton Valley, Cudlee Creek and Inglewood. Although rain has fallen on the fireground there is still the potential for hotpots to reignite. Fire resources and support agencies continue to work in these areas. Whilst some roads have been opened to residents only, the public must remain vigilant for potential or existing hazards. Although this fire does not pose a threat to life or property at this time, people in the area are advised to check and follow their Bushfire Survival Plan and monitor local conditions.
  20. ↑ "Fire at Moyston near Ararat still not under control". The Age (Australia). 2 January 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  21. ↑ "How did we manage to do all that". CFA Brigade Magazine Autumn 2015 (Australia). Autumn 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  22. ↑ "Moyston bushfire kills more than 1000 sheep in western Victoria". ABC News (Australia: Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 5 January 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  23. ↑ "EPA investigates Moyston tyre stockpile fire". Environment Protection Authority (Victoria) (Australia). 9 January 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  24. ↑ Perpitch, Nicolas (11 January 2015). "Firefighters focus on northern flank of Bullsbrook bushfire in WA ahead of expected wind change". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  25. ↑ "At least one home destroyed in Waroona bushfire". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 1 February 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  26. ↑ "WA bushfires Residents refusing to evacuate told crews will not risk their lives for them". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 4 January 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  27. ↑ Jacob Kagi (6 February 2015). "WA bushfires: Natural disaster zone to be declared in Northcliffe as massive bushfire continues to burn". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  28. ↑ "Wind change pushes bushfire towards Northcliffe in Western Australia; residents told to leave immediately". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, February 09, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.