The 2009 Victorian bushfires on Saturday 7 February 2009 were the worst bushfires in Australia's history, surpassing both the Ash Wednesday fires in 1983 and the Black Friday fires in 1939.
Chronology of the fires
- Wednesday 28 January 2009
- Delburn fire started in Gippsland, arson suspected.
- Monday 2 February 2009.
- Bunyip State Park fire started by lightning
- Saturday 7 February 2009. Black Saturday
- Horsham fire started at 12:30
- Kilmore fire started on farmland at about 14:30
- Wandong, Kinglake West, Strathewan, Kinglake and Steels Creek and Flowerdale townships burnt.
- Murrindindi Mill fire started, arson suspected.
- Narbethong and Marysville townships burnt.
- Churchill fire started, arson suspected.
- Bendigo fire started at 16:30
- 17:00 Wind direction changed from northerly to southerly in Melbourne
- Beechworth fire started at 19:00
- Sunday 8 February 2009.
- Kilmore and Murrindindi Mill fires merge to form the Kinglake fire complex.
- Wilsons Promontory fire started by lightning
Causes of death
- Radiant heat; trapped in dwelling for shelter or while defending against fire
- Radiant heat; trapped in motor vehicle while attempting to evacuate
- Motor vehicle accident while attempting to evacuate (not confirmed)
See also
External links
- Wikipedia:2009 Victorian bushfires
- Victorian fires 2009, (We) can do better
- Australia's bushfires: the blame game, Guy Rundle, guardian.co.uk
- Lessons from the ashes, The Age
- Interactive map of Victorian bushfires, Google.com.au