El Nino Disaster

Disaster: Victoria Bushfires/Black Saturday

Where: Across the State of Victoria

Weather Statistics: The majority of the fires ignited and spread on a day of some of the worst bushfire-weather conditions ever recorded. There were temperatures reaching a high 40 degrees Celsius and wind speeds in excess of 100 km/h. The fires were precipitated by an intense heat wave, and almost two months of little or no rain. This fanned the fires over large distances and areas creating several large firestorms particularly northeast of Melbourne. A cool change hit the state in the early evening, bringing with it huge forces of southwesterly winds going at a speed of 120 km/h. This change in wind direction caused the fires to become massive fire fronts that burned with incredible speed and ferocity towards towns that had earlier escaped the fires.

How it Affected Communities: The Black Saturday Bushfires had a major effect on the community.The fires destroyed over 2,030 houses and more than 3,500 structures in total, as well as damaging thousands more. Many towns northeast of the state capital Melbourne were badly damaged or almost completely destroyed, including Kinglake, Marysville, Narbethong, Strathewen, and Flowerdale. Many houses in the towns of Steels Creek, Humevale, Clonbinane, Wandong, St Andrews, Callignee, Taggerty, and Koornalla were also destroyed or severely damaged, with several deaths recorded at each location. The fires affected 78 individual townships in total, and displaced an estimated 7,562 people. The fire’s were just so quick, that people didn’t even see them coming.

How the Local, State, National Government and Emergency Services Reacted: Responses to the Black Saturday bushfires included immediate community response, donations and later, international aid efforts, Government inquiries including a Royal Commission and recommendations and discussions from a wide variety of bodies, organisations, authorities and communities.

The Federal parliament was suspended due to the emergency. The Premier of Victoria, John Brumby, accepted an offer from the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, to dispatch members of the Australian Defence Force to provide assistance in that state. Queen Elizabeth II made a donation to the Australian Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Fund and sent her thoughts to the country.

The State Government conducted search and rescue parties as well as the supply of food and water. Groups like the Red Cross and The Salvation army assisted in opening evacuation centers and donation booths around the country.

The Local Government assisted in opening temporary accommodation, much of it donated in the form of spare rooms, caravans, tents, and beds in community relief centers. The Local Government assisted their towns in the clean up and building of the most destroyed areas.