australian wildfires of 2009 - black Saturday bushfires

Question 1

when was it?

Answer 1

7th feb - 15th march 2009

Question 2

what areas?

Answer 2

australian state of Victoria - Marysville and Melbourne

Question 3

what part of AUS?

Answer 3

south eastern, inland

Question 4

how many killed?

Answer 4

173

Question 5

what we’re the conditions?

Answer 5

hot, north-westerly winds over 100km/h, low humidity (under 10%)

Question 6

what can be fire starters? ignition

Answer 6

lightning strikes, sparks from falling cables, power tools and machinery sparks, arson

Question 7

what is meant by pyrocumulonimbus?

Answer 7

fire strom cloud, climbed to 30km high –> like smoke plume from volcanic eruption - in upper atmosphere , the clouds cool, ice particles form

Question 8

how much of the forest was euclapytus?

Answer 8

3/5 - 4x the size of uk

Question 9

what problem with euclaptus?

Answer 9

oil rich - easily burns

Question 10

summer climate - Victoria

Answer 10

periods of temps of 40oC+ - low humidity and periodic droughts

Question 11

what the problem with summer climateW?

Answer 11

toner-dry conditions - just need a spark to start

Question 12

when did they have severe and prolonged heatwaves?

Answer 12

final week of jan 2009 - §

Question 13

in jan 2009 Melbourne had what kind of heat for how long?

Answer 13

40oC for 3 consecutive days (longest in AUS history)

Question 14

what happened on 7th feb?

Answer 14

temps of nearly 40 at 11am and strong winds growing to storm force that intensified fire

Question 15

what is common in summer weather bc of no rain?

Answer 15

dry lightning

Question 16

what were brought down by adverse weather?

Answer 16

power cables - spark

Question 17

what does the depopulation in rural areas mean?

Answer 17

decline in services = difficult to fight fires

Question 18

how many ha were burnt?

Answer 18

450,000 (1mill+ acres)

Question 19

approx how many animals died?

Answer 19

1 million

Question 20

what large protected areas were destroyed?

Answer 20

national parks

Question 21

how many properties damaged?

Answer 21

3,500

Question 22

how many homes destroyed?

Answer 22

2,000+

Question 23

how many farmhouses destroyed?

Answer 23

1,500

Question 24

how many people were displaced?

Answer 24

7,000

Question 25

elecricty supply gone from how many residents?

Answer 25

60,000+

Question 26

how much loss of livestock?

Answer 26

12,000 head - sheep, cattle, horeses

Question 27

there asa loss of stored what?

Answer 27

fodder, grain, hay and silage

Question 28

loss of standing...

Answer 28

crops, pasture, fruit trees, vines, olives and plantation timer

Question 29

how much did it cost?

Answer 29

A$4 bill

Question 30

what were the largest components of expenses?

Answer 30

insurance

Question 31

what was the cost of insurance claims?

Answer 31

A$1.2 bill

Question 32

looting in...

Answer 32

empty homes

Question 33

what did the royal commission look into?

Answer 33

the causes of fires on 13th feb

Question 34

what did the royal commission conclude?

Answer 34

that Victoria should amend its advice around its prep and education polices