australian wildfires of 2009 - black Saturday bushfires Flashcards

1
Q

when was it?

A

7th feb - 15th march 2009

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2
Q

what areas?

A

australian state of Victoria - Marysville and Melbourne

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3
Q

what part of AUS?

A

south eastern, inland

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4
Q

how many killed?

A

173

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5
Q

what we’re the conditions?

A

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

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6
Q

what can be fire starters? ignition

A

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

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7
Q

what is meant by pyrocumulonimbus?

A

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

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8
Q

how much of the forest was euclapytus?

A

3/5 - 4x the size of uk

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9
Q

what problem with euclaptus?

A

oil rich - easily burns

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10
Q

summer climate - Victoria

A

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

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11
Q

what the problem with summer climateW?

A

toner-dry conditions - just need a spark to start

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12
Q

when did they have severe and prolonged heatwaves?

A

final week of jan 2009 - §

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13
Q

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

A

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

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14
Q

what happened on 7th feb?

A

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

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15
Q

what is common in summer weather bc of no rain?

A

dry lightning

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16
Q

what were brought down by adverse weather?

A

power cables - spark

17
Q

what does the depopulation in rural areas mean?

A

decline in services = difficult to fight fires

18
Q

how many ha were burnt?

A

450,000 (1mill+ acres)

19
Q

approx how many animals died?

A

1 million

20
Q

what large protected areas were destroyed?

A

national parks

21
Q

how many properties damaged?

A

3,500

22
Q

how many homes destroyed?

A

2,000+

23
Q

how many farmhouses destroyed?

A

1,500

24
Q

how many people were displaced?

A

7,000

25
Q

elecricty supply gone from how many residents?

A

60,000+

26
Q

how much loss of livestock?

A

12,000 head - sheep, cattle, horeses

27
Q

there asa loss of stored what?

A

fodder, grain, hay and silage

28
Q

loss of standing…

A

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

29
Q

how much did it cost?

A

A$4 bill

30
Q

what were the largest components of expenses?

A

insurance

31
Q

what was the cost of insurance claims?

A

A$1.2 bill

32
Q

looting in…

A

empty homes

33
Q

what did the royal commission look into?

A

the causes of fires on 13th feb

34
Q

what did the royal commission conclude?

A

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