Black saturday Flashcards
When did the Black Saturday Bushfires occur?
7th February – 14th March 2009
How many fires were recorded in Victoria?
400
How many towns were affected?
78 towns
What were the worst affected places
Marysville and Kinglake
How deadly was the Black Saturday Bushfire compared to others?
8th deadliest bushfire
What was the average speed of the flames?
12 km/h
How far away could the heat of the flames kill people?
400m
What was the background temperature during the fires?
46°C
How strong were the winds?
100 km/h (up to 120 km/h with the cool change)
How did the weather contribute to the fires?
Intense heat waves, nearly 2 months of little to no rain
What happened when a cool change hit Victoria?
It brought cooler temperatures but gale-force winds (120 km/h), causing fire fronts to expand
What were the confirmed causes of the fires?
Arson, machinery, lightning, and fallen power lines
How many people were displaced?
7,562
How many firefighters fought the fires?
5,000
How many deaths and injuries were there?
173 deaths, 414 injured
How many homes were lost?
2,000 homes
How many animals died?
1 million
How was Melbourne’s water supply affected?
Ash contaminated catchment areas supplying the city’s top 5 dams
How much land was burned?
1.1 million acres
Where did the smoke from the bushfires spread?
Over Antarctica at high altitudes
How did the fires impact greenhouse gas emissions?
Released millions of tonnes of CO₂ into the atmosphere
What was the total cost of the disaster?
$4.4 billion
How much was spent on insurance claims?
$1.2 billion
What long-term health issues did survivors face?
Respiratory problems and PTSD
What action did the Australian government take?
Federal parliament was suspended during the fires
How many external firefighters helped, and from where?
4,000 from other Australian states, the US, and New Zealand
What charity event was organized for the victims?
“Sound Relief” concert, raising $8.8 million
How much financial compensation did survivors secure?
$500 million payout
What inquiry was established after the disaster?
The Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission
What environmental recovery efforts were made?
Replanting of trees
What improvements were made to emergency responses?
Better evacuation plans for future bushfires
