This summers bushfires were unprecedented and horrific, but fire isnt new in australia. The anniversary is a time to reflect and remember the 173 people who died in the bushfires, and to learn about how the fires changed the lives of so many, and how communities have. The 2009 victorian bushfires also called black saturday, where more than 400 bushfires that started in victoria, australia on february 7, 2009. This disaster triggered the activation of many emergency services and the implementation of disaster management plans, including the victorian state disaster victim identification dvi plan. The 2009 victorian bushfires were a traumatic and distressing event. Kinglake350 is a nonfiction account of the worst bushfire in victorias history and there have been. Tenyear anniversary of the 2009 bushfires in victoria. When reflecting on the bushfires, people may experience different emotional and physical reactions. The fires reached their peak on black saturday, 7th february, and took an unprecedented toll. The story of st andrews and strathewen in the 2009 bushfires. One hundred and seventythree people lost their lives, the greatest number from any bushfire event in this nations history. The history of fire in australia and how it can help us.
This paper describes the development of the victorian bushfires collection in museum. The name black saturday fires of victoria have now been recorded in australian history books as. A constant hum by alice bishop is a quiet, contemplative collection of stories about a brutal topic the 2009 victorian black saturday bushfires you remember mostly, three a. A key item collected by museum victoria in 2009 was a. Statewide map overview of areas affected by fires in januaryfebruary 2009 pdf, 1. This analysis serves to report back on the 2009 black saturday fires of victoria, australia. Bushfires in our history, 1851 2009 bushfire education. The 2009 victorian bushfires royal commission final report. Strong pictorial content, including several sequences of photographs showing the. In february 2009, the worst bushfires in australian history ripped through victoria in a series of firestorms so powerful that a million acres went up in flames, 7000 australians lost. The fires occurred during extreme bushfire weather conditions and resulted in australias highestever loss of human life from a bushfire, with 173 fatalities. Police say that 173 people died, and 414 people were taken to hospitals with bad burns.
The reasons for the bushfires, the way they were dealt with and the consequences of this disaster. The 2009 black saturday bushfires in victoria caused widespread devastation and the greatest loss of life from fire since colonisation. Bushfires in victoria, australia wikimedia commons. The victorian bushfires are a series of bushfires that were ignited on 7 february 2009, resulting in australias highest ever loss of life from a bushfire. Service booklet 10 pages from an unsourced book about the early history of the. A multilevel perspective on organizational risk and resilience. In burn paul collins tells the epic story of bushfire in australia, drawing on accounts. Remembering the 2009 victorian bushfires fire has always been a part of the australian environment, shaping the landscape over millions of years. Aboriginal, torres strait islander and other first nations people are advised that this catalogue contains names, recordings and images of deceased people and other content that may be culturally sensitive. This article contains a translation of 2009 victorian bushfires from en. The black saturday bushfires burned across parts of victoria on saturday 7th. The quick, short, paragraphs of the novel, combined with the quick leadin to the fire reminded me of the actual events of that weekend. Not the end of the story, history of australia by peg.
The black saturday 2009 victorian bushfires have again made australians think critically about their relationship with nature and the challenges of living on the fire continent. Interim report of bushfires royal commission on the 2009 victorian bushfires when made 2009 made by bushfires royal commission maker, government printing office maker. Black saturdays tragedy, 7th february 2009 an impressively detailed book dedicated to the events and immediate aftermath of the 2009 fires. The cause of the kilmore eastkinglake bushfire was found by the 2009 victorian bushfires royal commission to be an ageing power line owned by sp ausnet, an energy distribution company. Book 2009 victorian bushfires royal commission, interim.
In the weeks following the bushfires, museum victoria set up. Peg frasers extraordinary book transcends media cliche and illuminates what it meant to. A chronology of major bushfires in victoria from 20 back to 1851. Victorian bushfires collection museums victoria collections. This is the story of what we do at the very worst of times. Positive indian ocean dipole events precondition southeast.
These are quotes relating to the 2009 victorian bushfires which occurred on saturday 7 february 2009 and were the worst bushfires in australias history, surpassing both the ash wednesday fires in 1983 and the black friday fires in 1939. A key item collected by museum victoria in 2009 was a chimney from kinglake. Drawing on the historical experience of the 1939 black friday bushfire, this article argues that there are cultural and psychological pressures working against the. The victorian bushfires of february 2009 captured the attention of all australians and made headlines around. The 2009 victorian bushfires on saturday 7 february 2009 were the worst bushfires in australias history, surpassing both the ash wednesday fires in 1983 and the black friday fires in 1939. Ash wednesday was australias bestknown bushfire event, at least until black saturday 2009. Black saturday yarra plenty regional library bibliocommons. For me, as a victorian living in a bushfire prone area not affected by black saturday, this book had a profound effect.
Black saturday is an australian tragedy that redefined the. Bushfires in our history, 1851 2009 date nickname location deaths losses area covered hectares general 6 february 1851 black thursday victoria portland, plenty ranges, westernport, wimmera, dandenong 12 1 million sheep 5,000,000 1 february 1898 red tuesday victoria south gippsland 12. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. The fires have destroyed at least 1,834 homes in towns northeast of melbourn. Quotes on 2009 victorian bushfires greenlivingpedia, a. In february 2009 victoria was ravaged by one of the worst natural disasters in australias history which resulted in the countrys highest ever loss of life from a bushfire. A staggering 173 people lost their lives, over 2000 homes were destroyed, 7000 people were left homeless and thousands of square kilometres of land were burned out. The black saturday fires started on 7 february 2009. A short documentary about the devastating bushfires that occurred in victoria, australia in february 2009. Made for these who lost a loved one in the 2009 victorian bushfires. Find books, government reports, websites, statistics, newspaper articles and images about victorian bushfires from 1851 to today.
Mortuary operations in the aftermath of the 2009 victorian. Premier, john brumby and minister for the arts peter batchelor handed over the 2009 victorian bushfire message book collection to the library. On 7 february 2009 sergeant roger wood found himself at the epicentre. Black saturday bushfires national museum of australia. The victorian bushfires of february 2009 captured the attention of all australians and made headlines around the world. On february 7th, 2009 the state of victoria suffered its most deadly bushfire in documented history. Legislation, planning, management and suppression are the responsibilities of the victorian state government through its departments and agencies including the country fire authority and the department of environment, land, water and planning.
The books contains thousands of messages of support from australia and around the world for the victims of the deadly fires, which killed 173 people across victoria and destroyed more than 2,000 homes. One hundred and seventythree people tragically lost their lives, 414 were injured, more than a million wild and domesticated animals were. The state of victoria in australia has had a long history of catastrophic bushfires, the most recent of these, the black saturday bushfires of 2009 claiming 173 lives. Legislation, planning, management and suppression are the responsibilities of the victorian state government through its departments and agencies including the country fire authority and the department of environment, land, water and. The fires caused australias highest ever loss of life from a bushfire. The black saturday bushfires were a series of bushfires that either ignited or were already burning across the australian state of victoria on and around saturday, 7 february 2009, and were among australias alltime worst bushfire disasters. Approximately 400 fires were recorded across victoria affecting 78 communities. February 2019 marks the 10year anniversary of the 2009 victorian bushfires. Past bushfire maps forest fire management victoria. Not the end of the story, history of australia by peg fraser. A total of 173 people died in the fires and 2029 houses were lost. Australias first peoples have used fire to care for country for thousands of years.
In february 2009 victoria experienced the most deadly bushfires in australias recorded history. An analysis of fire throughout australias history, including social and political issues, with black saturday and the authors personal experience as a. Black saturday, 7 february 2009, was the greatest natural disaster in australias recorded history. The 2009 victorian bushfires royal commission was established on 16 february to investigate the causes and responses to the bushfires which swept through parts of victoria in late january and february 2009. The most significant fire was the kinglake fire complex, named following the merge of the kilmore east and murrindindi fires on 8 february. On february 7, 2009, and in the week that followed, bushfires ignited across victoria, in australia. This forest crown fire swept through state forest and. The 2009 victorian bushfires were the worst natural disaster in australias recorded history. Anyone experiencing problems or changes in behaviour should contact their doctor, mental health professional, or lifeline on 11 14. The best book written on fire in australia is stephen pynes burning bush first published in 1991 and updated following the 20034 fires but there are also numerous books on fire science and history, including the excellent fire and hearth by the anthropologist sylvia hallam. The victorian bushfires of february 2009 captured the attention of all.
Early warning information seeking in the 2009 victorian bushfires article in journal of the association for information science and technology 651. Strong pictorial content, including several sequences of photographs showing the progression of fires, and the destruction of homes. Early warning information seeking in the 2009 victorian. Book 2009 victorian bushfires royal commission, interim report, executive summary. As many as 400 individual fires were recorded on satu. Introduction 2 over 170 people perished in the victorian bushfire disaster known as black saturday on the 7th of february 2009. Had the tree previously been seen by an arborist, states the report from the 2009 victorian bushfires royal commission, the potential hazard would probably have been apparent.