The first Ash Wednesday fires were a series of bushfires that began in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia, on Ash Wednesday, 20 February 1980.[1] 51 homes and 25 other buildings were destroyed, including the Anglican Christ Church, Longwood,[2] and 75 farms were affected. 40 people were injured, with 150 left homeless. The fire burnt an area of 3,770 ha (14.6 sq mi),[3] and caused an estimated $34,000,000 damage.[4]
| Ash Wednesday I | |
|---|---|
| Date(s) | 20 February 1980 |
| Location | Adelaide Hills, South Australia |
| Coordinates | 34°55′S 138°43′E / 34.91°S 138.71°E |
| Statistics | |
| Burned area | 3,770 ha (14.6 sq mi) |
| Impacts | |
| Non-fatal injuries |
|
| Structures destroyed |
|
| Damage | $34,000,000 |
| Ignition | |
| Cause | Faulty power lines, arson, and negligence after years of extreme drought |
| Map | |
  | |
In 1983, after the Ash Wednesday fires in February that year, the 1980 fire became known in South Australia as the "first" Ash Wednesday, or Ash Wednesday I.[3]
References
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- ^ "Natural Hazards". Archived from the original on 11 February 2009.
- ^ "Mount Barker Parish | Diocese of The Murray". murray.anglican.org. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
- ^ a b "CFS :: Bushfire History". Archived from the original on 29 August 2010. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ "Adelaide Hills, SA: Bushfires". Archived from the original on 18 September 2008. Retrieved 30 October 2010.