Wikipedia

2015–16 Australian bushfire season

(Redirected from 2015-16 Australian bushfire season)

The most destructive bushfire season in terms of property loss since the 2008–09 Australian bushfire season, occurred in the summer of 2015–16, with the loss of 408 houses and at least 500 non-residential buildings as a result of wild fires between 1 June 2015 and 31 May 2016. The season also suffered the most human fatalities since the 2008–09 Australian bushfire season; 6 died in Western Australia, 2 in South Australia and 1 in New South Wales. 8 deaths were as a direct result of fire, and a volunteer firefighter died due to unrelated health complications while on duty.

2015–16 Australian bushfire season
NASA MODIS burned area detections from June 2015 to May 2016
Date(s)Winter (June) 2015 – Autumn (May) 2016
LocationAustralia
Statistics
Burned areaApproximately 299,468 hectares (740,000 acres)[nb 1]
Impacts
Deaths9 total
  • 1 RFS volunteer firefighter (health complications while fighting fire)
  • 8 other
Structures destroyed900+ total
  • 408 houses
  • 500+ non-residential structures

The season witnessed four notable fires; the Cascades fire in Western Australia, the Pinery fire in South Australia, the Great Ocean Road fire in Victoria, and the Harvey-Waroona fire in Western Australia.[1]

Climate summary and predictions

edit

A longer, more severe season was predicted, with an above normal potential for bushfires—particularly along the west and east coasts—as the result of the strengthening El Niño over the Pacific Ocean and warmer sea temperatures in the Indian Ocean.[2][3][4]

In Victoria, large areas of the Wimmera and the Western District had their lowest recorded rainfall in the three years to 31 July 2015, and significant areas of the Goldfields, North Central, Otways and Yarra Valley recorded "very much below average" rainfall over the same period.[5] In Western Australia, the Goldfields-Esperance, Peel and South West regions were expected to experience "above normal fire potential" due to a lack of rainfall, soil dryness and high fuel loads; the Peel and South West regions were at specific risk, having experienced their 8th driest year on record in 2015.[6][7] The Great Southern, Peel, Perth and South West regions suffered record rainfall deficiencies for the 16-year period to 31 March 2016.[8]

The areas that suffered the greatest rainfall deficiencies during the season typically receive the majority of rainfall from cold fronts and low pressure systems, autumn through spring. However, continental Australia has experienced a decrease in this activity over recent decades, as high pressure systems have become more dominant.[8] These longer-term deficiencies has a great effect on the drying of woodland fuels, particularly in the Jarrah forest of Western Australia's South-West and the forests of Victoria's Otway Ranges, which witnessed significant fires during the 2015/16 season.[8]

Fires of note

edit
State Start date Deaths Injuries Res. houses lost Other structures lost Area (ha) Local govt. Impacted communities Duration Ref.
NSW 1 June 2015 1 1 1 Gosford

Copacabana

1 day [9][10]
NT 8 September 2015 2 Litchfield

Howard Springs

2 days [11][12][13]
QLD 10 September 2015 8 1 Townsville

Stuart

[14][15]
QLD 4 October 2015 1 Townsville

Cape Cleveland

[16][17]
VIC 5 October 2015 1 10 Surf Coast

Wensleydale

1 day [18][19][20]
VIC 6 October 2015 6 15 4,000 Macedon Ranges

Benloch, Cobaw & Lancefield

8 days [21][22][23][24]
[25][26][27]
VIC 17 November 2015 1 50 Wellington

Devon North

[28][29]
WA 15 November 2015 4 1 16 128,000 Esperance

Grass Patch, Salmon Gums & Scaddan

9 days [nb 2]
[30][31][32][33]
[34][35][36]
2 several 18,000 Myalup & Stockyard Creek
SA 25 November 2015 2 90 91 388 82,000 Clare and Gilbert Valleys, Light & Wakefield

Alma, Freeling, Hamley Bridge, Mallala, Nain, Pinery, Roseworthy, Stockport, Tarlee, Templers & Wasleys

3 days [nb 3]
[37][38][39][40]
[41][42][43][44]
[45]
NSW 26 November 2015 1 5 Cessnock

Stanford Merthyr

[46][47]
VIC 19 December 2015 14 30 4,600 Ballarat & Moorabool

Clarendon, Durham Lead, Elaine, Garibaldi & Scotsburn

2 days [48][49][50][51]
[52]
VIC 19 December 2015 3 116 2,300 Colac Otway

Separation Creek & Wye River

34 days [nb 4]
[1][53][54][55]
[56][57][58][59]
[60][61]
VIC 20 December 2015 4 several 7,000 Indigo

Barnawartha & Indigo Valley

5 days [48][62][63][64]
WA 6 January 2016 2 5+ 162 numerous 70,000 Harvey & Waroona

Cookernup, Hamel, Harvey, Lake Clifton, Preston Beach, Waroona, Wagerup & Yarloop

17 days [nb 5]
[65][66][67][68]
[69][70][71][72]
[73][74][75][76]
[77][78][79][80]
[81][82]
VIC 18 January 2016 1 6 90 Mornington Peninsula

Crib Point & Stony Point

1 day [83][84][85][86]
[87][88]
VIC 19 January 2016 1 1 100 Macedon Ranges

Edgecombe & Kyneton

1 day [89][90]
VIC 23 February 2016 2 1 1,300 Ballarat

Addington & Mount Bolton

2 days [91][92][93]
WA 14 March 2016 1 12 Joondalup

Joondalup

1 day [94][95][96]

Fires by state or territory

edit

New South Wales

edit
June

On 1 June, a 1 hectare (2.5 acres) bushfire completely destroyed one house and damaged a second house at Copacabana in the City of Gosford municipality of the Central Coast region. One civilian was treated for burns received while fighting the fire.[9][10]

July

On 31 July, a fire ignited in the bushland of the Jamison Valley, nearby Wentworth Falls and within the City of Blue Mountains municipality. Over the next 12 days, one house was damaged and 30 hectares (74 acres) of forest were consumed by the fire, which spread rapidly due to strong winds of up to 80 kilometres per hour (50 mph). At least 150 firefighters and several water bombing aircraft were required to bring the fire under control, and it was declared extinguished on 12 August.[97][98]

November

On 26 November, a Rural Fire Service volunteer firefighter collapsed and died while fighting a fire 5 hectares (12 acres) in size near Stanford Merthyr in the City of Cessnock municipality. Paul Sanderson, 48, volunteered with the Kurri Kurri brigade and had been a member for almost 20 years.[46][47]

Northern Territory

edit
September

On 8 September and during the day following, 2 houses and several vehicles and items of industrial equipment were destroyed by a bushfire burning in and around Howard Springs in the Litchfield municipality on the outskirts of Darwin.[11][12][13]

Queensland

edit
September

On 3 September, one house was damaged and one shed was destroyed by a bushfire at Bluewater, a suburb on the "Northern beaches" of the City of Townsville municipality.[99][100]

On 10 September, one house and up to 30 vehicles were destroyed during a bushfire at Stuart, a suburb on the outskirts of the City of Townsville municipality. The fire prompted the evacuation of a correctional facility and also caused a power outage that affected approximately 1,000 houses. Two people were hospitalized, six others were treated for smoke inhalation, and over 50 firefighters were required to bring the blaze under control.[14][15]

October

On 4 October, one house and several vehicles were destroyed by a bushfire in Cape Cleveland, to the southern end of the City of Townsville municipality.[16][17]

South Australia

edit
November
See also: 2015 Pinery bushfire

During November, there were a number of significant fires in South Australia, the largest and most significant being the "Pinery" fire that burned 82,600 hectares (204,000 acres) in the municipalities of Clare and Gilbert Valleys, Light and Wakefield over eight days. On 25 November, during the major run of the Pinery fire, two fatalities occurred: Janet Hughes, 56, perished while fleeing in a vehicle outside Hamley Bridge; Allan Tiller, 69, died while fighting the fire on a neighbour’s property in Pinery itself. The Pinery fire destroyed or rendered uninhabitable 87–91 houses, and completely destroyed 388 non-residential structures, 93 pieces of farm machinery and 98 other vehicles. It also caused significant damage to rural produce; 53,000 poultry and 17,500 head of livestock perished.[37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45]

December

On 31 December, a fire destroyed four non-residential buildings, four vehicles and 310 hectares (770 acres) of farmland around the Mosquito Hill area of the Alexandrina municipality. 120 firefighters and 4 aircraft assisted in containing the fire the same day as its ignition and 4 people were injured during the blaze.[101][102]

March

On 2 March, a grass fire destroyed 23 b-double semi-trailers as it burned 2 hectares (4.9 acres) of land at Burton, in the north of Adelaide. 140 firefighters in 25 appliances attended the fire, supported by 2 firefighting aircraft, and 2 people suffered injuries in the fire.[103][104]

Tasmania

edit
Further information: 2016 Tasmanian bushfires

Victoria

edit
October

On 5 October, one house and 10 hectares (25 acres) of scrubland were destroyed by a bushfire at Wensleydale in the Surf Coast Shire, south-west of Geelong. The fire was contained the same day by Country Fire Authority firefighters.[18][19][20]

On 6 October and during the week following, 6 houses, 15 non-residential structures, 5 vehicles and 3,100 hectares (7,700 acres) of forest and paddock were destroyed by a significant bushfire in the Lancefield area of the Shire of Macedon Ranges, 70 kilometres (43 mi) north of Melbourne. Communities affected by the fire included Baynton, Benloch, Nulla Vale, Lancefield, Pastoria and Sidonia. At least 22 aircraft were utilized by the Country Fire Authority to fight the fire before it was contained on 12 October.[21][22][23][24][25] The fire had been lit a week earlier as part of a controlled burn in Cobaw State Forest overseen by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, however the authorities had lost control of the blaze in strong winds and hot conditions. An independent report into the blaze, released in November 2015, criticized the initial controlled burn as inadequately planned and inadequately staffed. The then Victorian Environment minister Lisa Neville admitted failures in the risk assessment taken prior to the approval of the controlled burn, and the following quote of hers was reported by The Age on 19 November 2015.[26][27]

It [the control burn] probably should not have been lit, given the broader circumstances.

November

On 17 November, one "weekender" holiday house and 50 hectares (120 acres) of forest were destroyed by a bushfire at Devon North in the Shire of Wellington, 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) north-west of Yarram. The blaze originated from a controlled burn to reduce the fuel load on private land.[28][29]

December

Over 19–20 December, temperatures reached up to 45 °C (113 °F) across Victoria—including 41 °C (106 °F) in Melbourne, Victoria—and extreme fire conditions were felt across the entirety of the state. During the following week, Victoria suffered three significant fires; 4,600 hectares (11,000 acres) of forest and farm land were burnt by the Scotsburn fire, 7,000 hectares (17,000 acres) were burnt by the Barnawartha fire, and fire started by lightning in the Otway National Park near Lorne would continue to burn past Christmas and be dubbed the "Lorne-Jamieson Track" fire.[48]

On 19 December, 14 houses and at least 30 non-residential structures were destroyed by the Scotsburn fire, which also ravaged significant areas of rural property in the City of Ballarat and Shire of Moorabool municipalities. Suburbs and towns affected included Clarendon, Durham Lead, Elaine, Garibaldi and Scotsburn. The fire had been ignited on the same day by a landowner using a slashing machine; 500 firefighting personnel and 8 aircraft attended the fire, and it was contained by 20 December.[48][49][50][51][52]

On 20 December, the Barnawartha fire destroyed 4 houses and several non-residential structures in the Shire of Indigo, as well as causing the deaths of 1,200 head of livestock. Near Wodonga, several dozen families were evacuated when the uncontrolled grass fire advanced rapidly on the town, however damage to the town itself was minimal. There were also fears that the fire may advance on Yackandandah, however rainfall of up to 20 millimetres (0.79 in) on the night of 20 December slowed the spread of the fire and limited damage to Barnawartha and Indigo Valley.[48][62][63][64]

On 25 December (Christmas Day) severe fire conditions, including a strong northerly wind, led to the Lorne-Jamieson Track fire in the Otway National Park jumping containment lines and impacting numerous communities situated along the Great Ocean Road in the Shire of Colac Otway. A total of 116 houses were destroyed—98 in Wye River and 18 in Separation Creek—on 25 December, and over 2,500 hectares (6,200 acres) of dense forest were burnt by the time the fire was contained on 21 January 2016. Although structural damage was limited to the two communities of Wye River and Separation Creek, the township of Lorne was advised by the Country Fire Authority to evacuate from mid afternoon on 25 December, the communities of Kennett River, Grey River and Wongarra were evacuated several times, and the Great Ocean Road was closed for several days after the 25 December run damaged parts of the road infrastructure.[1][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60]

Lightning ignited the Lorne-Jamieson Track fire in inaccessible country on 19 December, and during the week prior to the 25 December run the fire had burned to a distance of approximately 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) north-west of Separation Creek. On the day of the run, a Keetch–Byram Drought Index of 80 was recorded at Aireys Inlet and 83 at Cape Otway; these are considered ‘serious’ with respect to fuel ignition potential. In Wye River, a north/north-westerly wind with gusts of up to 33 kilometres per hour (21 mph) and humidity hit a low of 17% at 16:30 AEDT (UTC+11) were observed. At 11:30 AEDT (UTC+11) the emergency siren was sounded in Separation Creek and approximately three hours later the fire front impacted the communities.[61]

January

On 18 January, one house, 6 non-residential buildings and 90 hectares (220 acres) of scrub and forest were destroyed, and another house damaged, by a bushfire that burned through the Crib Point and Stony Point communities in the Shire of Mornington Peninsula. The fire moved rapidly through the scrubland around the abandoned Westernport Refinery and was battled by 27 firefighting appliances and 3 aircraft. The cause of the fire is suspected to have been arson.[83][84][85][86][87][88]

On 19 January, one house and 100 hectares (250 acres) of paddocks and grassland were destroyed by a bushfire that burned near Edgecombe and Kyneton in the Shire of Macedon Ranges. The fire is also suspected of having been deliberately-lit.[89][90]

February

On 23 February, 2 houses, up to 6 non-residential buildings and 1,300 hectares (3,200 acres) of forest and paddocks were destroyed, and one house damaged, by a fire that burned through Addington and Mount Bolton in the City of Ballarat municipality. The cause of the fire remains undetermined.[91][92][93]

Western Australia

edit
 
Bushfire damage from the Waroona fire, January 2016
October

On 1 October, a bushfire destroyed 2 sheds and 6,500 hectares (16,000 acres) of bushland in the Town of Port Hedland municipality. Residents of Bosna Estate were evacuated before at least 20 firefighting appliances helped contain the blaze. The bushfire was first reported on 29 September.[105]

November
See also: 2015 Esperance bushfires

During November, the Shire of Esperance suffered two significant fires and a fire complex; 128,000 hectares (320,000 acres) were burnt by the Cascades fire, 18,000 hectares (44,000 acres) were burnt by the Merivale fire, and 164,000 hectares (410,000 acres) were burnt by the Cape Arid complex of fires.[30] On 17 November, during the major run of the Cascades fire, four civilian fatalities occurred in vehicles traveling on Griggs Road in Scaddan. The Cascades fire destroyed one house, 16 non-residential structures and dozens of vehicles. There was also significant damage to rural produce; approximately 4,500 head of livestock perished and 30,000 hectares (74,000 acres) of crop—constituting about 500,000 tonnes of grain—were burnt. In addition, the Merivale fire destroyed two houses in the Stockyard Creek area, and the Cape Arid complex destroyed large areas of Western Ground Parrot habitat.[30][31][32][33][34][35][36]

January
See also: 2016 Waroona bushfire
 
NASA Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi NPP satellite acquired this image of the Waroona fire - 7 January

During January, the shires of Harvey & Waroona suffered a number of significant fires; 70,000 hectares (170,000 acres) of forest and farmland were burnt by the largest of these fires, which ignited on the night of the 6 January and was dubbed the "Waroona" fire.

On 7 January, two civilians perished when the fire-front of the Waroona fire burned into the center of the Yarloop townsite; Malcolm Taylor, 73, and Les Taylor, 77, both died within their own houses. During the time that the fire-front passed through Yarloop, it destroyed 121 houses, 18 buildings of commercial or community significance—including a fire station, a hospital, a hotel and a hall—and the historic Yarloop Workshops. In the 17 days between ignition and being extinguished, the Waroona fire destroyed at least 162 houses and a significant amount of other property in the communities of Cookernup, Hamel, Harvey, Lake Clifton, Preston Beach, Waroona, Wagerup and Yarloop.[65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76] Public road access to Yarloop was not restored until seven months after the fire when roadblocks were finally removed 11 August 2016.[106]

Effects of the Waroona fire were widespread in southern Western Australia; falling ash in the Eaton, Australind and outer Bunbury areas caused service stations to stop pumping fuel, and the closure of both the Forrest Highway and South West Highway prompted the cancellation of the 2016 Southbound music festival when it cut off access to Busselton. However, the event was partly revived as a benefit concert to raise funds for fire victims.[77][78][79][80]

The size of the fire allowed the creation of its own weather pattern with rising heat and particulate matter facilitating the development of both pyrocumulus and pyrocumulonimbus clouds. The rare weather event created unpredictable winds with sudden gusts and changes in directions making it even more difficult for firefighters to control the blaze.[81][82]

A 'Special Inquiry Into the January 2016 Waroona Fire' was held by the Western Australian Government, headed by Euan Ferguson. Its 264-page report was released on 29 April 2016.[107]

March

On 14 March, one townhouse and 12 hectares (30 acres) of parkland were destroyed by a fire that prompted evacuations at Edith Cowan University and damaged facilities at university situated in the City of Joondalup. A camper who had been lodging near Grassbird Avenue in Lake Joondalup Nature Reserve was charged for lighting the fire, allegedly to clear scrub near his camp site.[94][95][96]

Notes

edit

  1. ^ Total area burned calculated as sum of all known burnt areas for fires listed in article as is likely to be less than the actual burnt area.
  2. ^ Referred to as the Esperance fires. Significant fire-weather/destruction on 17 November 2015.
  3. ^ Referred to as the Pinery fire. Significant fire-weather/destruction on 25 November 2015.
  4. ^ Referred to as the Great Ocean Road fire. Significant fire-weather/destruction on 25 December 2015.
  5. ^ Referred to as the Harvey-Waroona fire. Significant fire-weather/destruction on 7 January 2016.

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c "Catastrophic summer events cost insurers more than $550 million, Insurance Council of Australia says". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 25 March 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  2. ^ "Southern Australia seasonal bushfire outlook 2015-16". Australian Government. 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  3. ^ "Early start predicted for 2015-2016 fire season". cfa.vic.gov.au. Country Fire Authority. 2 September 2015. Archived from the original on 9 September 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  4. ^ "Longer bushfire seasons leave Australia exposed". The Climate Council. 1 September 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  5. ^ "Pre-Season Update; 2015-16 Summer Season" (PDF). cfa.vic.gov.au. Emergency Management Victoria. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  6. ^ "Challenging bushfire season expected for Western Australia". dfes.wa.gov.au. Department of Fire and Emergency Services. 1 September 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  7. ^ "Western Australia in 2015: second-warmest year on record; dry in southwest". bom.gov.au. Bureau of Meteorology. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  8. ^ a b c "March rainfall reduces deficiencies in some areas". bom.gov.au. Bureau of Meteorology. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  9. ^ a b Vince, Mary-Louise (1 June 2015). "Bushfire destroys home, damages another on NSW central coast". ABC Radio Australia. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  10. ^ a b "Bushfire hits houses in NSW Central Coast on last day of autumn". Weekly Times. News Corp. AAP. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  11. ^ a b "Houses believed lost to Howard Springs bushfire in Darwin; firefighters bring blaze under control". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 9 September 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  12. ^ a b Herbert, Lisa (10 September 2015). "Water bombers ready for Top End fire risk; landholders not". ABC Rural. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  13. ^ a b Dunlop, Craig (9 September 2015). "Rural area bushfire destroys two Howard Springs homes, cars". The Daily Telegraph. News Corp. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  14. ^ a b Isobel Roe (10 September 2015). "Bushfire destroys house, dozens of cars at property at Stuart near Townsville in north Queensland". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  15. ^ a b Roe, Isobel (11 September 2015). "Stuart fires in Townsville that destroyed house, cars, considered suspicious". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  16. ^ a b Branco, Jorge (4 October 2015). "Cape Cleveland bushfire threatens homes south east of Townsville". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  17. ^ a b Nugent, Victoria (6 October 2015). "Family loses everything as Townsville bush fires rage". Townsville Bulletin. News Corp. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  18. ^ a b Allison Worrall (5 October 2015). "Home destroyed in Wensleydale bushfire". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  19. ^ a b Payne, Nicholas (5 October 2015). "Otways bushfire burns 10 hectares, destroys Wensleydale house". Geelong Advertiser. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  20. ^ a b "Wensleydale bushfire: House destroyed in blaze near Anglesea in Victoria". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 5 October 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  21. ^ a b "Two homes destroyed as bushfires raze central Victoria". Channel 9 Australia. 7 October 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
  22. ^ a b "Lancefield bushfire: Fears for homes as emergency warnings for six towns in central Victoria remain". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 8 October 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  23. ^ a b "Lancefield bushfire: Thunderstorms could make firefighting efforts difficult, CFA says". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 9 October 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  24. ^ a b Hillard, Leith. "Huge effort to save Lancefield homes". Brigade. Summer 2015. Country Fire Authority: 4–5. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  25. ^ a b "Crews battle out-of-control Vic bushfires". Herald Sun. News Corp. Australian Associated Press. 9 October 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  26. ^ a b Marissa Calligeros; Rania Spooner; Rachel Wells (7 October 2015). "Lancefield fire burns out of control as residents demand answers". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  27. ^ a b Gray, Darren (19 November 2015). "Victorian bushfires 2015: Lancefield fire report finds 'significant shortcomings' in handling of burn-offs". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  28. ^ a b "Bluestone weekender home lost in bushfire caused by burn-off at Devon North". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 18 November 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  29. ^ a b Hamblin, Andrea (18 November 2015). "Victorian homes under threat from Gippsland bushfire". Herald Sun. News Corp. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  30. ^ a b c Nous Group (8 March 2016). Major Incident Review of the Esperance District fires (PDF). Perth, Western Australia: Department of Fire and Emergency Services. Retrieved 26 April 2016. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  31. ^ a b "Esperance bushfire damage toll rising". 9news.com.au. AAP. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  32. ^ a b Tomlin, Sam (29 March 2016). "Esperance bushfire investigation finds region poorly resourced against 'unstoppable' fires". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  33. ^ a b Corridon, Sarah (17 November 2015). "Two men and two women among fire victims, two more feared dead in Esperance bushfires". Esperance Express. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  34. ^ a b Bruce Butler; Danielle le Messurier (18 November 2015). "Esperance bushfire: Four dead in raging inferno". Perth Now. The Sunday Times. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  35. ^ a b Mark Bennett; Graeme Powell (20 November 2015). "WA bushfires: Foreign workers die trying to flee farm, save horse in Esperance bushfires". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  36. ^ a b "Esperance bushfires: European workers killed trying to flee blaze named by police". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  37. ^ a b Jade Gailberger; Doug Robertson; Jordanna Schriever (26 November 2015). "Pinery bushfire victims identified as Janet Hughes and Allan Tiller". Adelaide Advertiser. News Corp. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  38. ^ a b "SA bushfire: 77 homes confirmed destroyed in deadly blaze as threat eases". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  39. ^ a b "SA bushfire: 87 homes destroyed or damaged in deadly Pinery blaze, Premier confirms". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  40. ^ a b James, Colin (27 November 2015). "Pinery Fire: Country Fire Service declares fire is contained as residents confront widespread devastation". Adelaide Advertiser. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  41. ^ a b Lauren Novak; Doug Robertson (28 November 2015). "Clean-up of Pinery fire ground begins, with 450 insurance claims lodged to value of $61 million". Adelaide Advertiser. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  42. ^ a b McLoughlin, Chris (19 December 2015). "Pinery bushfire: Tally of homes destroyed rises to 91 as SA Govt prepares to hand out first relief payments". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  43. ^ a b Jay Weatherill, Member for Cheltenham, Premier of South Australia (1 December 2015). "Pinery Bushfires - Ministerial Statement". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). South Australia: House of Assembly.
  44. ^ a b Sam Duluk, Member for Davenport (3 December 2015). "Pinery Bushfires - Grievance Debate". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). South Australia: House of Assembly.
  45. ^ a b Kate Dowler; Alice Pohlner (2 December 2015). "Crop, stock hit hard in South Australia and Western Australia fires". Weekly Times. News Corp. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  46. ^ a b "Volunteer firefighter dies of suspected heart attack while fighting Cessnock blaze". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  47. ^ a b "NSW firey remembered after Thursday blazes". Gold Coast Bulletin. News Corp. AAP. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  48. ^ a b c d e Hillard, Leith. "December scorcher flares". Brigade. Autumn 2016. Country Fire Authority: 10–12. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  49. ^ a b "Ten homes, 23 sheds destroyed by Vic fires". Sky News. 20 December 2015. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  50. ^ a b Liam Mannix; Tammy Mills; Allison Worrall (20 December 2015). "Victorian fires: Blazes destroy homes near Ballarat, threaten outskirts of Wodonga". The Age. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  51. ^ a b "Victorian bushfires: Emergency warnings downgraded after 13 homes lost in weekend blazes". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  52. ^ a b Ritchie, Kerri (5 January 2016). "Scotsburn fire: The aftermath of the 'other' Victorian bushfire". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  53. ^ a b Hillard, Leith. "Wye River: Triumph amid devastation". Brigade. Autumn 2016. Country Fire Authority: 4–6. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  54. ^ a b "Great Ocean Road fire: Victoria should 'stand proud' that no lives lost at Wye River, Separation Creek". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 26 December 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  55. ^ a b Booker, Chloe; Liam Mannix; Benjamin Preiss; Rania Spooner; Anna Whitelaw (26 December 2015). "Victorian bushfires: Great Ocean Road towns hit by fires". The Age. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  56. ^ a b "Victorian bushfires: Number of homes confirmed destroyed by blaze rises to 116". 9news.com.au. 9News. AAP. 26 December 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  57. ^ a b Johnson, Krystal (28 December 2015). "Victorian residents return to see bushfire disaster zone". au.news.yahoo.com. Yahoo7. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  58. ^ a b Hamblin, Andrea; Lucie Morris-Marr (26 December 2015). "Great Ocean Road fires expected to rage for weeks". Herald Sun. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  59. ^ a b Florance, Loretta (23 January 2016). "Wye River bushfire: Impact would have been 'far worse' without back-burning, report finds". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  60. ^ a b Aisha Dow; Richard Willingham (29 January 2016). "State Coroner to investigate Wye River bushfire". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  61. ^ a b Raphaele Blanchi; Mark Holland; Justin Leonard; Glenn Newnham; Kimberley Opie (April 2016). "Wye River / Separation Creek; Post -bushfire building survey findings" (PDF). CSIRO Land and Water. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 May 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  62. ^ a b Mills, Tammy (21 December 2015). "Victorian fires: Three homes lost in Indigo Valley". The Age. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
  63. ^ a b "Tree falling on power line blamed for starting Barnawartha fire". The Age. 22 December 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  64. ^ a b "Victorian fires: Blazes destroy homes near Ballarat, threaten outskirts of Wodonga". The Age. 20 December 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  65. ^ a b "WA fires: historic Yarloop timber workshops destroyed by Waroona blaze". WA Today. Fairfax Media. 8 January 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  66. ^ a b "WA fire: Bushfire emergency remains in place for South West towns, four people unaccounted for". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Commission. 9 January 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  67. ^ a b Clarke, Tim; Daniel Emerson; Gabrielle Knowles; Daniel Mercer (9 January 2016). "Inferno all but wipes Yarloop from map". The West Australian. Yahoo7. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  68. ^ a b Hiatt, Bethany (9 January 2016). "History wiped in the furious onslaught". The West Australian. Yahoo7. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  69. ^ a b "Two bodies found in Yarloop ruins". The West Australian. Yahoo7. AAP. 9 January 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  70. ^ a b "WA fires: Two bodies found in burnt-out Yarloop homes thought to be those of missing elderly men". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Commission. 9 January 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  71. ^ a b Campbell, Kate; Danielle Le Messurier; Trevor Paddenburg (10 January 2016). "WA bushfires: Two perish in Yarloop as residents flee from Harvey". Perth Now. The Sunday Times. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  72. ^ a b Powell, Graeme (14 January 2016). "WA fire: Firefighters confident a deadly bushfire south of Perth has been contained". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Commission. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  73. ^ a b Medlen, Pamela (19 January 2016). "WA fire: Western Power embarks on $26m overhaul of ruined network". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Commission. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  74. ^ a b Hondros, Nathan (19 January 2016). "Bushfire inquiry calls rejected by Francis". Mandurah Mail. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  75. ^ a b Campbell, Kate (20 January 2016). "WA bushfires: NASA releases image of Yarloop's burn scar in wake of blaze". Perth Now. The Sunday Times. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  76. ^ a b Taylor, Roxanne (30 March 2016). "Yarloop demolition work begins on bushfire-ravaged buildings". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  77. ^ a b Foster, Brendan (12 January 2016). "WA fires: Forrest Highway closed by South West fires has reopened". WA Today. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  78. ^ a b "Australia Waroona fire: Inferno was just metres from us". BBC News. 8 January 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  79. ^ a b "Southbound music festival cancelled over bushfires". Perth Now. 8 January 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  80. ^ a b Staff writers (9 January 2016). "WA bushfires: Southbound to play benefit concert to raise funds for fire victims". Perth Now. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  81. ^ a b "Bushfire Devastates Australian Town". Earth Observatory. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 12 January 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  82. ^ a b "WA fire: Yarloop blaze creates own weather system, causing further grief for WA firefighters". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ABC News. 8 January 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  83. ^ a b Hillard, Leith (Autumn 2016). "Crib Point's double whammy". Brigade. Country Fire Authority: 8–9. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  84. ^ a b Mannix, Liam (18 January 2016). "Victoria Bushfires: Homes burning in Crib Point, south east of Melbourne". The Age. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  85. ^ a b "Houses under threat as emergency warning issued for grassfire at Crib Point, south-east of Melbourne". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Commission. 18 January 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  86. ^ a b "Crib Point bushfire being treated as suspicious, police say, as state swelters again". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Commission. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  87. ^ a b "Help comes after the fire". Western Port News. Mornington Peninsula News Group. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  88. ^ a b Adam Carey; Beau Donelly (20 January 2016). "Arson suspected in Crib Point fire". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  89. ^ a b "Vic blazes deliberately lit: police". SBS News. Special Broadcasting Service. AAP. 20 January 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  90. ^ a b Stephanie Corsetti; Larissa Romensky (28 January 2016). "Community left anxious after suspicious Kyneton bushfire claims house". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Commission. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  91. ^ a b "Mount Bolton bushfire: Two homes destroyed, one damaged in blaze north-west of Ballarat". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Commission. 24 February 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  92. ^ a b Calligeros, Marissa (24 February 2016). "Victorian bushfires: Homes, train track destroyed by blazes at Somerville, Mount Bolton". The Age. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  93. ^ a b Calligeros, Marissa (24 February 2016). "Home, pig and poultry gone but, somehow, 400 chicks survived Mount Bolton fire". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  94. ^ a b Farcic, Elle (6 April 2016). "Man in court over Edith Cowan University bushfire". West Australian. Yahoo7. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  95. ^ a b "Man charged after bushfire tears through home and student accommodation in Joondalup in Perth's north". ninemsn.com.au. 9News. AAP. 15 March 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  96. ^ a b Young, Emma (15 March 2016). "Man charged over Joondalup ECU bushfire was trying to 'clear' a patch for tent". WA Today. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  97. ^ "Blue Mountains bushfire: Conditions ease after homes threatened, NSW Rural Fire Service says". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 1 August 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  98. ^ Murphy, Jacqueline, ed. (2015). "Fire and Ice; Horden Road, Wentworth Falls (Blue Mountains LGA)". Bush Fire Bulletin. 37 (3). NSW Rural Fire Service: 13–18. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  99. ^ Tom Fowles; Francis Tapim (4 September 2015). "Home damaged by north Queensland bushfire". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  100. ^ "Firefighters monitor bushfire at Bluewater in north Queensland". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 5 September 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  101. ^ "SA bushfire destroys six buildings and burns 310 hectares". ninemsn. 9News. AAP. 1 January 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  102. ^ Martin, Alison; Hamilton, Daniel, eds. (2016). "Yearbook" (PDF). The Volunteer. Country Fire Service: 22. Retrieved 8 October 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  103. ^ "Trailers destroyed after fire breaks out at business in Burton, in Adelaide's north". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Commission. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  104. ^ Martin, Alison; Hamilton, Daniel, eds. (2016). "Yearbook" (PDF). The Volunteer. Country Fire Service: 23. Retrieved 8 October 2016.[permanent dead link‍]
  105. ^ Natalie Jones (1 October 2015). "Sheds lost as bushfire threatens homes in north-west WA town of Port Hedland". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  106. ^ Stewart, Anthony (12 August 2016). "Roads into Yarloop reopen seven months after historic settlement destroyed by bushfire". ABC News. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  107. ^ Ferguson, Euan (Special Commissioner) (29 April 2016). "Report of the Special Inquiry Into the January 2016 Waroona Fire". Waroona Fire Special Enquiry. Retrieved 12 August 2016 – via www.documentcloud.org. (PDF version)
Retrieved from "https://en.wiki.x.io/w/index.php?title=2015–16_Australian_bushfire_season&oldid=1226409923"