2015–16 Australian bushfire season
| 2015–16 Australian bushfire season | |
|---|---|
| Location | Australia |
| Statistics | |
| Date(s) | Winter (June) 2015 – Autumn (May) 2016 |
| Buildings destroyed |
7 + 1 |
| Injuries | 9 |
| Fatalities | 4 |
|
← 2014–15
|
|
The 2015–16 Australian bushfire season is expected to have an above normal potential for bushfires particularly along the west and east coasts extending inland despite many areas having experienced fires in the last 12 months. The forecast results from a strengthening El Nino over the Pacific Ocean and warmer sea temperatures in the Indian Ocean.[1] A longer and more severe fire season was also predicted.[2][3]
Victoria also experienced lower than average rainfall from August to September meaning the state was much drier than normal and plant growth would likely dry out faster leading into summer.[2]
An average but prolonged bushfire season is predicted for the Northern Territory.[4]
June[edit]
- New South Wales
A small bushfire destroyed one house and damaged another at Copacabana near Gosford in the central coast region. One man was treated for burns received while fighting the fire.[5]
August[edit]
- New South Wales
A fire in the Blue Mountains required 100 firefighters and water bombing helicopters to bring it under control. Starting on 31 July the fire quickly burnt out 30 hectares (74 acres) and spread rapidly fanned by strong winds. Although it had snowed in the area only weeks before the fire took three days to be contained and extinguished.[6]
September[edit]
- Northern Territory
Two houses were destroyed in Howard Springs when a fire raced through the area fanned by strong wind gusts on 9 September.[7]
- Queensland
A house and dozens of cars were destroyed during a fire at Stuart on the outskirts of Townsville. Over 50 firefighters were required to bring the blaze under control which resulted in the loss of power to 1,000 homes and a correctional facility to e evacuated. Two people were hospitalised and six other were treated for smoke inhalation.[8]
- Western Australia
The Department of Parks and Wildlife lost control of a prescribed burn at Mount Cooke near Jarrahdale on 9 September sparking a bushfire. The fire resulted in a 52 kilometres (32 mi) section of Albany Highway being closed the following day but was brought under control and extinguished shortly afterward.[9]
October[edit]
- Victoria
A home was destroyed by a bushfire at Wensleydale south-west of Geelong on 5 October 2015. The fire was brought under control by dozens of firefighters after it had burnt out 9 hectares (22 acres) of scrubland.[10]
At least 2 homes were destroyed by a significant bushfire in the Lancefield area North of Melbourne on October 6. The fire has started in the week prior after a controlled burn jumped containment lines. It was 4,000 hectares (9,884 acres) in size on the afternoon of the October 7 with homes still under threat. Extreme and Severe fire dangers were forecast on October 6 for much of the state with 160 fires reported in what is being described as the earliest start to the fire season on record. Other significant fires were seen in Melbourne's east and north, on Mount Hickey, and in the state's north west.[11] The first was contained a week later with 4 homes lost.
October was a number of well above average days during October and record low rain leading to significant drying of a very dry country side.
- Western Australia
A bushfire in Port Hedland resulted in residents of Bosna Estate evacuated. The fire claimed 6,500 hectares (16,062 acres) of bushland and two sheds being burnt out until 30 firefighters brought the blaze under control.[12]
November[edit]
- Victoria
On 17 November one home was lost in Devon North, with nine others threatened
- Western Australia
Four people killed and two missing after fire near Esperance, Western Australia, the fire had started on Sunday 15 November.[13]
Fires of note[edit]
| Name/Location | State | Hectares | Start Date | Contained Date | Active? | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wensleydale | Victoria | 9 hectares (22 acres) | October 5 2015 | October 5 2015 | no | 1 Home destroyed | [11] |
| Lancefield | Victoria | 3,182 hectares (7,863 acres) | October 4 2015 | October 12 2015 | no | 4 Homes lost, 23 sheds | [11] |
| Mt Hickey | Victoria | 563 hectares (1,391 acres) | October 6 2015 | October 10 2015 | no | [11] | |
| Koorlong | Victoria | 233 hectares (576 acres) | October 6 2015 | October 6 2015 | No | ||
| Big Desert/Wyperfeld National Park | Victoria | 363 hectares (897 acres) | October 25 2015 | October 26 2015 | No | Complex of 4 fires | |
| Yarram | Victoria | 50 hectares (124 acres) | November 17 2015 | November 18 2015 | no | 1 homes Destroyed | [14] |
| Grass Patch | Western Australia | 300,000 hectares (741,316 acres) | November 15 2015 | Yes | 4 Deaths | [13] | |
| Merivale | Western Australia | 15,000 hectares (37,066 acres) | November 17 2015 | November 17 2015 | No | [13] | |
| Kyeema | South Australia | 60 hectares (148 acres) | November 17 2015 | November 19 2015 | No | [15] |
References[edit]
- ^ "Southern Australia seasonal bushfire outlook 2015-16". Australian Government. 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
- ^ a b "Early start predicted for 2015-2016 fire season". Country Fire Authority. 2 September 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
- ^ "Longer bushfire seasons leave Australia exposed". The Climate Council. 1 September 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
- ^ Daniel Fitzgerlad (16 July 2015). "Average but prolonged fire season predicted for Northern Territory". Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Retrieved 11 September 2015.
- ^ "Bushfire destroys home, damages another on NSW central coast". Australia Plus. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
- ^ "Blue Mountains bushfire: Conditions ease after homes threatened, NSW Rural Fire Service says". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 1 August 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
- ^ "Houses believed lost to Howard Springs bushfire in Darwin; firefighters bring blaze under control". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 9 September 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
- ^ Isobel Roe (10 September 2015). "Bushfire destroys house, dozens of cars at property at Stuart near Townsville in north Queensland". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
- ^ "Out of control fire closes Albany Highway". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 10 September 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
- ^ Allison Worrall (5 October 2015). "Home destroyed in Wensleydale bushfire". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
- ^ a b c d "CFA crews battle bushfire north of Lancefield, central Victoria". Herald Sun. 7 October 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
- ^ Natalie Jones (1 October 2015). "Sheds lost as bushfire threatens homes in north-west WA town of Port Hedland". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
- ^ a b c Le Messurier, Danielle; Butler, Bruce (18 November 2015). "Esperance bushfire: Four dead in raging inferno 6 minutes ago". PerthNow. AAP. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
- ^ http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/victoria-fire-alerts-live-coverage/news-story/e17a096f20ce398c25c8ddecec23bfa7
- ^ James, Colin (ed.) (18 November 2015). "Bushfire season: High alert as South Australia faces day of extreme danger". The Advertiser (Adelaide, Australia). Retrieved 18 November 2015.
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