What towns were affected by Ash Wednesday bushfires?
In the Dandenong Ranges, the villages of Cockatoo and Upper Beaconsfield were devastated, with twelve volunteer firefighters losing their lives after being trapped by a wall of flame when the wind change struck, while parts of Belgrave Heights (where this fire started) and Belgrave South suffered large areas of …
When was Ash Wednesday in Victoria?
February 16, 1983
Ash Wednesday bushfires/Start dates
What towns were affected by the bushfires?
Impact to towns of the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season
| Town/locality | Local government area | State |
|---|---|---|
| Clouds Creek | Clarence Valley Council | New South Wales |
| Cobar Park | City of Lithgow | New South Wales |
| Cobargo | Bega Valley Shire Council | New South Wales |
| Colinton | Snowy Monaro Regional Council | New South Wales |
How many died in Marysville Fire?
Fifteen people are officially confirmed dead in Marysville. The final death toll may not be known for weeks but it is certain to be much higher. The latest estimates put the toll in the town at anywhere between 50 and 100 – or up to one in five who lived there.
How many people were injured in Ash Wednesday?
100
In total, 27 people died, 100 were injured and 535 houses and buildings were destroyed. This fire erupted in the foothills of mountain ash forests.
What year were the Ash Wednesday fires?
How many died on Ash Wednesday?
75 people
One of Australia’s most well-known and destructive bushfire events. Ash Wednesday (16 February 1983) experienced over 100 fires swept across Victoria and South Australia, killing 75 people and causing widespread damage.
How much land was burned in Ash Wednesday?
On 16 February 1983 the Ash Wednesday bushfires burned approximately 210,000 hectares of land, 2,080 homes were destroyed and 75 people, including 47 Victorians, lost their lives.
What areas were worst affected by the bushfires?
The fires covered five million hectares (around one quarter of what is now the state of Victoria). Portland, Plenty Ranges, Westernport, the Wimmera and Dandenong districts were badly hit, and around twelve lives were recorded lost, along with one million sheep and thousands of cattle.
How much of Marysville was burnt?
The town, which previously had a population of over 500 people, was devastated by the Murrindindi Mill bushfire on 7 February 2009. On 19 February 2009 the official death toll was 45. Around 90% of the town’s buildings were destroyed….Marysville, Victoria.
| Mean max temp | Mean min temp | Annual rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| 17.5 °C 64 °F | 8.0 °C 46 °F | 725 mm 28.5 in |
How big were the fires in Victoria on Ash Wednesday?
Due to the large numbers of fires burning on Ash Wednesday, most of Victoria suffered damage, with nine of the fires being larger than 150 hectares in size. As a result, eight areas and townships of Victoria were severely affected and summarised in the table below.
What were the Ash Wednesday bushfires?
The Ash Wednesday bushfires, were a series of bushfires that occurred in south-eastern Australia on 16 February 1983, which was Ash Wednesday in the Christian calendar. Within twelve hours, more than 180 fires fanned by winds of up to 110 kilometres per hour caused widespread destruction across the states of Victoria and South Australia.
How many people died in the Ash Wednesday Fire 1983?
Ash Wednesday (16 February 1983) experienced over 100 fires swept across Victoria and South Australia, killing 75 people and causing widespread damage. High temperatures, intense winds, and low summer rainfall caused a high fire danger in Victoria’s eucalypt forests. A total of 47 people died, and 2,080 homes were destroyed in Victoria.
How many people died in the Warrnambool disaster?
The disaster, on 10th February 1983, resulted in the loss of nine human lives, burnt 60, 000 hectares within the shires of Warrnambool, Mortlake, Heytesbury and Hampden, affected 500 properties, destroyed 157 houses and also killed 13,500 cattle and 15,000 sheep and destroyed 7,700 km of fencing plus public buildings and facilities.