Victoria wildfires (Black saturday) Flashcards
(16 cards)
What event affected south-eastern Australia in late January 2009?
A heatwave affected south-eastern Australia.
What significant event occurred in February 2009 in Victoria, Australia?
A series of wildfires (bushfires) occurred across the state of Victoria.
What are the underlying causes of the wildfires in Victoria?
Hot summer temperatures over 40°C and low humidity led to very dry vegetation.
What role did high winds play in the wildfires?
High winds made conditions drier and helped to spread fires over large distances.
What were the multiple trigger causes of the wildfires?
Lightning strikes, sparks from power cables, and arson.
What improvement was made by the Bureau of Meteorology after the wildfires?
Improved warning systems with a Fire Danger Index published daily.
What type of forests cover much of Victoria?
Eucalyptus forests, which are flammable due to their oil-rich foliage.
What challenges did rural areas face during the wildfires?
Smaller emergency services due to population decline made responding to the fire more difficult.
What criticism was made regarding the rebuilding of towns like Marysville?
Rebuilding was criticized as poor mitigation for future fires.
How many deaths were attributed to the wildfires?
173 deaths were attributed to the wildfires.
How many properties were destroyed in the wildfires?
3,500 properties were destroyed.
How many people were displaced from their homes due to the wildfires?
Over 7,000 people were displaced from their homes.
What was the estimated number of animals that died in the wildfires?
1 million animals estimated to have died.
How many people lost electricity supply during the wildfires?
60,000 people lost electricity supply.
How much forest was burnt in the wildfires?
450,000 hectares of forest was burnt.
What was the estimated total cost of the wildfires?
The total cost of the fires is estimated to be AUS$4.4 billion.
