2. Map of Australia
The red marks
indicate the
extreme fire
spread and
yellow ones are
the minor
3. The Beginning
• The 2019–20 Australian bushfire season,
colloquially known as the Black Summer, began
with several serious uncontrolled fires in
June 2019. ... From September 2019 to March
2020, fires heavily impacted various regions of
the state of New South Wales.
• Burned area: Approximately 18,636,079 hecta...
• Date(s): June 2019 – ongoing
• Cause: Started fires: Lightning strikes; Accident; ...
• Location: Australia (nationwide)
4. • An estimated one billion animals have been killed and some endangered
species may be driven to extinction. At its peak, air quality dropped to
hazardous levels. The cost of dealing with the bushfires is expected to exceed
the A$4.4 billion of the 2009 Black Saturday fires, and tourism sector revenues
fell below more than A$1 billion. By 7 January 2020, the smoke had moved
approximately 11,000 kilometers (6,800 mi) across the South Pacific Ocean to
Chile and Argentina. As of 2 January 2020, NASA estimated that 306 million
tonnes (337 million short tons) of CO2 had been emitted.
•From September 2019 to March 2020, fires heavily impacted various regions
of the state of New South Wales. In eastern and north-eastern Victoria large
areas of forest burnt out of control for four weeks before the fires emerged
from the forests in late December. Multiple states of emergency were declared
across New South Wales ,Victoria , and the Australian Capital Territory .
•Reinforcements from all over Australia were called in to assist fighting the
fires and relieve exhausted local crews in New South Wales. The Australian
Defense Force was mobilized to provide air support to the firefighting effort
and to provide manpower and logistical support. Firefighters, supplies and
equipment from Canada, New Zealand, Singapore and the United States,
among others, helped fight the fires, especially in New South Wales.
5. •During the ensuing crisis, an air tanker and two helicopters crashed
during firefighting operations, the air tanker crash resulting in the
deaths of the three crew. Two fire trucks were caught in fatal
incidents caused directly by fire conditions, killing three fire fighters.
By 4 March 2020, all fires in New South Wales had been extinguished
completely (to the point where there were no fires in the state for
the first time since July), and the Victoria fires had all been
contained.
•There has been considerable debate regarding the underlying cause
of the intensity and scale of the fires, including the role of fire
management practices and climate change, which during the peak of
the crisis attracted significant international attention. Politicians
visiting fire impacted areas received negative responses, in particular
Prime Minister Scott Morrison.An estimated A$500 million was
donated by the public at large, international organizations, public
figures and celebrities for victim relief and wildlife recovery. Convoys
of donated food, clothing and livestock feed were sent to affected
areas.
