This document summarizes several major bushfire events in Australian history. Black Friday occurred in December 1938-January 1939 and burned 1.5-2 million hectares, causing 71 deaths and destroying over 650 buildings. Red Tuesday began on February 1, 1898 and burned 260,000 hectares in Gippsland, killing 12 people and destroying 2,000 buildings. Black Monday started on February 27, 1865 and caused extensive property destruction from Geelong to Ballarat as fires burned crops, houses and fences. The largest fire was Black Thursday on February 6, 1851, which burned around 5 million hectares across Victoria, killing 12 people and over 1 million sheep.

1. BUSHFIRE
REPORT
BLACK FRIDAY
From
December
1938
to
January
1939
fires
burnt
1.5
to
2
million
hectares
of
protected
forests,
reserved
forests
and
4,000
hectares
of
plantations.
The
fires
caused
seventy
one
fatalities
and
destroyed
more
than
650
buildings
and
the
township
of
NARBETHONG.The
fire
severity
peaked
on
Friday
“13TH
1939
BLACK
FRIDAY”.
RED TUESDAY
The
fires
started
on
the
1st
of
February
1898.Fires
burnt
260,000
ha
in
Gippsland,
12
lives
and
2,000
buildings
were
destroyed
.the
fires
were
out
of
control
and
houses
were
under
threat.
When
houses
were
under
threat
most
people
were
unaware
of
the
fires
which
led
to
the
tragic
outcomes.
BLACK MONDAY
Black
Monday
started
on
the
27th
of
February
1865.On
black
Monday
the
worst
day
for
heat
and
smoke
we
have
had
since
black
Thursday,
in
1851-­‐the
destruction
of
property
was
very
great,
and
no
one
who
has
not
seen
a
fire
ranging
among
the
stubbles
and
forces
on
tilled
lands,
with
a
strong
north
wind
blowing,
can
well
imagine
what
it
is.
From
Geelong
to
Ballarerat
was
nearly
a
line
of
fire
and
numerous
houses,
fences
and
crops
were
either
burnt
up
or
saved
with
great
difficulty.
In
the
country
around
Daylesford
similar
disasters
occurred…
Black Thursday
The
largest
Australian
bushfire
in
European
recorded
history
was
Black
Thursday.
It
occurred
on
the
6th
of
February
1851.
It
burnt
and
area
of
approximately,
5
million
ha,
which
covered
a
quarter
of
Victoria.
The
areas
affected
include
Portland,
plenty
rangers,
western
port,
the
wimmera
and
dandenong
districts.
Approximately
12
lives,
1
million
sheep
and
thousands
of
cattle’s
were
lost.
Residents saying
“The
blasts
of
air
were
so
impetrated
with
smoke
and
heat
that
the
lungs
seemed
absolutely
to
collapse
under
their
withering
influence…”
The
fire
kept
enlarging
its
orbit,
rolling
about
like
some
huge
monster
destroying
everything
it
touched
its
tracking
mark
by
charred
timber,
embers
and
ashes,
cries
and
lamentations.
It
ran
up
the
highest
trees
and
the
flames
leaped
in
monkey
fashion
from
tree
to
tree.