@am*3 wrote:
icy -
but increasing in frequency over the last few decades.
As have floods and other freak weather conditions throughout the world
Are you able give some examples of those, especially Australian examples?... as I posted above, the current major NSW bushfires are being compared to the ones in 2001 for severity.. that is more than 10 years ago.
2003
A series of litigants took the ACT and NSW governments to court, claiming failures to properly fight the fires that eventually swept through the city on January 18, 2003.
The fires tore through the south-western suburbs of Canberra, killing four people, and destroying almost 500 homes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_Canberra_bushfires
The Canberra bushfires of 2003 involved several deaths, over 490 injured, and caused severe damage to the outskirts of Canberra, the Australian capital city, during 18–22 January 2003. Almost 70% of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) pastures, forests (pine plantations) and nature parks were severely damaged, and most of the renowned Mount Stromlo Observatory was destroyed. After burning for a week around the edges of the ACT, the fires entered the suburbs of Canberra on 18 January 2003. Over the next ten hours, four people died and more than 500 homes were destroyed or severely damaged, requiring a significant relief and reconstruction effort.
I know this fire is not technically NSW But I’ve included it as it reached over the borders into NSW in some areas
2006
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jail_Break_Inn_Fire
The Jail Break Inn Fire was suspected to be started by a cigarette butt near the Jail Break Inn 8 km west of Junee, in the Australian state of New South Wales on New Year's Day 2006.[1] The fire was reported around mid-afternoon but quickly spread due to temperatures into the mid to high 40s (°C), low humidity and gusty westerly winds.[2] The fire closed Olympic Highway and the Main Southern Railway line. Seven houses were destroyed, and the Junee Round House was damaged by the fire. The Monte Cristo Homestead was threatened by the fire but was saved by a firefighting helicopter water-bomber.[3] By nightfall the fire had reached Illabo and Ulandra Nature Reserve.
- 25,200 ha (62,000 acres) of farmland burnt.[4]
- Stock losses were estimated to be over 20,000.[5]
- 1,500 kilometres (930 mi) of fencing damaged.[6]
- Ten homes destroyed.[4]
- John Heffernan, a local farmer and second cousin of Liberal senator Bill Heffernan, received third-degree burns to 80% of his body while trying to fight the fire.[7]
September 2006
On 24 September 2006, bushfires began burning in various places in the Southern Highlands, Shoalhaven, Hawkesbury River and Hunter regions of New South Wales, Australia.
measures as the Commissioner considers necessary to control or suppress any bush fire in any part of the State...."[2] Seven (7) houses were burned out, four at Picton, and also Thirlmere, and Oakdale. The wind was from the west and north-west and fed the fire conditions, hampering firefighting by the New South Wales Rural Fire Service.[3][4]
January 2007
On 17 January, fires crossed the Murray River into New South Wales and threatened Thredbo. With the fire 12 km from the town, 700 tourists were evacuated.[30]
On 21 January, a large fire began near the F3 Freeway (Freeway which connects Central Coast to Sydney), this resulted in its closure due to the intensity of the flames and smoke levels.
On 22 January, the fire broke containment lines and headed north thanks to wind levels and hot conditions, the fire also caused the closure of the Pacific Highway and train line. The suburb of Berowra also came under direct threat with residents urged at the time to prepare their properties. The railway station and a train that had stopped there came perilously close to being consumed by the bushfire. Later on 22 January, the fire front was slowly contained, allowing all three avenues to re-open by nightfall.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006%E2%80%9307_Australian_bushfire_season
2009
NSW
Dozens of fires ignited between the 19 and 20 November were burning in north, central and western New South Wales, and on Sydney's northern outskirts. 1000 personnel were deployed on the fire front, 2 homes were damaged and approximately 3,000 hectares burnt in NSW in total.
December
NSW
On 8 December, 90 fires were burning across New South Wales with 1,600 firefighters in attendance. A father and son suffered serious burns whilst defending property after a bushfire flared up in the central-west New South Wales town of Vittoria, near Bathurst. Both were taken to Orange Base Hospital for treatment before being transferred to Concord Hospital in Sydney.
The same fire forced the closure of the Mitchell Highway, between Bathurst and Orange. Every region of NSW was under a high to catastrophic fire danger for 9 December and total fire bans remained in effect for the central ranges, northern slopes, northwestern and upper central west plains regions.
Between 9 and 10 December, 3 helicopters were involved in separate incidents fighting the fires. A helicopter mapping the fires crashed in dense fog into rainforest in the Donigo National Park at around noon, the pilot was taken to hospital in a critical but stable condition, whilst the passenger, a park ranger, died. Less than 24 hours later, two water bombing helicopters collided tail rotors, forcing both to land, no one was injured.
Areas affected by the early December fires included; Vittoria, near Bathurst, Wallendbeen, near Cootamundra, Cudgen, near far north NSW coast and areas west of Tamworth. The Vittoria fire burnt around 2,000 hectares (4,940 acres), while the Diamond Swamp fire burnt around 7,000+.
On 17 December, bushfires affected Southern NSW including a major fire which has burnt 5,500 hectares (13,590 acres) in the Gerogery area, which is believed to had started at the Walla Walla tip.[6] A 60-year-old man suffered burns to 36 per-cent of his body whilst fighting fire near Walla Walla, with a number of vehicles, home, sheds, crops and livestock also destroyed by the fire.[7] The fire also forced the closure of the Main Southern railway line between Melbourne and Sydney and the Olympic Highway.[8] In Tooma near Tumbarumba, a bushfire had burnt 11,500 hectares (28,420 acres) destroying six homes and threatening the Tooma Hotel and also the Kosciuszko National Park.[6] Three men suffered burns and smoke inhalation while trying to fight the fire just outside the village of Tooma.[7][9] In Michelago, 54 kilometres (34 mi) south of Canberra, a bushfire burnt 9,000 hectares (22,240 acres) and three houses were also destroyed.[10] A powerline is believed to have caused a bushfire in Gregadoo, near Wagga Wagga, which burnt approximately 10 hectares (20 acres) of pasture, destroying a new shed and farm machinery.[11] Wagga Wagga recorded a catastrophic fire danger index of 170, the highest recording in seven years, due to the low humidity, high temperatures and strong winds.[12]
2009–10 Australian bushfire season
On 12 January, Catastrophic fire danger warnings were issued across south western parts of the state. Mid-afternoon, a bushfire broke out on Bakers Lane on the northern side of the disused Tumbarumba railway line in Gumly Gumly, 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from the CBD of Wagga Wagga.[30] The New South Wales Rural Fire Service, New South Wales Fire Brigades with support from aircraft including the Erickson Air-Crane "Delilah" contained the fire an hour later after burning approximately 35 hectares of grassland.[31] The fire is believed to had started on the side of the road (Bakers Lane) however cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the New South Wales Police fire investigators however the cause is suspected to be arson.[32]
On 23 January, a bushfire caused by a lightning strike near Wog Way in the South East Forest National Park, the fire was contained on 27 January after it had burnt 459 hectares.[33][34]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009%E2%80%9310_Australian_bushfire_season
