2011–12 Australian bushfire season explained

2011-12 Australian bushfire season
Location:Australia
Date:Winter (June) 2011 – Autumn (May) 2012
Area:>14076km2
Fatalities:0
Injuries:4 (at least)
Buildings:39 lost, at least 20 damaged
Is Season:true
Prev:2010–11 Australian bushfire season
Next:2012–13 Australian bushfire season

Bushfires were mostly active between September 2011 to March 2012 and caused most damage in the state of Western Australia, particularly in the South West. The state had been prepared and had expected an increased risk of bushfire following heavy spring rains as a result of a La Nina weather pattern.[1]

September

Northern TerritoryLarge fires swept through the Barkly Tableland and Victoria River districts, destroying large tracts of grazing land. Fire fronts estimated at 50km (30miles) were reported; the Barkly fire resulted in 7000km2 of country being burnt with another 2000km2 being lost in the Victoria River district.[2]
Western AustraliaDuring the Kimberley Ultramarathon on 2 September, a bushfire raced through the course, engulfing a group of four participants at El Questro Station. Two men escaped the flames, suffering severe burns but the two females were trapped, each suffering critical injuries. Thirty grass fires were burning in Kimberley at the same time.[3] Several other fires were burning through the Kimberley, resulting in the loss of 60000ha of grassland.[4] It has since been discovered that Kimberley locals were lighting fires before and on the day of the race.[5]

October

NSWA bushfire at Katoomba and the Blue Mountains on 24 October caused some houses and a school to be evacuated, over 100 fire-fighters and three aircraft responding to contain the blaze. Some minor property damage occurred but no homes were lost in the blaze.[6]

November

WAA fire broke out near Margaret River in the South West region on 23 November. Temperatures in excess of 30C and strong winds fanned what began as a controlled burn in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park.[7] The fire soon swept over the town causing hundreds of people from Prevelly, Gnarabup and the town outskirts to be evacuated to the beach.[8] By the following day dozens of homes had been lost to the fire, including historic Wallcliffe House. The premier, Colin Barnett, declared Margaret River a Natural Disaster Zone and promised a full inquiry as to how the fire started.[9] The fire was controlled by 26 November after burning through 3400ha of land and leaving a total of 39 homes destroyed and another 14 damaged, but there were no deaths.[10]

Other bushfires were recorded at the same time about 30km (20miles) south west of Nannup, another near Three Springs, a third near Peron and a fourth north of Denmark.

In the Pilbara region a large bushfire burnt through an area of 650km2 of bushland in the Nimingarra area close to the Yarrie minesite.[11]

December

WAThe Denmark fire was contained but warnings remained by 1 December, a total of 5600ha were lost.The Nannup fire continued to burn and was not contained until 3 December, by 2 December it had claimed some 30000ha, it had started as a prescribed burn but had raged out of control.[12] Once finally extinguished it had burnt out about 55100ha of land.[13]

A large fire in the Pilbara region had burned out over 1500km2 of bushland and rangeland by 26 December. A large portion of Giralia Station was burnt out with the firecoming close to the homestead before being extinguished. Yanrey and Koordarrie Stations were also threatened by the blaze.[14]

January

QLDMoreton Island suffered a grass fire that burnt out 160ha of the island vegetation and came within 500m (1,600feet) of the small community of Cowan which was protected by backburning. The fire started on 4 January and was expected to burn for weeks.[15]
SAA fire that started 4 January and burnt for three days burnt 8000ha of pastoral lands, damaging stock in an area approximately 40km (30miles) south east of Port Augusta.[16]
VICA fire broke out in the Grampians on 4 January and was thought to have been started by lightning. 150 fire-fighters battled the blaze along with water bombing aircraft. Over 230ha of bushland was burnt in the blaze.[17]
WAA fire that started in late December in the Yalgoo Shire was mostly contained by 5 January after burning out an area of 18500ha of bushland. More fires were also ignited in the Kearney State forest, near Nannup, resulting from lightning strikes.[18]

A large fire in the Gascoyne burnt out approximately 30km (20miles) of grazing and bushland. It spread over a distance of 45km (28miles), leading to the temporary closure of the North West Coastal Highway and other roads around Kennedy Range National Park. The fire burnt for a week after a smaller fire escaped containment lines on 8 January,[19] burning out over 3300km2 by 15 January and then continuing to burn until 30 January.

Other fires that broke out late in January in Wooroloo and Chittering were both under control by 30 January.[20]

February

WAThe town of Northcliffe was menaced by a bushfire that came within 8km (05miles) of the townsite on 22 February. Smoke haze from the fire effected the south west coast of the state.[21] The fire had been ignited by lightning on 8 February and had burnt out over 16000ha 14 February and was expected to burn over 30600ha before being contained.[22]

March

WAA fire broke out north of Nannup and was brought under control by 14 March. 113 personnel, 13 trucks and 4 earthmovers were used in containing the blaze.[23] The suburb of Koondoola was struck by a fire that threatened homes on 28 March. The fire that started under suspicious circumstances burnt out 45ha of bushland and required 55 fire-fighters and waterbombers to bring it under control.[24]

Notes and References

  1. News: 2011 South West bushfire season outlook. 15 November 2011. 9 December 2012. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  2. News: Bushfires torch large areas of northern Australia. 14 September 2011. 9 December 2012. Beef Central. https://web.archive.org/web/20111121033415/http://www.beefcentral.com/p/news/article/613. 21 November 2011. dead. dmy-all.
  3. News: There was no control over bushfire that scorched runners: police. 6 September 2011. 9 December 2012. Beef Central. https://web.archive.org/web/20130228043237/http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/there-was-no-control-over-bushfire-that-scorched-runners-police-20110905-1jtzu.html. 28 February 2013. dead.
  4. Web site: Bushfires burn out Kimberley grazing land. 22 September 2011. 12 December 2012. Accidentally Outback. https://web.archive.org/web/20130419195705/http://accidentallyoutback.com.au/news/1462-bushfires-burn-out-kimberley-grazing-land. 19 April 2013. dead. dmy-all.
  5. Web site: Report on a corporation aversely referred to the Legislative Assembly - Racingthe planet. 1 August 2014. 30 November 2014. Parliament of Western Australia.
  6. News: Fire forces Katoomba residents to evacuate. 24 October 2011. 9 December 2012. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  7. News: The Margaret River Bushfires. 14 December 2011. 9 December 2012. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. https://web.archive.org/web/20121125083732/http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2011/12/02/3382328.htm. 25 November 2012. dead.
  8. News: Residents flee to beach as bushfire destroys homes. 24 November 2011. 9 December 2012. Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media.
  9. News: SW fire fanned by strong winds, heat. 24 November 2011. 9 December 2012. The West Australian.
  10. News: Toll from Margaret River fire continues to rise. 26 November 2011. 9 December 2012. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  11. Web site: Bushfire All Clear for Nimingarra. Emma Wynne. 28 November 2011. 4 May 2014. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  12. News: Nannup burn still a threat. 2 December 2011. 9 December 2012. The West Australian.
  13. News: The Margaret River Bushfires. 14 December 2011. 9 December 2012. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. https://web.archive.org/web/20121125083732/http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2011/12/02/3382328.htm. 25 November 2012. dead.
  14. Web site: Bushfire threatens properties in remote WA. 26 December 2014. 4 May 2014. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  15. News: Moreton Island fire 'could burn for weeks' . 5 January 2012. 9 December 2012. The Courier Mail.
  16. News: Woolundunga bushfire threat reduced . 7 January 2012. 9 December 2012. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  17. News: Fire hits three Australian states: Queensland, Victoria and South Australia . 6 January 2012. 9 December 2012. The Daily Telegraph.
  18. News: Lightning starts bushfires near Nannup . 5 January 2012. 23 January 2012. The West Australian. Yahoo7.
  19. News: Gascoyne Bushfire - January 2012. 15 January 2012. 9 December 2012. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. https://web.archive.org/web/20130724084137/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-12/carnavon-bushfire-specific-emergency-page/3764316. 24 July 2013. dead.
  20. News: Chittering threat eases as fire contained. 30 January 2012. 9 December 2012. Sunday Times.
  21. News: Northcliffe Fire - February 2012. 22 February 2012. 10 December 2012. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  22. News: Northcliffe bushfire smoke covers South-West. 14 February 2012. 10 December 2012. Sunday Times.
  23. News: Nannup bushfire under control. 14 March 2012. 10 December 2012. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. https://web.archive.org/web/20121201214345/http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2012/03/12/3451543.htm. 1 December 2012. dead.
  24. News: Bushfire threatened properties in Koondoola. 28 March 2012. 10 December 2012. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

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