Big Picture

Forest Fire History - A Timeline

Mike Leonard (bio)

"In early pioneering days in this State, the fires which were inevitably associated with the clearing of land for agricultural and pastoral purposes caused comparatively little damage except to valuable stands of timber, but forest destruction in these days was regarded with complete equanimity and indeed was welcomed as desirable. When land was allotted for selection it was a condition of tenure that the settler should within a stipulated period clear a certain proportion of his land, the destruction of the forest crop thereon being credited to him as improvements to the property. The usual procedure adopted was to ringbark all the larger trees, fell the smaller ones, slash the scrub and undergrowth, and allow the accumulation of dead material to dry. Then on the first suitable hot, dry and preferably windy day the whole of this mass of inflammable debris was touched off with a match. Provided he was successful in obtaining a clean burn on his own land, the settler was not concerned about the subsequent destination of the fire or its possible ultimate consequences, with the result that his operations were a constant source of danger to the forests and adjacent settlers." ¹

and

The 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission final report states that ‘…Fifty-two significant bushfires have been recorded in Victoria since 1851, two-thirds of them in the past sixty years…’ (Volume 1, page 2)

The Report also stated: ‘…On the basis of the evidence presented, the Commission concluded that Victoria has a range of characteristics that predispose it to bushfires generally and to the occasional ferocious bushfire in particular. There are few other locations in the world with similar characteristics…’ (Volume 1, page xxiv)

An introduction to fire management in Victoria -

1851 to 1926

1851

February 6 - 'Black Thursday’: Fires cover a quarter of what is now Victoria - approximately 5 million hectares. Twelve lives, one million sheep and thousands of cattle are recorded as lost.

1854

The first Fire Legislation passed.

1879

First Forest Bill brought before Parliament to create forest reserves, management powers etc. This Bill and subsequent ones (1881, 1887 and 1892) are never enacted.

1888

First ‘Conservator of Forests’ appointed (an officer of the Lands Department).

1907

First Forests Act passed. Comprehensive treatment of most ‘forest related’ matters - far reaching by previous standards.

1908

State Forest Department formed under a new Minister of Forests.

1910

Victorian School of Forestry at Creswick accepts first trainees.

1918

Forests Commission established to administer the Act and manage the Department New Forests Act provides basis for the current one (1958). The Commission’s principles of establishment are:

the conservation, development and utilisation of the indigenous forests, based on sound forestry principles
the establishment of adequate plantations of exotic softwood plantations
the prosecution of essential research work concerning the natural products of the forests;and
the need for an effective fire prevention and fire suppression organisation

1919

Forestry Fund established – allows the Forests Commission to keep half the income obtained from royalties etc. to re-invest in forest management.

A significant fire in the Otways burnt 24000ha and 100 homes were destroyed. (Source: Sawdust and Steam. A History of Sawmilling in the East Otway Ranges. 1850-2010. Norman Houghton. 2011)

1920s

Earliest recorded use of fire by a Government land manager to reduce fuel levels on public land.

Fireguards in place - see Instructions to Fireguards.

1926

February – March. Including ’Black Sunday’ – February 14th - Forest fires burn across large areas of Gippsland throughout February and into early March. Sixty lives are lost and widespread damage occurs to farms, homes and forests.

See also: YouTube Video

The 1925/26 Fire Season: 426 fires, Total Area Burnt 395000 ha, comprising 193500 ha of Reserved Forest and 201500 ha of Crown Land. (Source: FCV Annual Report 1925/26)

The FCV takes on a key role in supporting Bush Fire Brigades.

1926 to 1943/44

1930

First aircraft used in firefighting - February 18th. An Air Force single-seater, single engine Westland Wapiti aircraft is used for detection and for aerial reconnaissance during bushfire operations - an Australian first.

1932

"Following normal spring weather, a hot dry period, commencing just before Christmas, was experienced during which practically no rain was recorded throughout the State and hot northerly winds were of frequent occurrence. The culminating point was reached during the night of 4th February, when a fierce northerly gale of terrific intensity caused fires to develop and spread with extraordinary rapidity, so much so that it would have been impossible to check them by any human agency."
&
"Unfortunately, the fires were responsible for regrettable loss of life in addition to causing enormous damage to valuable forest areas and private property. The majority of the damage occurred between 21st December and 6th February. corresponding to the incidence of the hot, dry spell referred to. During this period, 179 out of a total of 230 fires which damaged State Forest during the year occurred, with consequent damage estimated at over £40,000 to 186,000 acres of State Forest, exclusive of damage done to unreserved Crown lands". Ref: FCV Annual Report 1931/32

1939

13 January, including ’Black Friday:

in late 1938, fires burn 1.5 to 2 million hectares. The fires come to a head on January 13^th, 1939 (Black Friday) causing 71 fatalities (including several Forests Commission officers). They destroy more than 650 buildings, and obliterate whole townships
fires affect almost every section of Victoria. Areas hardest hit include Noojee, Woods Point, Omeo, Narbethong, Warrandyte and Yarra Glen. Other areas affected include Warburton, Erica, Rubicon, Dromana, Mansfield, the Otway Ranges and the Grampian Ranges;
the most destructive fires since 1851

Stretton Royal Commission:

“These fires were lit by the hand of man”. The findings of the Royal Commission held following 1939 fires are to be highly significant in increasing fire awareness and prevention throughout Australia
the Royal Commission dramatically changes non-metropolitan fire service provisions in Victoria and leads to the creation of Country Fire Authority (CFA)
Forests Act 1939 extends the Forests Commission’s fire protection responsibilities to national parks, other public lands and to lands within 1.5 km. of both State forests and national parks

1943/44

22nd December to 15th February: Fires in the central and western districts, and at Morwell and Yallourn, kill 51 people, destroy over 500 houses and cause huge losses in the pastoral industry. Four or more grass fires near Hamilton, Dunkeld, Skipton and Lake Bolac burn around 440000 hectares in eight hours.

1943/44 to 1969

1969 to 1983

1983 to 1996

1996 to 2003

1998

NRE and Parks Victoria launch a joint, several year initiative, to lift the understanding across both agencies, and in the wider community, of the role fire plays in the conservation of biodiversity.

1998

Elvis arrives - As part of the continuing development of aerial fire- fighting operations an Erikson Aircrane heavy-lift helicopter (nick-named ’Elvis‘) is contracted for fire-fighting duties by NRE / CFA. It can accurately deliver large loads (around 9000 litres) of water or retardant.

2000

First deployment of Australian fire fighters to assist in overseas fire control efforts. Forty-nine NRE fire fighters form part of a 98-person contingent from Australia and New Zealand that travels to the US to assist with wildfire suppression in Idaho and Montana.

Fireweb Developed - Using State government initiative funding NRE dramatically upgrades the IT platform that underpins its fire management functions. Fireweb provides a single source and repository of fire related information using features that have subsequently been adapted for use in many parts of the world.

2001-2002

State Aircraft Unit formed as a joint DSE/Country Fire Authority initiative.

2002

Linton Coronial Inquiry concludes - Following the deaths of five CFA Geelong West volunteer firefighters at a CFA/NRE managed bushfire south west of Ballarat, in December 1998, the Victorian Coroner conducts what becomes, at the time, the longest running Coronial Inquest in Australia’s history. The Inquest commenced in July 2000, sat for 98 days during a ten-month period and heard from 95 witnesses.

Investigations conducted by NRE and the CFA immediately after the Linton tragedy were to result in major changes to the way the two agencies conducted joint operations and to the implementation, by the CFA, of mandatory training and accreditation programs for all its fire fighters.

2002-2003

The Victorian Alpine Fires -The Victorian Bushfires of 2002/03, and those in the NSW and the ACT, were started by lightning strikes from dry thunderstorms that swept south-eastern Australia at the end of a ten-year long drought.

A lightning event on the evening of the 7th of January, 2003 started 80 fires in Victoria and 40 in NSW and the ACT. In Victoria, most fires were in remote, heavily forested parts of the North-East and Gippsland and took 60 days to contain. They burnt well over one million hectares of land, and saw the first deployments of overseas crews to assist Australian bushfire efforts (New Zealand and US crews joined those from several Australian states). In a flash flood at the end of the fires a DSE fire fighter tragically drowns.

2003 to 2008

2008 to 2010

2009

Black Saturday – 7th February -By February 2009 much of south-eastern Australia is experiencing a severe and protracted drought that, in some places had extended over twelve years. Late morning on February 7th a fire, which is believed to have started from a faulty electricity supply line, is reported on farmland about 60 km north of Melbourne (near the town of Kilmore). At the time the temperature is in the mid to high 30s°C and climbing toward the 40s, a northerly winds was gusting up to 90 km/h and the humidity was approaching single figures. The fire spreads quickly, soon entering forested country on its way to the northern edge of Melbourne. As afternoon approaches many fires are reported across the State.

Early that afternoon a fire is reported in open country to the east of Melbourne, in Gippsland, again being driven, under strong north winds, towards forested hills

Around 3 PM a fire is reported to the north-east of Melbourne (near Murrindindi) again in farmland but close to forest. Initially arriving crews report severe fire behaviour, with flames 20 metres high and an estimated rate of spread of 8 kilometres per hour. ‘Spotting’ was estimated at 5 kilometres (post-fire analysis indicates this was an under-estimate — the likely spread of the fire was around 12 kilometres per hour with spotting to 22 kilometres).

A little after midday a strong, gusty, south-westerly wind change enters the State dropping temperatures and increasing relative humidity. No shower activity is associated with the change. Many locations have now reported, if not their hottest day on record, then their hottest for February. Wind gusts to 115 kilometres per hour are reported in the wake of the change. The strong and gusty south-westerly wind change moves eastward at a rate of about 30 kilometres per hour. Fire danger ratings remains well into the ‘Extreme’ category ahead of the wind change, and in central parts of the State these do not drop below ‘Extreme’ until up to an hour after the change.

By the time the fires that broke out on February 7th have been contained 173 people have been killed, around 78 communities have been directly impacted upon and several entire towns have been irrevocably affected. More than 2000 homes and sixty-one business premises have been destroyed, and 430,000 hectares of land have been burnt. The fires are Australia’s deadliest peace-time disaster.

In the weeks following the tragedy the State government establishes a Royal Commission of Inquiry that is required to produce an interim report by 17 August 2009, and a final report by 31 July 2010.

During the life of the Inquiry the Commission receives over 1700 written submissions, and examines some 434 witnesses and a range of international specialists over 155 days.

2009/10

A US based converted, wide-body passenger McDonnell Douglas DC-10 aircraft is trialled for bushfire suppression in remoter areas. The former airliner carries up to 43,500 litres of water or fire retardant in a series of exterior belly-mounted tanks, the contents of which can be released in eight seconds. An evaluation conducted by the Bushfire CRC concluded that the aircraft had ‘…limited effectiveness and presented some clear safety issues…’.

2010 Onward

2010

July 31st - The 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission delivers its final report. The report includes some 67 recommendations and covers around 1000 pages.

A Committee of the Australian Senate releases a report on the Incidence and severity of bushfires across Australia.

State parliament passes a Fire Services Commissioner Act 2010 to provide for the appointment, powers, and functions of a Fire Services Commissioner, and amends Victoria’s emergency management arrangements to create a State Fire Controller to response to major fires.

2010-11

Two Convair CV580 fire-fighting aircraft, on a 12-week lease from Canada, conduct a series of trial drops to test the aircraft’s capability over a variety of terrains, including forested areas. Again a Bushfire CRC review is conducted.

2011

Bill Gammage publishes his seminal book, The Biggest Estate on Earth: How Aborigines Made Australia.

2012-13

Large fires again burn in the Victorian Alps, originating at Harrietville, and around Aberfeldy. Two DSE fire-fighters are killed during the Harrietville fire when a tree falls on their vehicle.

An Inquiry, by the State’s Emergency Services Commissioner, is launched into the management of the first two 72 hours of the Harrietville fire after widespread local criticism and very high aircraft-related costs being borne.

2013

In February, the federal government announces a $47 million contribution, over eight years, to help establish a Bushfires and Natural Hazards CRC, to begin on 1 July 2013. As the Bushfire CRC completes its current program of research, the new CRC lays the foundations of a new research agenda.

2019-20

"Across Victoria, 1.5m ha was burnt, including 1.39m ha of forested land (both parks and state forest). There were major impacts on 3 RFA regions: East Gippsland, Gippsland and the North-East. Within the East Gippsland RFA Region: 1.21m ha was burnt including 1.05m ha of public land. They were the most extensive and severe bushfires ever to occur in this region. (Compare with the 253,000 ha. burnt in January to March 1983.) 441,800 ha was burnt at high severity." Ref: Bartlett

Forest and Fire Responsibility in Victoria

A State Forests Department was established in Victoria in 1908. In 1918 the Forests Commission, Victoria (FCV) was formed to administer the relevant legislation and to manage the Department. From the outset a key requirement of the Department / Commission was to meet ‘…The need for an effective fire prevention and fire suppression organisation….’

Responsibility for the relevant legislation lay with the FCV until 1983. In that year the FCV was effectively incorporated into a new body, the Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands (CFL). That organisation’s successors in law have been the Departments of:

1990: Conservation and Environment (DCE)
1992: Conservation and Natural Resources (CNR)
1996: Natural Resources and Environment (NRE)
2002: Sustainability and Environment (DSE)
2013: Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI)
2015: Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP)
2023: Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA)

Note also:

that the Land Conservation Council, which was formed in 1971, was to play the key role in determing the uses of public land in Victoria from that time.
that the Government exited the plantation business in 1998, when the plantation business was sold to Hancock Natural Resources Group to form Hancock Victorian Plantations (HVP). For fire management purposes, HVP would become an Industry Brigade under CFA legislation.
that in 2004, VicForests, a government commercial entity, was established to manage commercial timber harvesting on public land.

Reference

¹ The Bush Fire Brigades in Victoria, Australia - AV Galbraith (Empire Forestry Journal, Vol 16, No.1, July 1937)

Sources

Gillespie, J., Wright, J., Calder, S.W., Leonard, M.G., and Williams, B. (1994). A Fraternity of Foresters – A History of the Victorian State Foresters Association. Jim Crow Press, Daylesford, Australia.150 pp.
Moulds, F.R, (1991). The Dynamic Forest – A History of Forestry and Forest Industries in Victoria. Lynedoch Publications. Richmond, Australia. 232 pp.
Parliament of Victoria (2010). Report of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission. Volumes 1 – 3. Parliament of Victoria. 1141 pp.
Pyne, S.J. (1998). Burning Bush: A Fire History of Australia. University of Washington Press. 521 pp.
Pyne, S.J. (2006). The Still-Burning Bush. Scribe. 138 pp.
State Aircraft Unit, Victoria (2007). Some milestones in firefighting and forestry aviation in Victoria. SAU – Vic. 3 pp. (Article here)
Youl, R., Fry, B. and Hateley, R. (2010) Circumspice: One hundred years of forestry education centred on Creswick, Victoria. On-Demand Printers, Port Melbourne, Victoria. 278 pp.
Victorian Government – DSE (2010). History of helicopter rappel operations in Victoria. Victorian Government. 28 pp.