2005–06 Australian bushfire season | |
---|---|
Date(s) | Winter (June) 2005 – Autumn (May) 2006 |
Location | Australia |
Statistics | |
Burned area | >180,000 ha (440,000 acres) |
Impacts | |
Deaths | 5 total
|
Non-fatal injuries | Numerous |
Structures destroyed | 500+ total
|
A moderately extensive bushfire season, particularly in western Victoria where fires were most prominent, occurred in mid-late January 2006 as conditions persisted across the state.
Bushfires in Victoria were prominent in mid-late January 2006 as conditions permitted across the state. With the loss of 4 lives and 57 homes. On Australia Day, a CFA volunteer died in the Victorian fires. Arsonists were charged with lighting fires that spread through western Victoria in late January. Two people died in The Grampians when their car was overcome by the Mount Lubra bushfire. [1]
Over the month a total of 500 fires were recorded in Victoria with 359 farm buildings destroyed, stock losses of 64,000 and 1,600 square kilometres (618 sq mi) of private and public land burned out. [2]
State | Start date | Deaths | Injuries | Houses lost | Area ( ha) | Local govt. | Impacted communities & destruction | Duration | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VIC | 31 December 2005 | 2 | 11 | 10,000 ha (25,000 acres) | Northern Grampians | Stawell | [3] [4] [5] | ||
NSW | 1 January 2006 | 1 | 10 | 25,000 ha (62,000 acres) | Junee |
Bethungra,
Illabo &
Junee
|
2 days | [6] [7] [8] | |
1 | 3 | 4,500 ha (11,000 acres) | Gosford |
Woy Woy,
Umina Beach &
Phegans Bay
|
2 days | [7] [9] [10] | |||
VIC | 19 January 2006 | 2 | 40 | 130,000 ha (320,000 acres) | Northern Grampians |
Moyston, Pornonal,
Dunkeld, Mafeking,
Willaura &
Halls Gap
|
32 days | [3] [11] [12] | |
VIC | 22 January 2006 | 5 | 6,700 ha (17,000 acres) | Greater Geelong |
Anakie
|
[3] [13] | |||
VIC | 23 January 2006 | 1 | 2 | Murrindindi | near
Yea
|
[14] | |||
VIC | 17 February 2006 | 1 | Indigo |
Barnawartha
|
[15] [16] | ||||
VIC | 13 March 2006 | 6 | 3,100 ha (7,700 acres) | Pyrenees |
Snake Valley,
Scarsdale &
Smythesdale
|
8 days | [17] [18] |