Victorian Bushfires

I promised to get to the convicts this time, but something has come up here, and they will have to wait till the next posting.  Several friends at home have seen or heard about the bushfires near Melbourne and have enquired about our welfare, so I thought it best to send this update.  That news of the fires actually reached the U.S. tells you much about their historic scope and significance, since the American media routinely ignore most of what goes on in Australia, except for sporting events.  The very term, bushfire, also works against the story making its way onto the American news because to Americans, the term “bush” conjures images of garden shrubbery, or perhaps scrub land—sagebrush, manzanita, and the like.  It can mean that sort of thing here, too, but it also means any wilderness area, including forest land.  This state is home to vast stands of gumtrees (eucalypts), some of which are among the largest hardwoods on earth; only the California redwoods grow taller than these trees.  It is these forests that are now burning, and they would thus be called forest fires or wildfires if they were in California or Colorado, rather than Victoria.

The Age newspaper of Melbourne is calling these fires “Australia’s worst peacetime disaster.”  Here are some numbers on them as of Saturday, 14 February.  There were few fires, or none, burning eight days ago, then Melbourne experienced the hottest day ever recorded last Saturday—117 degrees Fahrenheit (44C) with sustained winds—and the blazes erupted in various locations north and east of the city.  They have dominated the news here ever since.  So far, more than 450,000 hectares have burned (1,737 square miles—an area bigger than Rhode Island); whole towns have been wiped off the map (Kingslake, Marysville, Stathewen); at least 1,800 homes have been destroyed, leaving 7,000 people homeless; more than 180 people have been killed, and many remain missing as crews investigate the devastated areas.  The death toll is expected to top 200, since many people were overtaken in their cars as they tried to flee, or perished as their homes burned down around them.  As of yesterday, the Australian Red Cross reported that it had collected more than AUD$64 million (USD$41 million) for relief of the victims.  Temperatures have fallen considerably since last Saturday, and the fire crews seem to be making good progress in gaining control of the situation.

The truly striking thing about these fires is the suddenness with which they appeared and overspread whole mountains.  The dead and injured were not people who failed or refused to heed evacuation warnings; the fires simply overran communities before any warning could be issued.  The record-high temperature doubtless played a part, and the winds.  I have read that some blazes originated from burning debris that had been thrown up by one fire and blown 50 km (30 miles).  But the generally dry conditions of the countryside and the horrifying inflammability of the eucalypts also contributed to the disaster.  Additionally, investigators claim some of the fires were deliberately set, including a fire in the town of Churchill, which killed 21.  A man, arrested on arson charges in that incident, “has been moved to an unknown location in Melbourne because of fears for his safety,” according to The Age.  There have also been calls for all newly constructed homes in these isolated communities to have some sort of underground concrete bunker for families to shelter in when such fast-moving fires sweep through an area.

I have never been so close to a disaster of this kind, and it is amazing how insulated we have been in our suburb, even though some of the nearest fires are only 50 km away.  Indeed, until recently the prevailing winds carried the smoke away to the southeast, and skies were clear.  Yesterday the winds shifted, however, and though there was no smell of smoke, a hazy pall settled over Melbourne.  I was out late last night, and the nearly full moon was a lurid red.  But apart from that, things continue much as before in this busy city.  The rush-hour commutes are unchanged, cafés are bustling, couples get married, sporting events and other entertainment go on as usual.  Were it not for the local news stories, the requests for donations, and the bake sales for victim relief, we would have no idea of the destruction and massive fire-fighting efforts going on just an hour’s train ride away from here.
--originally posted 02/2009