These Victorian fires are worst in recorded history. 173 confirmed dead now.
This is our 4th straight year of drought.
This is from Wiki and is a pretty accurate account.
The Ash Wednesday fires were a natural disaster that occurred in south-eastern Australia on 16 February 1983. Within twelve hours, more than 180 fires fanned by winds of up to 110 km (68 mph) per hour caused widespread destruction across the states of Victoria and South Australia.Years of severe drought and extreme weather combined to create one of Australia’s worst fire days in a century.
Only the 2009 Victorian bushfires have claimed more lives.
In Victoria, 47 people died, while in South Australia there were 28 deaths. This included 17 volunteer firefighters who died across both states that day. Many fatalities were as a result of firestorm conditions caused by a sudden and violent wind change in the evening which rapidly changed the direction and size of the fire front. The speed and ferocity of the flames, aided by abundant fuels and a landscape immersed in smoke, made fire suppression and containment impossible. In many cases, residents fended for themselves as fires broke communications, cut off escape routes and severed electricity and water supplies. Up to 8000 people were evacuated in Victoria at the height of the crisis and a state of disaster was declared for the first time in South Australia’s history.
Over 3,700 buildings were destroyed or damaged and 2,545 individuals and families lost their homes. Livestock losses were very high, with over 340,000 sheep, 18,000 cattle and numerous native animals either dead or later destroyed.
The emergency saw the largest number of volunteers called to duty from across Australia at the same time – an estimated 130,000 firefighters, defence force personnel, relief workers and support crews.
South Australia was let off the hook last week and while it is cool atm the temp will be rising back up to the high 30's during the coming weekend. Its not over yet.
The Ash Wednesday fires in '83 did to the Adelaide hills where I live, the same as the current fires did to King Lake in Victoria.