2006–07 Eastern Victoria Great Divide bushfires

The Eastern Victoria Great Divide bushfires, also known as the Great Divide Complex, were a series of bushfires that commenced in the Victorian Alps in Australia on 1 December 2006 due to lightning strikes and continued for 69 days.[1][2] They were the longest running bushfires in the state's history.[3] Between 1.2 and 1.3 million hectares were burnt, most of it public land. Victorian fire personnel were assisted by others from all states and territories of Australia, as well as teams from New Zealand, the United States and Canada.[1]

Eastern Victoria Great Divide bushfires
LocationVictoria, Australia
Statistics
Date(s)1 December 2006 – 6 February 2007[1]
Burned area1.2 to 1.3 million hectares
Land useForest reserves/national parks, farmland
Buildings destroyed51 homes
Deaths1[1]
Non-fatal injuries1400 firefighters[1]

Timeline

On 11 December it was reported that the fires had reached Mount Stirling, and destroyed Craig's Hut, well known as the setting for the film The Man from Snowy River.[4] The bushfire smoke spread across the state, and by 20 December visibility in Melbourne was reduced to two kilometres, causing disruption to flights at Melbourne Airport [1] On 11 January a number of buildings and stock were lost at Tambo Crossing as the firefront crossed to the east of the Great Alpine Road and climbed Mount Elizabeth.[5]

Fire activity near Dargo on 11 January, viewed from Swifts Creek.

Tawonga Gap and Tatong fires

Two separate large fires were burning nearby during the same period, one at Tawonga Gap (33,500 hectares) and another at Tatong (33,000 hectares).[1]

References
  1. "Bushfire - Great Divide Complex". Australian Emergency Management Knowledge Hub. Archived from the original on 14 January 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  2. "Eastern Victoria Great Divide Fires- Contained as at 7/2/2007" (PDF). Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  3. Smith, Ross (July 2007). "Key Issues Identified from Operational Reviews of Major Fires in Victoria 2006/07" (PDF). Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  4. "Bushfires ravage iconic Craig's Hut". The Sydney Morning Herald. 11 December 2006. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  5. Switzer, Renee (12 January 2007). "Fire bears down on houses". The Age. Retrieved 14 January 2014.

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