Black Christmas bushfires

Low rainfall across winter and spring 2001 combined with a hot, dry December created ideal conditions for bushfires. On the day of Christmas Eve, firefighters from the Grose Vale Rural Fire Service (RFS) brigade attended a blaze in rugged terrain at the end of Cabbage Tree Rd, Grose Vale, believed to have been caused by power lines in the Grose Valley.

Black Christmas bushfires
LocationNew South Wales, Australia
Statistics
CostA$70 million
Date(s)24 December 2001 – 7 January 2002
Burned area753,314 hectares (1,861,480 acres)[1]
Cause
  • Low humidity
  • Arson
Land use
  • Urban/rural fringe areas
  • Farmland
  • Forest reserves
Buildings destroyed
  • 109 homes
  • 433 outbuildings[1]
DeathsNil
Non-fatal injuries4

On Christmas Day, strong westerly winds fuelled more than 100 bushfires across the state, creating a plume of smoke that extended across Sydney.[2] This plume of smoke would not clear for some days as the bushfires continued to burn, creating some of the worst pollution that Sydney has ever experienced, with a regional pollution index reading of: 200 in North-West Sydney; 120 in Central-East and South-West Sydney.[3][4] The fires mainly burnt in Lane Cove National Park, the Royal National Park and Blue Mountains National Park. Approximately 753,314 hectares (1,861,480 acres) was burnt.[1] 121 homes were destroyed across the state and 36 damaged, mostly in the lower Blue Mountains and west of the Royal National Park around Helensburgh.[5] Arsonists were believed to be responsible for starting many of the fires, leading to harsher penalties for those who start bushfires.

The dry conditions that started the bushfires continued well into 2002, resulting in the worst drought in 100 years. The drought was declared a "one in 1000 year event".[6] The drought finally broke with the La Nina event of 2010–2011. Significantly higher than average rainfall began in July 2010, it was Australia's second wettest year on record.[7]

An Erickson S-64 Aircrane helicopter became something of a celebrity during this time. Elvis (N179AC) was loaned to NSW by Victoria and proved instantly successful.[8]

Start date Injuries Houses destroyed Area Local government areas Impacted communities and description of damage Duration
haacre
24 December 2001 30 – 39 15,500 38,000 Wollondilly

—Belimba Park, Nattai, Oakdale, Silverdale, Thirlmere & Warragamba

8 factory buildings, 2 shops and dozens of other non-residential structures destroyed.[9][10][11]
 43 days
24 December 2001 34 – 52 97,000 240,000 Shoalhaven

—Bendalong, Berrara, Huskisson, Manyana, Sussex Inlet, Tomerong & Vincentia

5 industrial units, 21 businesses, 109 sheds, one scout hall, 53 vehicles, 11 tractors, 23 other items of farm equipment, 25 trailers, 21 boats and 580 beehives destroyed.[11][12][13][14][15][16]
 29 days
23 December 2001 2 45,500 112,000 Clarence Valley

—Brooms Head

12 non-residential structures destroyed. 8 houses damaged.[17]
 22 days
24 December 2001 4 14 112,000 280,000 Hawkesbury

—Yarramundi & Blaxlands Ridge

Several non-residential structures destroyed.[9][11][18][19]
 31 days
24 December 2001 12 42,000 100,000 Blue Mountains

—Warrimoo, Valley Heights & Yellow Rock

8 houses damaged.[9][19][20][21]
 20 days
25 December 2001 27 – 35 64,000 160,000 Sutherland & Wollongong

—Heathcote, Waterfall, Helensburgh, Otford & Stanwell Tops

20 or more vehicles, 15 industrial premises, 14 commercial premises, 5 cottages, 2 large conference buildings and dozens of other non-residential structures destroyed. Scores of houses damaged.[9][10][22][23]
 14 days
25 December 2001 4 8,200 20,000 Penrith

—Glenmore Park & Mulgoa

[9][11]
 6 days

See also

References
  1. "Christmas 2001/2002 bushfires". Fire & Rescue NSW. NSW Government. 8 May 2007. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  2. "The human health impact of the 2001-2002 'Black Christmas' bushfires in New South Wales, Australia: an alternative multidisciplinary strategy" (PDF). Journal of Rural & Remote Health. Warwick Educational Publishing Inc. 3 (1): 18–28. 2004. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  3. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1732047.stm Eyewitness: Sydney's residents face fire wrath, BBC News, 28 December 2001
  4. 2007 Essential Sydney, Sydney Morning Herald, taken from data provided by the NSW Department of Environment and Conservation
  6. "Leaders warned on one-in-1000-year drought". Theage.com.au. 8 November 2006. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  7. "The 2010–11 La Niña: Australia soaked by one of the strongest events on record". Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  8. "Elvis – king of the firefighters". BBC News. 3 January 2002. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  9. "Counting the cost". Newcastle Herald. Fairfax Media. 27 December 2001. p. 4. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  10. "Christmas Fires 2001 Special (Part Two)" (PDF). Bushfire Bulletin. New South Wales Rural Fire Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2005.
  11. "Bushfire Updates". bushfire.nsw.gov.au. NSW Rural Fire Service. 27 December 2001. Archived from the original on 9 February 2002. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  12. Murphy, Sean (3 January 2002). "Bushfires continue to wreak havoc across NSW". 7:30 Report. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 29 May 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  13. "At Nowra on Monday 22 April 2002" (PDF). parliament.nsw.gov.au. Joint Select Committee on Bushfires. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  14. "Thousands flee as fires hit tiny towns". The Age. Fairfax Media. 3 January 2002. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  15. Anthony Dennis; Stephanie Peatling (4 January 2002). "Smouldering Sussex Inlet wakes up to find the holiday is over". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  16. Joanna Gash, Member for Gilmore (20 February 2002). "Main Committee; Christmas 2001 Bushfires". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Commonwealth of Australia: House of Representatives. p. 642.
  17. "Christmas Fires 2001 Special (Part One)" (PDF). Bushfire Bulletin. New South Wales Rural Fire Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2005.
  18. "At Sydney on Friday, 31 May 2002" (PDF). parliament.nsw.gov.au. Joint Select Committee on Bushfires. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  19. Kerry Bartlett, Member for Macquarie (20 February 2002). "Main Committee; Christmas 2001 Bushfires". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Commonwealth of Australia: House of Representatives. p. 650.
  20. Leong Poon, Ph.D. "Bushfire Investigations - Warrimoo, Valley Heights and Yellow Rock, Lower Blue Mountains, NSW, 2001-2" (PDF). timber.net.au. National Timber Development Council. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  21. Chipperfield, Mark (30 December 2001). "Bushfire victims begin rebuilding shattered lives". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  22. "Black Christmas". historichelensburgh.org.au. Helensburgh and District Historical Society. 20 November 2012. Archived from the original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  23. Dr. Stephen Paul Martin, Member for Cunningham (20 February 2002). "Main Committee; Christmas 2001 Bushfires". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Commonwealth of Australia: House of Representatives. p. 651.

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