1994 Eastern seaboard fires
Encyclopedia
The 1994 Eastern seaboard fires were bushfires in New South Wales
, Australia
between 27 December 1993 and 16 January 1994 were widespread along the NSW coast from Bega
to the Queensland
border and inland as far as Bathurst
. Over 80 separate fires encouraged by extreme hot dry and windy conditions threatened many areas including the major cities of Newcastle
and Sydney
. The fires killed four people and burnt out over 8,000 square kilometres. The fires across the state destroyed 225 homes in total - 101 of which were in the southern Sydney suburbs of Jannali
and Como West
where Como West Public School
was also destroyed. 13 houses were destroyed in suburbs around Lane Cove National Park
and 42 were destroyed around Kuringai National Park, Garigal National Park
and the Royal National Park
, 9 houses including a Youth hostel were destroyed in Hawkesbury Heights in the Blue Mountains.
These fires generated a large amount of media coverage internationally. Unlike earlier fires -- several of which caused much more damage -- the 1994 bushfires entered a major city, as the later Black Christmas
and 2003 Canberra bushfires
would. Additionally, this was the only occasion in which a major city, Sydney, had been threatened with total isolation due to fire. At the peak of the fires only the Hume Highway
to the southwest remained open. All other road and rail routes out of Sydney were closed. Residents of the entire metropolitan area of Sydney had to contend with ash raining down on them, and the sky remained a blazing orange colour for days afterwards.
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
between 27 December 1993 and 16 January 1994 were widespread along the NSW coast from Bega
Bega, New South Wales
Bega is a town in the south-east of New South Wales, Australia in the Bega Valley Shire. It is the economic centre for the Bega Valley.-Place name:One claim is that place name Bega is derived from the local Aboriginal word meaning "big camping ground"....
to the Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
border and inland as far as Bathurst
Bathurst, New South Wales
-CBD and suburbs:Bathurst's CBD is located on William, George, Howick, Russell, and Durham Streets. The CBD is approximately 25 hectares and surrounds two city blocks. Within this block layout is banking, government services, shopping centres, retail shops, a park* and monuments...
. Over 80 separate fires encouraged by extreme hot dry and windy conditions threatened many areas including the major cities of Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
and Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. The fires killed four people and burnt out over 8,000 square kilometres. The fires across the state destroyed 225 homes in total - 101 of which were in the southern Sydney suburbs of Jannali
Jannali, New South Wales
Jannali is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Jannali is located 28 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the Sutherland Shire...
and Como West
Como West, New South Wales
Como West is a locality in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in the western part of the suburb of Como. The postcode is 2226, the same as Como....
where Como West Public School
Como West Public School
Como West Public School is a comprehensive public primary school located in the Sydney suburb of Como West, New South Wales, Australia. As of 2007, it had an enrolment of 290 students. Now it is suspected to have more than 320 students. Typically, graduating students from Como West move on to The...
was also destroyed. 13 houses were destroyed in suburbs around Lane Cove National Park
Lane Cove National Park
Lane Cove National Park is a small national park located within metropolitan Sydney. The park islocated about ten kilometres north-west of the Sydney CBD...
and 42 were destroyed around Kuringai National Park, Garigal National Park
Garigal National Park
Garigal National Park is a national park in New South Wales , 20 km north of central Sydney. The park is somewhat disjointed but covers the following areas:...
and the Royal National Park
Royal National Park
Royal National Park is a national park in New South Wales, Australia, 29 km south of Sydney CBD.Founded by Sir John Robertson, Acting Premier of New South Wales, and formally proclaimed on 26 April 1879, it is the world's second oldest purposed national park, the first usage of the term...
, 9 houses including a Youth hostel were destroyed in Hawkesbury Heights in the Blue Mountains.
These fires generated a large amount of media coverage internationally. Unlike earlier fires -- several of which caused much more damage -- the 1994 bushfires entered a major city, as the later Black Christmas
Black Christmas (bushfires)
The Black Christmas bushfires were bushfires that burnt for almost three weeks from 25 December 2001 across New South Wales, Australia. It was the longest continuous bushfire emergency in NSW history....
and 2003 Canberra bushfires
2003 Canberra bushfires
The Canberra bushfires of 2003 caused severe damage to the outskirts of Canberra, the Australian capital city. Almost 70% of the Australian Capital Territory’s pasture, forests and nature parks were severely damaged, and most of the renowned Mount Stromlo Observatory was destroyed...
would. Additionally, this was the only occasion in which a major city, Sydney, had been threatened with total isolation due to fire. At the peak of the fires only the Hume Highway
Hume Highway
The Hume Highway/Hume Freeway is one of Australia's major inter-city highways, running for 880 km between Sydney and Melbourne. It is part of the Auslink National Network and is a vital link for road freight to transport goods to and from the two cities as well as serving Albury-Wodonga and...
to the southwest remained open. All other road and rail routes out of Sydney were closed. Residents of the entire metropolitan area of Sydney had to contend with ash raining down on them, and the sky remained a blazing orange colour for days afterwards.
External links
- http://www.emergency.nsw.gov.au/content.php/222.html
- http://members.ozemail.com.au/~macinnis/fireweek.htm
- http://www.bom.gov.au/lam/climate/levelthree/c20thc/fire6.htm
- http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/WF9960145.htm
- http://www.benfieldhrc.org/activities/alerts/alert6.pdf