Library Guides: Landscapes & Landforms: Bushfires

Source: Jo-Anne McArthur (2020)

Bushfires are a natural hazard that Australia (particularly Victoria) is all too familiar with. They can create mass destruction and take the lives of animals and humans. Read through the resources to learn more about what bushfires are, how they start and what effects they cause.

The science of bushfires explained (ABC, 2019, August 13)
They are one of Australia's most destructive natural disasters. Watch this video to see how they work.
What is a bushfire? (Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience, n.d.)
A bushfire is an unplanned vegetation fire. It is a generic term that includes grass fires, forest fires and scrub fires. Bushfires are a natural, essential and complex part of the Australian environment and have been for thousands of years. Bushfires can significantly impact on lives, property and the environment. Read through this website to learn more.
What is a bushfire? (National Geographic, n.d.)
Learn about what causes bushfires and how you can help those affected with this article.
Bushfire (GeoScience Australia, n.d.)
This website gives a great breakdown of what conditions are needed to create a bushfire.
Understanding bushfires (Australian Academy of Science, n.d.)
Bushfires are a natural, essential and complex part of the Australian environment and have been for thousands of years. Read through this article to learn more about bushfires and how they have impacted Australia.
The facts about bushfires and climate change (Climate Council, 2019, November 13)
Bushfire conditions are now more dangerous than in the past, and the risk to people and property has increased. For well over 20 years, scientists have warned that climate change would increase the risk of extreme bushfires in Australia. This warning was accurate. Scientists expect extreme fire weather will continue to become more frequent and severe without substantial and rapid action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Read through this article to learn more.
How do bushfires start? (The Conversation, 2019, May 14)
You probably know that bushfires are most likely to start when the weather is hot and dry. Bushfires, like all fires, require three ingredients: oxygen, heat, and fuel. These are the elements that make up the “fire triangle”. Read through this article to learn more.
This is how most bushfires in Australia start, and how we know (ABC, 2019, November 20)
This article looks at the nine different categories of bushfire ignition and gives examples of how common each category is.
Bushfire weather (Bureau of Meteorology, n.d.)
Bushfire activity varies across Australia with the changes in the seasonal weather patterns. Wind, temperature, humidity and rainfall are weather elements that affect the behaviours of bushfires. Read through this website to learn more.
Victorian bushfires collection (Melbourne Museum, n.d.)
The collection includes bushfire-damaged objects, emergency services equipment, oral histories, artwork, photographs, videos, natural science specimens, and material from public education campaigns. It is a great resource to demonstrate the destruction fire causes and human responses to bushfire threat.
Past bushfires (Forest Fire Management Victoria, n.d.)
Victoria is one of the most fire-prone regions in the world and has significantly shaped much of the landscape. Our collective response and recovery to past bushfires drive us to adapt to the many impacts of climate change. Aboriginal people used fire for many thousands of years to 'care for country'. The fires were a tool that encouraged the growth and extent of grasslands to enhance hunting, reduced fuel levels, and kept vegetation from becoming dense and hard to walk through. There are few comprehensive records of bushfires in the early stages of European settlement or beforehand. This website's chronology includes only those bushfires in Victoria since 1851, along with related maps.
Incidents and warnings (Vic Emergency, n.d.)
Victoria's primary website for fire warnings, which can be viewed via a real-time Google Map display. This site also includes important fire planning and recovery information.
Traditional Owner burns (Forest Fire Management Victoria, n.d.)
This website links to the Victorian Traditional Owner Fire Strategy document, which shows how governments are starting to listen to First Nations Australians and respect their ancient knowledge of land management.
Cool burns: key to Aboriginal fire management (Creative Spirits, 2021, July 31)
When Aboriginal people use fire to manage country they consider a plethora of parameters. Read why cool fires are key and why the canopy is sacred.
Indigenous fire practices have been used to quell bushfires for thousands of years, experts say (ABC, 2020, January 9)
As Australia's bushfire emergency rages on, discussion over fire authorities' potential use of Indigenous and cultural fire practices has come under the spotlight. But what are these practices? Where can they be implemented? And how can they help? Read through this article to learn more.
The world’s best fire management system is in northern Australia, and it’s led by Indigenous land managers (The Conversation, 2020, March 10)
The tropical savannas of northern Australia are among the most fire-prone regions in the world. On average, they account for 70% of the area affected by fire each year in Australia. But effective fire management over the past 20 years has reduced the annual average area burned – an area larger than Tasmania. The extent of this achievement is staggering, almost incomprehensible in a southern Australia context after the summer’s devastating bushfires. Read through this article to find out how Indigenous land managers use fire management to reduce the risk of bush fire destruction.
This is not normal: explaining bushfires and climate change (Climate Council, 2019, December 20)
This website gives a brief guide on understanding how climate change affects bushfires and bushfire season.
Student creates life saving bushfire app during lockdown (ABC, 2021, October 12)
A Year 12 student has created a life saving bushfire app during lockdown that uses artificial intelligence to map out which areas are safe once a bushfire starts. Watch this video to find out more.

Black Saturday bushfires (National Museum Australia, n.d.)
The 2009 Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria caused widespread devastation and the greatest loss of life from fire since colonisation. One hundred and seventy-three people tragically lost their lives, 414 were injured, more than a million wild and domesticated animals were lost and 450,000 hectares of land were burned. Fire has been a part of the Australian environment for as long as the continent has existed, but over the past 200 years bushfires have become increasingly lethal and costly. Read through this website to learn more.
Feb 7, 2009 CE: Black Saturday Bushfires in Australia (National Geographic, n.d.)
On February 7, 2009, the “Black Saturday Bushfires” became the worst natural disaster in Australia’s history. Read through this website to learn more.
Scientists say logging was one of the reasons the 2009 bushfires were so intense (Business Insider, 2014, August 4)
Logging in Victorian forests was at least partly to blame for the severity of the 2009 Black Saturday fires reaching the intensity of the nuclear explosions at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, leading Australian ecological scientists have found. Read through this article to learn more.
Lightning starts new bushfires in Grampians (ABC, 20019, February 8)
This article discusses one of the ways in which bushfires can be started: lightning.
Man 'accidentally' lit fatal Victoria Black Saturday bushfire, court told (The Australian, 2013, February 12)
This article discusses how human action can start bushfires and how devastating those bushfires can be.
The cost of natural disasters - Australian experiences (Australian Business Roundtable, 2016, March)
Skip to page 7 of this document for detailed information about the financial, human, environmental and economic costs of Black Saturday.
Personal stories (Black Saturday Museum, n.d.)
This series of videos from survivors of the Black Saturday bushfires tells the story of the bushfires and the personal effect the devastating bushfires had on Victorians.
Map of Black Saturday bushfires (Victorian Government, 2010)
This map shows the perimeter of where the fires on Black Saturday spread to.

2019-20 Eastern Victorian bushfires (Victorian Government, n.d.)

Learn more about the 2019-20 bushfires, including the impacts and recovery progress.

The bushfires' path of destruction (ABC, 2020, January 11)

Before-and-after photos show the deep wounds catastrophic fires can leave in less than a fortnight.

Australia's deadly wildfires in photos: the view from space (Space, 2020, January 16)

Fuelled by a lengthy and intensifying drought, an early kickoff to fire season in the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales began in September 2019 and continued into early 2020. Satellites from NASA and other agencies tracked the deadly wildfires from space. Scroll through this website to see photos of Australia's wildfires from space.

Australia fires: A visual guide to the bushfire crisis (BBC, 2020, January 31)

Record-breaking temperatures and months of severe drought fuelled a series of massive bushfires across Australia. This website includes a great day by day map of the size of the fires, maps showing the size of land affected, and infographics demonstrating some of the devastating effects of the fires and just how the fires were formed.

Cut off: How the crisis at Mallacoota unfolded (The Age, 2020, January 19)

The plight of thousands of people huddled on the foreshore under blood-red skies made Mallacoota an international symbol of this summer's bushfire crisis. Here's how the story unfolded in real-time.

Mallacoota after the bushfire horror: 'All you can do is help now' (The Guardian, 2020, January 9)

The navy rescued thousands of holidaymakers from the tiny Victorian coastal town. Read through this article to learn more about this natural disaster and how the town of Mallacoota handled the disaster.

A month on from the devastating bushfire, Mallacoota is beginning its recovery (ABC, 2020, February 10)

The apocalyptic images of Mallacoota during the New Year's Eve bushfire were broadcast across the world. Thousands of people sheltered on the beach as the sky turned blazing red, watching as the town succumbed to the flames. It has only been a month since that terrible day, but for the town's permanent residents it is time to figure out what's next.

‘Mega fire’ forms as blazes on NSW-Victoria border join up (Daily Telegraph, 2020, January 10)

This article from the 2019/2020 bushfires describes how three different fire fronts merged into a mega fire.

After more than 240 days, Australia's New South Wales is finally free from bushfires (CNN, 2020, March 3)

The 2019/2020 bushfire crisis lasted for a staggering 240 days. Read through this article to learn more about the fires.

Australia fires: 'Apocalypse' comes to Kangaroo Island (BBC, 2020, January 17)

Kangaroo Island in South Australia has been likened to a Noah's Ark for its unique ecology. But after fierce bushfires tore through the island in 2019/2020, there are fears it may never fully recover. Read through this article to learn more about how bushfires impact local ecosystems.

Kangaroo Island before-and-after photos show bushfire destruction as national park reopens (ABC, 2020, February 18)

An unstoppable and devastating bushfire broke out on Kangaroo Island at the end of December 2019, and in the weeks that followed the fire emergency only worsened. Read through this article to see some of the before and after photos.

Kangaroo Island koala population plummets to 5000-10,000 following devastating bushfires (Adelaide Now, 2020, February 11)

As few as 5000 koalas are believed to have survived the Kangaroo Island fires, with volunteers now grappling with the task of saving and feeding the remaining population. Wildlife, Ecosystems and Habitat Bushfire Recovery Taskforce chairwoman Felicity-Ann Lewis said based on destroyed vegetation, only 5000-10,000 of the marsupials were believed to remain on the island, compared with 50,000-60,000 before the inferno. Read through this article to learn more.

Top maps and charts that explain the terrifying 2019-20 Australian bushfires (Geo Awesomeness, 2020, January 6)

Australia battles bushfires every year, but the 2019/2020 fire season was one of the worst. The wildfires that originated in the state of New South Wales in September 2019 rapidly spread throughout the continent, swallowing more than 14.7 million acres across six states till date. Here are some maps and charts that will help you understand the true scale and impact of these overwhelming fires.

Yes, the Australian bush is recovering from bushfires – but it may never be the same (The Conversation, 2020, February 19)

This article looks at the devastation the 2019/2020 fires had on the bush, and what that destruction means for the future of native landscapes.

Australia fires: 113 animal species 'need emergency help' (BBC, 2020, February 12)

Australia has identified 113 animal species which will need "urgent help" after their numbers and habitats were devastated by recent bushfires. Read through this article to learn more about how bushfires impact animal populations.

Number of animals feared dead in Australia's wildfires soars to over a billion (HuffPost, 2020, January 6)

The number of wildlife estimated to have died in Australia’s wildfire catastrophe has skyrocketed to more than 1 billion. Read through this article to learn more about the massive impact the bushfires had on Australia's wildlife.

Anatomy of a 'mega-blaze' (ABC, 2020, July 17)

This article walks through the Gospers Mountain mega-blaze from start to finish, using satellite imaging to demonstrate the ignition points and size of the fire, and also includes lots of great photos showing the people who were affected and how the fire impacted the landscape.

47 degrees by Justin D'Ath
Publication Date: 2019
Zeelie wonders if they're in danger. When temperatures soar to 47 degrees one hot summer day, 12-year-old Zeelie hopes the nearby bushfires everyone's talking about aren't heading towards her family's new home. What will they do if the wind changes direction? What about their belongings and their beloved pets? And why hasn't her mum and brother returned from Melbourne? Nothing can prepare Zeelie for what's to come.
Australia's natural disasters by Richard Whitaker
Publication Date: 2005
This is a fascinating chronicle of the ferocity of nature and the dramatic effects it has on this country and its people. Disasters covered include Cyclone Tracy, the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, the mass rescue at Bondi Beach, and the devastating hail storm that struck Sydney's East.
Bindi by Kirli Saunders
Publication Date: 2020
Meet 11-year-old Bindi. She's not really into maths but loves art class and playing hockey. Her absolute favourite thing is adventuring outside with friends on her horse, Nell. A new year starts like normal - school, family, hockey, dancing. But this year hasn't gone to plan! There's a big art assignment, a drought, a broken wrist and the biggest bushfires her town has ever seen.
Bushfire by Bruce McClish
Publication Date: 1995
A series that examines the way disasters affect Australian landscapes and the Australian people. It gives an account of our most horrific disasters yet also does more than simply count the cost to lives and property. It examines the relationship between natural disasters and the natural balance. It shows how special conditions in Australia actually encourage these disasters. But it also shows how human carelessness is often responsible for much of the accompanying death and destruction.
Bushfire safety by Justin Healey
Publication Date: 2018
Bushfires and grassfires are common events throughout Australia, a land with a hot, dry climate. Every year bushfires occur across Australia, often taking human life and damaging property. Major firestorms such as Ash Wednesday and Black Saturday have left scars on the national psyche and are stark reminders of the destructive power of bushfires. The impacts of climate change are clear with the emergence of more extreme fire weather in recent years; increasingly, many Australians are exposed to potentially catastrophic bushfires. Understanding bushfires and the risks they pose to whole communities is critical if we are to be resilient to these most common and destructive of natural disasters. This book explores the basics of bushfires, how and where they occur, the threats they pose and the hazards they bring. The book also explains in detail how to effectively prepare your home for a bushfire, and when to safely leave. Future bush fires are expected to get worse. Learn now how to prepare, act and survive.
Facing the flame by Jackie French
Publication Date: 2017
Gibber's Creek, 1978. As grass dries and the hot wind howls, Gibber's Creek will burn. But if you love your country, you will fight for it. Lu Borgino has been recently blinded, but she battles flames to save a racehorse, even though her dreams of being Australia's first professional female jockey have been destroyed. Scarlett O'Hara risks her hard-won life at medical school, and the new love of Alex Romanov, to save a child. Flinty McAlpine draws on the local knowledge of tens of thousands of years to protect her valley. And Jed Kelly must escape not just the bushfire, but the man who plots to kill her with its power.
Fire by Jackie French
Publication Date: 2014
'One small spark brought fire awake, winding like a small black snake, fire flickered, fire crept, flames snickered, bushfire leapt'. Inspired by the bushfires that have affected many Australians, Fire is a moving and sensitive story of a natural disaster as seen through the eyes of a cockatoo. The fire mercilessly engulfs homes and land, leaving a devastating path of destruction. But from the ruins, courage, kindness and new life grows.
Firestorm : 7th Februaury 2009 Black Saturday's tragedy by Glenvale School
Publication Date: 2009
Saturday February 7th 2009 unfolded like a cyclone, and became Australia's worst ever natural disaster. The unparalleled loss of life and possessions resulting from Black Saturday's bushfire was the combination of extreme temperatures, coupled with hurricane-like wind speeds and a tinder-dry state after twelve years of drought.
No event in recent history has overwhelmed the nation with such inconceivable devastation as the bushfires of February 7th 2009. 'Firestorm' captures the catastrophic brutality of our firefighters and other emergency personnel, and the courage, endurance and compassion of ordinary Australians who gave everything to help their fellow man survive, both during and after the onslaught.
Before the sun would set on that day of horror, which affected hundreds of Australian families, thousands of hectares of blackened and burning landscape would bear the grim reminder of 173 lives lost. It was a tragedy beyond belief that will leave both physical and psychological scars for years to come.
Hazards and disasters by Adriana Abels
Publication Date: 2018
Students learn about geographical, hydro-meteorological, biological and technological hazards before choosing two hazards to study in detail. A study at different scales investigates the nature of hazards, their impact on people and the environment, and how the risk to hazards may be managed and reduced. Incorporates updated text, case studies, spatial technologies, fieldwork, rich data and activities to assist students to develop an understanding of content and skills of Geography, and prepare them for success in their VCE assessments.
Kinglake - 350 by Adrian Hyland
Publication Date: 2011
On 7 February 2009 Sergeant Roger Wood found himself at the epicentre of the worst bushfire disaster in Australia's history. Black Saturday. Wood, who's a country cop with twenty years experience—and also a raucous, meditating, horse-riding vegan—was the only officer on duty in the small community of Kinglake. As the firestorm approached he was called out to numerous incidents including multi-fatality car accidents. He led a group of fifty people from a store west of Kinglake four kilometres to safety through burning bush. Minutes before it was completely destroyed. Then, as the fire raged around him, he phoned his family ten kilometres away to warn them what was coming. When his wife answered, she screamed that the fire had already hit their property.|Then the line went dead. Black Saturday was a many-headed monster in whose wake stories of grief, heroism and desolation erupted all over the state of Victoria. This book is about the monster—and the heroism of those who confronted it.
Natural disasters by Robert Gott
Publication Date: 2009
Natural disastes not only cause destruction and threaten lives, but also they are a part of the rhythm and forces that shape our planet and determine the future of all species on Earth. This book explores how events such as drought, flood, bushfires, tropical cyclones and earthquakes affect the lives of Australians, directly and indirectly. Understanding the forces behind these events helps us to prepare, protect and recover, and to make sense of our place in the world
Wildfires by Philip Steele
Publication Date: 2009
A discussion of all major types of natural disasters, including descriptions of some of the most destructive; explanations of these phenomena, what causes them, and where they occur; and information about how to prepare for and survive these forces of nature. Features include an activity, glossary, list of resources, and index.