User:Cyclonebiskit/2019 Australian brushfires
| 2019 Australian brushfires | |
|---|---|
| Location | New South Wales and southern Queensland |
| Statistics | |
| Burned area | >1,000,000 ha (2,500,000 acres) |
| Impacts | |
| Deaths | 3 |
| Structures destroyed | >500 |
In November 2019, a more than 100 brushfires erupted across New South Wales and Queensland in Australia. Fueled by exceptionally hot and dry conditions, the blazes burned out of control and charred more than 1,000,000 hectares (2,500,000 acres) of land. New South Wales Premier called the week of 10 November "the most dangerous bushfire week this nation has ever seen".[1]
Background
[edit]Brushfires are common across Australia during summer months; however, a long-term drought plagued New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland for three years. In early November 2019, brushfires erupted across NWS and Queensland with unusual ferocity. Hot weather, dry conditions, and exceptionally dry soils—retaining less than 10 percent of their normal moisture values—fueld the blazes.[2]
Fires
[edit]New South Wales
[edit]Two people died in the Kaloe Mountain Trail Fire near Glen Innes while trying to evacuate.
Several homes were destroyed in Taree; one woman died in the town.[3]
On 10 November, Premier Berejiklian declared a state of emergency across New Sales Wales and granted the New South Wales Rural Fire Service emergency powers. Under this declaration, firefighters were able to turn utility services on and off, direct evacuations, control traffic, demolish buildings, and they received additional government resources.[1] Fifty schools closed across NSW on 11 November,[1] later rising to around 600 the next day.[4]
Queensland
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "NSW Premier declares state of emergency ahead of catastrophic fire warnings". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 10 November 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
- ^ Scarr, Simon; Sharma, Manas; Bhatia, Gurman (11 November 2019). "Australia Brushfires: State of Emergency". Reuters. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
- ^ Fedschun, Travis (12 November 2019). "Australia wildfires rage as winds fuel flames, firefighters who saved home leave heartwarming note". Fox News. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
- ^ "Hundreds of schools to be shut down across Sydney, Wollongong and Newcastle as New South Wales faces catastrophic bushfire risk". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 11 November 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.