Explore the pages below to learn about CFA’s history and the major fires that have shaped the organisation and its response across Victoria. History of CFA 6 min read From informal beginnings, CFA has grown to be one of the largest volunteer-based emergency service organisations in the world. Find a brief snapshot of CFA's history in pictures, from the 1850s until today. Read article Click through to read History of CFA 2019-2020 Bushfires 5 min read The Black Summer bushfires of 2019-2020 were among Australia's most devastating, with intense and widespread fires causing catastrophic damage across Victoria and New South Wales. These "megafires" destroyed homes, wildlife habitats, and ecosystems, ... Read article Click through to read 2019-2020 Bushfires Black Saturday 2009 7 min read The 2009 bushfires in January and February ravaged many parts of Victoria and touched directly and indirectly many millions of people in the state, across Australia and internationally. One hundred and seventy three people died, thousands of homes an ... Read article Click through to read Black Saturday 2009 Linton Bushfire 1998 5 min read The tragic loss of five firefighters in the Linton blaze on 2 December 1998 marked the beginning of a new era for firefighter safety at CFA. Read article Click through to read Linton Bushfire 1998 Ash Wednesday 1983 5 min read On February 16 1983, CFA was involved in 180 fires throughout Victoria, eight of which were major fires. This day is known as Ash Wednesday Read article Click through to read Ash Wednesday 1983 Tarrawingee Fire 1943 6 min read On 22 December 1943, in the depths of World War Two, a fire broke out at Bowser railway yard near the Hume Highway. High temperatures and hot northerly winds combined to create a raging fire. Tragically, the fire claimed the lives of 10 men. Read article Click through to read Tarrawingee Fire 1943 Black Friday 1939 7 min read The ferocity of the January 1939 bushfires was unlike anything Victoria had ever experienced at the time, claiming 71 lives and 2 million hectares of land. Read article Click through to read Black Friday 1939 Other major fires 6 min read Information on significant fires across Victoria’s history and their influence on CFA’s development, preparedness and response to bushfire and emergency events. Read article Click through to read Other major fires Page last updated: Tuesday, 13 October 2026 5:19:49 PM
History of CFA 6 min read From informal beginnings, CFA has grown to be one of the largest volunteer-based emergency service organisations in the world. Find a brief snapshot of CFA's history in pictures, from the 1850s until today. Read article Click through to read History of CFA
2019-2020 Bushfires 5 min read The Black Summer bushfires of 2019-2020 were among Australia's most devastating, with intense and widespread fires causing catastrophic damage across Victoria and New South Wales. These "megafires" destroyed homes, wildlife habitats, and ecosystems, ... Read article Click through to read 2019-2020 Bushfires
Black Saturday 2009 7 min read The 2009 bushfires in January and February ravaged many parts of Victoria and touched directly and indirectly many millions of people in the state, across Australia and internationally. One hundred and seventy three people died, thousands of homes an ... Read article Click through to read Black Saturday 2009
Linton Bushfire 1998 5 min read The tragic loss of five firefighters in the Linton blaze on 2 December 1998 marked the beginning of a new era for firefighter safety at CFA. Read article Click through to read Linton Bushfire 1998
Ash Wednesday 1983 5 min read On February 16 1983, CFA was involved in 180 fires throughout Victoria, eight of which were major fires. This day is known as Ash Wednesday Read article Click through to read Ash Wednesday 1983
Tarrawingee Fire 1943 6 min read On 22 December 1943, in the depths of World War Two, a fire broke out at Bowser railway yard near the Hume Highway. High temperatures and hot northerly winds combined to create a raging fire. Tragically, the fire claimed the lives of 10 men. Read article Click through to read Tarrawingee Fire 1943
Black Friday 1939 7 min read The ferocity of the January 1939 bushfires was unlike anything Victoria had ever experienced at the time, claiming 71 lives and 2 million hectares of land. Read article Click through to read Black Friday 1939
Other major fires 6 min read Information on significant fires across Victoria’s history and their influence on CFA’s development, preparedness and response to bushfire and emergency events. Read article Click through to read Other major fires