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 and other dwellings were destroyed and over 400,000 hectares were burnt.
More than 78 communities across Victoria were directly affected. On 7 February, Black Saturday, Victorian townships including Marysville, Kinglake, Kinglake West, Narbethong, Flowerdale and Strathewen were devastated.
More than 19,000 CFA members were involved in frontline firefighting, incident management and support behind the scenes.
Below is a breakdown of the following townships affected by the Black Saturday Fires.
| Location |
Details of fire |
Losses |
|
Kilmore East
|
The fire started at about 11.47am, on top of a rocky hill between two gullies near Saunders Road.
|
- People: 119
- Area (ha): 125,383
- Houses: 1,242
|
|
Horsham (Vectis & Haven)
|
The fire ignited at about 12.20pm; it was a grass fire and in the first hour spread rapidly, covering just over 10 kilometres.
|
- People: 0
- Area (ha): 2,346
- Houses: 13
|
|
Coleraine
|
At about 12.30pm, a fire broke out in a paddock on private farmland about 5 kilometres north-west of the township.
|
- People: 0
- Area (ha): 713
- Houses: 1
|
|
Pomborneit–Weerite
|
The grass fire was relatively short-lived, being active for about five hours on that day but burning over 1,000 hectares. It started at about 1.15pm.
|
- People: 0
- Area (ha): 1008
- Houses: 0
|
|
Churchill
|
The fire started at about 1.32pm, 3 kilometres south-east of the Churchill fire station.
|
- People: 11
- Area (ha): 25,861
- Houses: 145
|
|
Murrindindi
|
The fire started at about 2.55pm, to the north of a sawmill in Wilhelmina Falls Road. It travelled rapidly and by 4.30pm was affecting Narbethong.
|
- People: 40
- Area (ha): 168,542 (Combined area with Kilmore East)
- Houses: 538
|
|
Redesdale
|
The fire was reported at 3.11pm and burned towards the south-east for about 19 kilometres.
|
- People: 0
- Area (ha): 7,086
- Houses: 14
|
|
Narre Warren and Upper Ferntree Gully
|
The fires burned in grass reserves and scrubland, on residential streets, and in homes and gardens.
|
- People: 0
- Area (ha): 163
- Houses: 7
|
|
Bendigo
|
The fire started shortly after 4.00pm in Maiden Gully, 8 kilometres north-west of the central business district.
|
- People: 1
- Area (ha): 341
- Houses: 58
|
|
Beechworth-Mudgegonga
|
Fire in the area began at about 6.00pm and burned fiercely until weather conditions moderated in the early hours of 8 February.
|
- People: 2
- Area (ha) 33,577:
- Houses: 38
|
Maps of the 2009 Bushfires
Major bushfires occured in late January 2009 and continued until March 2009. Listed below are high and low resolution maps of those major fires.
Page last updated: Thursday, 17 June 2021 4:31:39 PM