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			{{Short description|Deadly bushfires in Victoria State, Australia, in 2009}}
			{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
			{{Use Australian English|date=November 2014}}
	{{Infobox wildfire		{{Infobox wildfire
	|title= Black Saturday bushfires<!--This must be the same name as the article. Do not change unless the article is moved.-->		|title = Black Saturday Bushfires<!--This must be the same name as the article. Do not change unless the article is moved.-->
	|image= February 7 Victoria Bushfires - MODIS Aqua.jpg		|image = February 7 Victoria Bushfires - MODIS Aqua.jpg
	|caption= ] ] satellite image of smoke and ] over eastern Victoria during the afternoon of 7 February. By 8 February, smoke from the bushfires had reached as far as New Zealand.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gorman |first=Paul |title=Heat wave fails to arrive |work=] |publisher=Fairfax New Zealand |date=2009-02-09 |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/thepress/4841601a6009.html |accessdate=2009-02-09}}</ref>		|caption = ] ] satellite image of smoke plumes and a ] northeast of ] during the morning of 7 February 2009.
	|location= ], Australia		|location = ], ]
	|date= 7 February – 14 March 2009		|date = 7 February – 14 March 2009
			|cause = Various confirmed sources including: {{ubl|Power lines<ref name=VBRC-Vol.01-ch.5-p.075/>|]<ref name='arson'>{{Cite news|first=Reko|last=Rennie|date=1 April 2009|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/marysville-fire-deliberately-lit-police-20090401-9j39.html|title=Marysville fire deliberately lit: police|work=]|access-date=5 June 2010|location=Melbourne|archive-date=7 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907102348/http://www.theage.com.au/national/marysville-fire-deliberately-lit-police-20090401-9j39.html|url-status=live}}</ref>|]<ref name='lightning grampians'>{{Cite news|title=Lightning starts new bushfires in Grampians|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-02-08/lightning-starts-new-bushfires-in-grampians/287662|date=8 February 2009|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|access-date=9 February 2009|archive-date=7 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807222753/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-02-08/lightning-starts-new-bushfires-in-grampians/287662|url-status=live}}</ref>|Machinery<ref name="sparks">{{Cite news|title=Police track arsonists responsible for Victoria bushfires|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25032884-2702,00.html|date=10 February 2009|work=The Australian|access-date=14 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213044555/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25032884-2702,00.html|archive-date=13 February 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}
	|time=
	|acres = Over 4,500 km² (450,000 hectares, 1.1 million acres)<ref>{{cite news | last = COLLINS | first = PÁDRAIG | title = Rudd criticised over bush fire compensation | publisher = Irish Times | date = 2009-02-12 | url = http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2009/0212/1233867933059.html | accessdate = 2009-02-19}}</ref>		|area = {{convert|450000|ha|acres}}<ref>{{cite news|author=Collins, Pádraig|title=Rudd criticised over bush fire compensation|newspaper=]|location=Ireland|date=12 February 2009|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2009/0212/1233867933059.html|access-date=19 February 2009|archive-date=9 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009125342/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2009/0212/1233867933059.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
	|timezone
	|source= Various confirmed sources including: Cigarette butts,<br>Power lines<br>]<ref> Reko Rennie (April 1, 2009) theage.com.au</ref><ref name='arson'/><br>]<ref name='lightning Gippsland'/><ref>{{cite news |title=Lightning starts new bushfires in Grampians |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/08/2485579.htm?section=australia |date=2009-02-08 |work=ABC News|accessdate=2009-02-09}}</ref><br>Machinery<ref name="sparks"/>
	|hectares = 450,000
	|landuse = Urban/Rural Fringe Areas, Farmland, and Forest Reserves/National Parks		|landuse = Urban/Rural Fringe Areas, Farmland, and Forest Reserves/National Parks
			|structures = 3,500+ (2,029 houses)
	|fatalities = 173<ref name="deathtoll"/><ref name="capped">{{cite news
			|fatalities = 173<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/about/black-saturday|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927004504/https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/about/black-saturday|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 September 2019|title=About Black Saturday – Country Fire Authority|date=27 September 2019|access-date=31 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theconversation.com/what-has-australia-learned-from-black-saturday-111245|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416151401/https://theconversation.com/what-has-australia-learned-from-black-saturday-111245|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 April 2019|title=What has Australia learned from Black Saturday?|date=16 April 2019|access-date=31 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vic.gov.au/2009-bushfires|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190520081804/https://www.vic.gov.au/2009-bushfires|url-status=live|archive-date=20 May 2019|title=2009 Victorian Bushfires|date=20 May 2019|access-date=31 December 2019}}</ref>
	|Homes destroyed = 2,029
			|injuries = 414<ref name="Australian Medical Journal"/>
	|title = Toll capped at 210
	|url = http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25221961-5000117,00.html
	|accessdate = 2009-03-22
	|date = 2009-03-22
	|time = 12:00
	|work = Herald Sun}}</ref>
	|injuries= 500+, 100+ in hospital<ref name="casualties from bushfires"/>
	}}		}}
			The '''Black Saturday bushfires''' were a series of ] that either ignited or were already burning across the ] of ] on and around Saturday, 7 February 2009, and were one of Australia's all-time worst bushfire disasters. The fires occurred during extreme bushfire weather conditions and resulted in Australia's highest-ever loss of human life from a bushfire,<ref>{{Cite news|title=Horrific, but not the worst we've suffered|url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/horrific-but-not-the-worst-weve-suffered-20090210-83ib.html|newspaper=]|date=11 February 2009|access-date=16 July 2020|first=John|last=Huxley|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213204825/http://www.smh.com.au/national/horrific-but-not-the-worst-weve-suffered-20090210-83ib.html|archive-date=13 February 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> with 173 fatalities.<ref>{{Cite report|url=http://royalcommission.vic.gov.au/finaldocuments/summary/PF/VBRC_Summary_PF.pdf|title=2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission – Final Report|date=July 2010|publisher=Government Printer for the State of Victoria|access-date=16 July 2020|archive-date=27 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190227233416/http://royalcommission.vic.gov.au/finaldocuments/summary/PF/VBRC_Summary_PF.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Many people were left homeless and family-less as a result.
	The '''Black Saturday bushfires''',<ref name="BlackSaturday"> {{cite news
	| title =Counting the terrible cost of a state burning
	| publisher = The Age
	| date = 2009-02-09
	| url = http://www.theage.com.au/national/counting-the-terrible-cost-of-a-state-burning-20090208-811f.html?page=fullpage
	| accessdate = 2009-02-15 }}
	</ref> were a series of ]s that ignited or were burning across the ]n ] of ] on and around Saturday 7&nbsp;February 2009 during extreme bushfire-weather conditions, resulting in Australia's highest ever loss of life from a bushfire.<ref>{{cite news |title=Horrific, but not the worst we've suffered |url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/horrific-but-not-the-worst-weve-suffered-20090210-83ib.html |publisher=Sydney Morning Herald |date=2009-02-11|accessdate=2009-02-11}}</ref> A total of 173 people are confirmed to have died in the fires<ref name="deathtoll">{{Cite news
	|title = Bushfires death toll
	|url = http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=19190
	|accessdate = 2009-03-31
	|date = 2009-03-30
	|time = 1707
	|work = Victoria Police}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Bushfire death toll revised down |url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25262511-421,00.html |publisher=News.com.au |date=2009-03-30|accessdate=2009-03-30}}</ref> with around 500 injured.
	As many as 400 individual fires were recorded on 7 February by both the ] and the ]. The 7th of February 2009 is now referred to as ].		As many as 400 individual fires were recorded on Saturday 7 February; the day has become widely referred to in Australia as Black Saturday.
			Then Deputy Prime Minister ] described Black Saturday as "a tragedy beyond belief, beyond precedent and beyond words … one of the darkest days in Australia’s peacetime history."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/black-saturday-bushfires|archive-date=6 January 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200106114930/https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/black-saturday-bushfires|url-status=live|publisher=]|date=7 February 2023|quote=Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard, 2009: A tragedy beyond belief, beyond precedent and beyond words … one of the darkest days in Australia’s peacetime history.|title=Black Saturday bushfires|location=Lawson Crescent Acton Peninsula, Canberra|access-date=10 April 2024}}</ref>
	==Overview==
	===Conditions===
	The majority of the fires ignited and spread on a day of some of the worst bushfire-weather conditions ever recorded. Temperatures in the mid to high 40s (Celsius, approx. 110-120 degrees fahrenheit) and wind speeds in excess of 100&nbsp;km/h, precipitated by an ], fanned the fires over large distances and areas, creating several large firestorms and ], particularly north-east of Melbourne, where a single firestorm accounted for 120 of the 173 deaths. A cool change hit the state in the early evening, bringing with it gale-force south-westerly winds in excess of {{convert|120|km/h|mph}}. This change in wind direction caused the long eastern flanks of the fires to become massive fire fronts that burned with incredible speed and ferocity towards towns that had earlier escaped the fires.
			The ], headed by Justice ], was held in response to the bushfires.
	===Effects===
	The fires destroyed over 2,200 houses, 3,500 structures in total<ref name="homeslost">{{cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25109443-421,00.html|title=Victoria emergency services warn people to prepare for horror fire conditions|date=2009-02-26 |work=News.com|accessdate=2009-02-26}}</ref> and damaged thousands more. Many towns north-east of the state capital ] were badly damaged or almost completely destroyed, including ], ], ], ] and ].<ref name="Marysville 8 Feb">{{cite news |title=Marysville almost destroyed in Victorian bushfires |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/marysville-devastated/2009/02/08/1234027832317.html |date=2009-02-08 |work=Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=2009-02-08}}</ref><ref name="Marysville">{{cite news |title='Absolute devastation': Victoria gutted by deadly bushfires |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/08/2485299.htm|date=2009-02-08 |work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2009-02-07}}</ref> Many houses in the towns of ], ], ], ], ], ] and ] were also destroyed or damaged, with several fatalities recorded at each location. The fires affected 78 individual townships in total and left over 7,500 people homeless,<ref name="homeslost"/> many of whom sought temporary accommodation, much of it donated in the form of spare rooms, caravans, tents and beds in community relief centres.
	===Causes===
	The majority of the fires were ignited by fallen or clashing power lines or were deliberately lit.<ref name='arson'>{{cite news |title=Bushfires in Victoria kill 35, fears death toll will rise |url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25024010-661,00.html |date=2009-02-08 |work=Herald Sun|accessdate=2009-02-08}}</ref> Other suspected ignition sources include ],<ref name='lightning Gippsland'>{{cite web |title=State Summary Overview - 9th Feb 2009 - 2115 hrs |work=Victorian Government |publisher=Country Fire Authority |date=2009-02-09 |url= http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/incidents/images/news_image/state_overview_20090209_0030_21179.pdf |accessdate = 2009-02-09}}</ref> cigarette butts,<ref name="Bendigo_cig_butts">{{cite web |url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25027063-1243,00.html |title=Cigarette butt blamed for West Bendigo fire; two dead, 50 homes lost |date=2009-02-09 |work=News.com.au |accessdate=2009-02-09}}</ref> and sparks from a power tool.<ref name="sparks">{{cite news |title=Police track arsonists responsible for Victoria bushfires |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25032884-2702,00.html |date=2009-02-10 |work=The Australian |accessdate=2009-02-14}}</ref> More distantly implicated was a major ] that has persisted for more than a decade, as well as a domestic {{nowrap|50-year}} warming trend that has been linked to human-induced ].<ref name=CSIROFAQ/><ref> (Reporting by Ed Stoddard, editing by Mary Milliken)(March 9, 2009)Reuters</ref> By early-mid March, favourable conditions aided containment efforts and extinguished the fires.
	==Background==		==Background==
			{{See also|Early 2009 southeastern Australia heat wave}}
	===Heat wave===
			] during the peak of the heatwave]]
	{{main|2009 southeastern Australia heat wave}}
			<!-- this includes some information from ] -->
			A week before the fires, a significant heatwave affected southeastern Australia. From 28 to 30 January, ] broke temperature records by experiencing three consecutive days above {{convert|43|°C|°F}}, with the temperature peaking at {{convert|45.1|°C|°F}} on 30 January, the third hottest day in the city's history.
			The wave of heat was caused by a slow-moving ] that settled over the ], with a combination of an intense ] located off the ]n coast and a ] over ], which produced ideal conditions for hot tropical air to be directed down over southeastern Australia.<ref name="NatClimate">{{cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/statements/scs17d.pdf|title=The exceptional January–February 2009 heatwave in southeastern Australia|date=12 February 2009|publisher=National Climate Centre|work=Bureau of Meteorology|access-date=18 November 2009|archive-date=13 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913022711/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/statements/scs17d.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
	] during the peak of the heatwave.]]
	<!-- this includes some information from ] -->
	A week before the fires, an exceptional heat wave affected south-eastern Australia. From 28-30 January, ] broke records by sweltering through three consecutive days above {{convert|43|°C|°F}}, with the temperature peaking at {{convert|45.1|°C|°F}}, the third hottest day in the city's history.
			The February fires commenced on a day when several localities across the state, including ], recorded their highest temperatures since records began in 1859.<ref name="HottestDay">{{Cite news|last=Townsend|first=Hamish|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/city-swelters-records-tumble-in-heat-20090207-80ai.html|title=City swelters, records tumble in heat|date=7 February 2009|work=The Age|access-date=7 February 2009|location=Melbourne|archive-date=8 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090208073446/http://www.theage.com.au/national/city-swelters-records-tumble-in-heat-20090207-80ai.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On 6 February 2009—the day before the fires started—the ] chief Russell Rees warned "We are in almost uncharted territory" in terms of bushfire conditions. The ] ] issued a warning about the ] conditions expected on 7 February: "It's just as bad a day as you can imagine and on top of that the state is just tinder-dry. People need to exercise real common sense tomorrow".<ref name="BrumbyWarning">{{Cite news|last=Moncrief|first=Mark|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/worst-day-in-history-brumby-warns-of-fire-danger-20090206-7zf1.html|title='Worst day in history': Brumby warns of fire danger|date=6 February 2009|work=The Age|access-date=11 February 2009|location=Melbourne|archive-date=9 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209100743/http://www.theage.com.au/national/worst-day-in-history-brumby-warns-of-fire-danger-20090206-7zf1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Premier went on to state that it was expected to be the "worst day in the history of the state".<ref name="BrumbyWarning" />
	The heatwave was caused by a slow moving ] that settled over the ], with a combination of an intense ] located off the ]n coast and a ] over ], which produced ideal conditions for hot tropical air to be directed down over south-eastern Australia.<ref name="NatClimate">{{cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/statements/scs17c.pdf|title=The exceptional January-February 2009 heatwave in south-eastern Australia|date=4 February 2009 |updated=9 February 2009|publisher=National Climate Centre| work=Bureau of Meteorolgy |accessdate=2009-02-26}}</ref>
			==Events of 7 February 2009==
	The February fires commenced on a day when several localities across the state, including ], recorded their highest temperatures since records began in 1859.<ref name="HottestDay">{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/city-swelters-records-tumble-in-heat-20090207-80ai.html|title=City swelters, records tumble in heat|last=Townsend|first=Hamish|date=7 February 2009|work=The Age|accessdate=2009-02-07}}</ref> On 6 February 2009&mdash;the day before the fires started&mdash;the ] ] issued a warning about the extreme weather conditions expected on 7&nbsp;February: "It's just as bad a day as you can imagine and on top of that the state is just tinder-dry. People need to exercise real common sense tomorrow".<ref name="BrumbyWarning">{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/worst-day-in-history-brumby-warns-of-fire-danger-20090206-7zf1.html|title='Worst day in history': Brumby warns of fire danger|last=Moncrief|first=Mark|date=6 February 2009|work=The Age|accessdate=2009-02-11}}</ref> Brumby went on to state that it was expected to be the "worst day in the history of the state".<ref name="BrumbyWarning" />
			{{more citations needed|section|date=February 2018}}<!--2 paragraphs have no citations-->
			]
			More than 19,000 firefighting personnel, mainly from the ] (CFA) and ], were deployed across the state on Friday evening (6 February) in anticipation of the extreme conditions the following day.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/bushfire-black-saturday-victoria-2009/|title=Bushfire - Black Saturday|website=Australian Disater Resilience Knowledge Hub|access-date=15 December 2024}} </ref> By mid-morning Saturday, hot northwesterly winds in excess of {{convert|100|km/h|mph}} hit the state,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/5cef8359d07b4b6984905c349f832af1|title=Black Saturday Bushfires|website=ArcGIS Story Maps|last1=Cripps|first1=Grace|date=25 November 2019|access-date=13 March 2020|archive-date=17 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717094949/https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/5cef8359d07b4b6984905c349f832af1|url-status=live}}</ref> accompanied by extremely high temperatures and extremely low humidity; a total fire ban was declared for the entire state of Victoria.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.themonthly.com.au/monthly-essays-robert-manne-why-we-weren-t-warned-victorian-bushfires-and-royal-commission-1780|title=Why we weren't warned: The Victorian bushfires and the royal commission|website=The Monthly|last1=Manne|first1=Robert|date=July 2009|access-date=13 March 2020|archive-date=2 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402010643/https://www.themonthly.com.au/monthly-essays-robert-manne-why-we-weren-t-warned-victorian-bushfires-and-royal-commission-1780|url-status=live}}</ref>
			As the day progressed, the highest-ever temperatures recorded to date were reached. Melbourne hit {{convert|46.4|C|F}}, the hottest temperature ever recorded for the city<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/heat-records-smashed-ahead-of-hottest-day-since-black-saturday-20190125-p50tj1.html|title=Melbourne weather: Heat records smashed ahead of hottest day since Black Saturday|website=The Age|last1=Koob|first1=Simone F.|last2=Cunningham|first2=Melissa|date=25 January 2019|access-date=13 March 2020|archive-date=19 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019134708/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/heat-records-smashed-ahead-of-hottest-day-since-black-saturday-20190125-p50tj1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and humidity levels dropped to as low as two percent. The ] reached unprecedented levels, ranging from 160 to over 200. This was higher than the fire weather conditions experienced on ] in 1939 and ] in 1983.<ref name="FireIndex">{{cite web|url=http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2009/02/bushfires-and-climate/#more-654|title=Bushfires and extreme heat in southeast Australia|last=Karoly|first=David|date=16 February 2009|publisher=Real Climate|access-date=17 February 2009|archive-date=19 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219171149/http://realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2009/02/bushfires-and-climate#more-654|url-status=live}}</ref>
	==Events of Saturday 7 February==
	]
	]
			Around midday, as wind speeds were reaching their peak, an incorrectly rigged ']' (single-wire earth return) mains power cable was ripped down at ]. This sparked a bushfire that became the deadliest and most intense firestorm ever recorded in Australia. The overwhelming majority of fire activity occurred between the afternoon of 7 February and 7:00&nbsp;pm, a period when wind speed and temperature were at their highest, and humidity at its lowest.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-04-23/power-company-faces-class-action-over-black/1660796|title=Power company faces class action over Black Saturday|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|last1=Brown|first1=Rachel|date=23 April 2009|access-date=13 March 2020|archive-date=16 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416090152/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-04-23/power-company-faces-class-action-over-black/1660796|url-status=live}}</ref>
	By mid-morning on 7 February, it was obvious to all Victorians that the warnings from authorities of extreme fire weather had been realised. Hot northerly winds in excess of {{convert|100|km/h|mph}} hit the state, accompanied by all-time record temperatures — {{convert|46.4|C|F}} in Melbourne, the hottest temperature ever recorded in an Australian capital city<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDV60901/IDV60901.94868.shtml |title=Latest Capital City Observations Melbourne |publisher=Bureau of Meteorology |date= |accessdate=2009-01-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/city-swelters-records-tumble-in-heat-20090207-80ai.html |title=City swelters, records tumble in heat |publisher=The Age, Melbourne |date=2009-02-07|accessdate=2009-02-07}}</ref> — and humidity levels as low as 6%. The ] reached unprecedented levels, ranging from 120 to over 200. This was higher than the fire weather conditions experienced on ] in 1939 and ] in 1983.<ref name="FireIndex">{{cite web|url=http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2009/02/bushfires-and-climate/#more-654|title=Bushfires and extreme heat in south-east Australia|last=Karoly|first=David|date=16 Feb 2009|publisher=Real Climate|accessdate=2009-02-17}}</ref>
	==Chronology==		==Chronology==
	]		[[File:2009 Victorian bushfires smoke plume over NZ.jpg|thumb|right|300px
			|] imagery shows smoke from the fires carried by winds over the ] to ]'s South Island on 8 February]]
			<!-- ] -->
	;Wednesday 28 January 2009		;Wednesday, 28 January 2009
			*Delburn fire commenced in ]; ] suspected.<ref name="weekly-times third fire">{{Cite news|author1=Lanigan, Roslyn|author2=Woods, Kim|name-list-style=amp|title=Gippsland faces third fire|work=Weekly Times|date=29 January 2009|url=http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2009/01/29/47075_latest-news.html|access-date=11 February 2009|archive-date=15 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215154148/http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2009/01/29/47075_latest-news.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
	:Delburn fire starts in Gippsland, arson suspected.<ref name="weekly-times third fire">{{cite news
	| authors = Lanigan, Roslyn & Woods, Kim
	| title = Gippsland faces third fire
	| publisher = Weekly Times
	| date = 2009-01-29
	| url = http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2009/01/29/47075_latest-news.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-11 }}
	</ref>
	;Wednesday 4 February 2009.		;Wednesday, 4 February
	:Bunyip State Park fire starts, arson suspected.<ref name="berwick-district-journal battle bunyip"/>		*] blaze commenced.<ref name="berwick-district-journal battle bunyip"/>
	;Saturday 7 February 2009.		;Saturday, 7 February (Black Saturday)
			*05:00&nbsp;am – Bunyip State Park fire jumped containment lines; no other major fire activity.<ref name="Bunyip fire breaches control lines">{{Cite web|title=Black Saturday|url=http://www.abc.net.au/innovation/blacksaturday/#/timeline/sequence/chapter/1/showid/0000271|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091004221626/http://abc.net.au/innovation/blacksaturday/#/timeline/sequence/chapter/1/showid/0000271|archive-date=4 October 2009|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|access-date=6 April 2016}}</ref>
	:11:20 Smoke and flames first observed in a hilltop paddock in Kilmore East.<ref name="heraldsun hill paddock">{{cite news
			*Late morning – Many fires sprang up as temperatures rose and wind speeds increased.
	|title=Hill paddock is pinpointed as area where fire started
			*11:50&nbsp;am – Power lines fell in high winds igniting the ] fire (]/] area). The fire was fanned by {{convert|125|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} winds, entered a ], grew in intensity, and rapidly headed southeast through the ] area.<ref name="heraldsun hill paddock">{{Cite news|title=Hill paddock is pinpointed as area where fire started|date=12 February 2009|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25043261-662,00.html|work=Herald Sun|access-date=17 February 2009}} {{Dead link|date=August 2010|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref>
	|date=12 February 2009
			*12:30&nbsp;pm – ] fire commenced.<ref name="Wimmera Mail-Times Horsham fire">{{Cite news|url=http://wimmera.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/horsham-fire-the-latest-report/1427805.aspx|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121231084331/http://wimmera.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/horsham-fire-the-latest-report/1427805.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 December 2012|title=Horsham fire: The latest report|work=Wimmera Mail-Times|access-date=18 February 2009}}</ref>
	|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25043261-662,00.html
			*12:30&nbsp;pm – ] abandoned regular programming to cover the fire situation.<ref name="Bunyip fire breaches control lines" />
	|work=Herald Sun
			*12:45&nbsp;pm – ] was closed after fire crews were unable to contain Kilmore East fire.<ref name="Bunyip fire breaches control lines" />
	|accessdate=2009-02-17}}</ref>
			*Early afternoon – ABC Local Radio received calls from residents of affected areas supplying immediate up-to-date information on fire activity.
	:12:30 Horsham fire starts.<ref name="Wimmera Mail-Times Horsham fire">{{cite news
			*2:55&nbsp;pm – Murrindindi Mill fire (] area) first spotted from ] fire tower.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royalcommission.vic.gov.au/getdoc/d2c3aadc-9e1d-4799-9526-6eec70333197/Transcript_VBRC_Day_060_06-Oct-2009|title=transcript page 8208, Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission|publisher=Victorian Government|date=6 October 2009|access-date=10 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100517022420/http://www.royalcommission.vic.gov.au/getdoc/d2c3aadc-9e1d-4799-9526-6eec70333197/Transcript_VBRC_Day_060_06-Oct-2009|archive-date=17 May 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Marysville fire start">{{Cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/the-trail-of-destruction--and-the-outlook-20090209-814n.html?page=fullpage|title=The trail of destruction ... and the outlook|newspaper=The Age|date=9 February 2009|access-date=18 February 2009|location=Melbourne|first1=Ben|last1=Schneiders|first2=Farrah|last2=Tomazin|archive-date=3 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103003239/http://www.theage.com.au/national/the-trail-of-destruction--and-the-outlook-20090209-814n.html?page=fullpage|url-status=live}}</ref>
	|url = http://wimmera.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/horsham-fire-the-latest-report/1427805.aspx
			*3:04&nbsp;pm – temperature in ] peaked at {{convert|46.4|C|F}}.<ref name="HottestDay"/>
	|title = Horsham fire: The latest report
			*4:20&nbsp;pm – ] fire front arrived at ].<ref name="australian how the battle">{{Cite news|last=Stewart|first=Cameron|author2=Corrie Perkin|title=How the battle with Victoria's bushfires was fought and lost|work=The Australian|date=14 February 2009|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/how-the-battle-for-victoria-was-fought-and-lost/story-e6frg6n6-1111118847125|access-date=17 February 2009|archive-date=31 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331025837/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/how-the-battle-for-victoria-was-fought-and-lost/story-e6frg6n6-1111118847125|url-status=live}}</ref>
	|publisher = Fairfax Media
			*4:20&nbsp;pm – Murrindindi Mill fire impacted ].
	|work = The Wimmera Mail-Times
			*Mid-afternoon – smoke from Kilmore East firestorm prevented planes from mapping the fire edge.
	|date = 8 Feb 2009
			*4:30&nbsp;pm – number of individual fires across the state increased into the hundreds.
	|accessdate = 18 Feb 2009}}
			*4:30&nbsp;pm – fire commenced at ], near ].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Perkin|first=Corrie|title=Cigarette butt blamed for town's losses|work=The Australian|date=9 February 2009|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/cigarette-butt-blamed-for-towns-losses/story-e6frg6n6-1111118795113|access-date=17 February 2009}}</ref>
	</ref>
			*4:45&nbsp;pm – Kilmore East fire front arrived at Kinglake.
	:15:00 Murrindindi Mill fire first spotted from Mt Despair fire tower.<ref name="Marysville fire start">{{cite news
			*5:00&nbsp;pm – wind direction changed from northwesterly to southwesterly in Melbourne (see Fawkner Beacon Wind chart for 7 February 2009).
	|url = http://www.theage.com.au/national/the-trail-of-destruction--and-the-outlook-20090209-814n.html?page=fullpage
			*5:10&nbsp;pm – air temperature in Melbourne dropped from over {{convert|45|C|F}} to around {{convert|30|C|F}} in fifteen minutes.
	|title =The trail of destruction ... and the outlook
			*5:30&nbsp;pm – wind change arrived at Kilmore East and Murrindindi Mill (Kinglake/Marysville) fire fronts.
	|publisher = Fairfax Media
			*5:45&nbsp;pm – Kilmore East fire front arrived in ].
	|work = The Age
			*6:00&nbsp;pm – ] fire commenced.<ref name="Beechworth Area Fire">{{cite web|title=Beechworth Area Fire – Community Update Newsletter|url=http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/incidents/images/news_image/130209_Beechworth_Fire_Newsletter_FINALAM_(2)_21551.pdf|publisher=Country Fire Authority|date=13 February 2009|access-date=18 February 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090224220121/http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/incidents/images/news_image/130209_Beechworth_Fire_Newsletter_FINALAM_%282%29_21551.pdf|archive-date=24 February 2009}}</ref>
	|date = 9 Feb 2009
			*6:00&nbsp;pm – Kilmore East fire smoke plume and pyrocumulus cloud reached {{convert|15|km|mi|abbr=on}} high.
	|accessdate = 18 Feb 2009}}
			*6:45&nbsp;pm – Murrindindi Mill fire front arrived at Marysville.<ref name="Marysville police probe">{{Cite news|title=Marysville residents recall Black Saturday for police probe|last=Strong|first=Geoff|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/marysville-residents-recall-black-saturday-for-police-probe-20090305-8p25.html|work=The Age|date=5 March 2009|access-date=7 March 2009|location=Melbourne|archive-date=6 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106143039/http://www.theage.com.au/national/marysville-residents-recall-black-saturday-for-police-probe-20090305-8p25.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Marysville residents">{{Cite news|title=Marysville residents 'should have been warned to leave town|last=Milovanovic|first=Selma|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/marysville-residents-should-have-been-warned-to-leave-town-20090406-9u3t.html|work=The Age|date=6 April 2009|access-date=10 April 2009|location=Melbourne|archive-date=9 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090409064758/http://www.theage.com.au/national/marysville-residents-should-have-been-warned-to-leave-town-20090406-9u3t.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
	</ref>
			*8:30&nbsp;pm – Victorian Health Emergency Co-ordination Centre notified Melbourne hospitals to prepare for burn victims.
	:15.04 Temperature in Melbourne peaks at {{convert|46.4|C|F}}
			*8:57&nbsp;pm – CFA chief officer first notified that casualties had been confirmed.
	:16:20 Fire front arrives at Strathewen.<ref name="australian how the battle">{{cite news
			*10:00&nbsp;pm – ] announced an initial estimate of 14 fatalities.
	| last = Stewart
	| first = Cameron
	| coauthors = Corrie Perkin
	| title = How the battle with Victoria's bushfires was fought and lost
	| publisher = News limited
	| work = The Australian
	| date = 2009-02-14
	| url = http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25051344-2702,00.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-17 }}
	</ref>
	:16:30 Fire front arrives at Kinglake<ref name="australian how the battle"/>
	:16:30 Fire commences at Eaglehawk, near Bendigo<ref name="australian how the battle">{{cite news
	| last = Perkin
	| first = Corrie
	| coauthors =
	| title = Cigarette butt blamed for town's losses
	| publisher = The Australian
	| date = 2009-02-09
	| url = http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25026941-2702,00.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-17 }}
	</ref>
	:17:00 Wind direction changes from northerly to southerly in Melbourne (see Fawkner Beacon Wind chart for February 7, 2009)
	:18:00 Beechworth fire starts.<ref name="Beechworth Area Fire">{{cite web
	| title = Beechworth Area Fire - Community Update Newsletter
	| url = http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/incidents/images/news_image/130209_Beechworth_Fire_Newsletter_FINALAM_(2)_21551.pdf
	| publisher = Country Fire Authority
	| date = 13 Feb 2009
	| time = 9 am
	| accessdate = 18 feb 2009}}</ref>
	:18:30 Southerly wind associated with cool change passes through regions affected by the Kilmore fire, changing the fire front direction to the north east.<ref name="geelong-addy grave concern"/>
	:18:45 Fire front hits Marysville<ref name="Marysville police probe">{{cite news
	| title = Marysville residents recall Black Saturday for police probe
	| last = Strong
	| first = Geoff
	| url = http://www.theage.com.au/national/marysville-residents-recall-black-saturday-for-police-probe-20090305-8p25.html
	| publisher = ]
	| date = 2009-03-05
	| accessdate = 2009-03-07}}</ref><ref name="Marysville residents">{{cite news
	| title = Marysville residents 'should have been warned to leave town
	| last = Milovanovic
	| first = Selma
	| url = http://www.theage.com.au/national/marysville-residents-should-have-been-warned-to-leave-town-20090406-9u3t.html
	| publisher = ]
	| date = 2009-04-06
	| accessdate = 2009-04-10}}</ref>
	;Sunday 8 February 2009:		;Sunday, 8 February
	:Kilmore and Murrindindi Mill fires merge to form the Kinglake fire complex.<ref name="Herald Yarra Valley">{{cite web		*Kilmore East and Murrindindi Mill fires merged to form the Kinglake fire complex.<ref name="Herald Yarra Valley">{{Cite news|title=Yarra Valley tourist town Marysville devastated by bushfire|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,27574,25024406-2862,00.html|work=Herald Sun|date=8 February 2009|access-date=22 February 2009|archive-date=13 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213044502/http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,27574,25024406-2862,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
			*] fire ignited by lightning.<ref name="Wilsons Prom">{{cite web|title=Tidal River camping ground evacuated as fire spreads|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/09/2486078.htm|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|date=9 February 2009|access-date=22 February 2009|archive-date=12 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212174030/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/09/2486078.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
	| title = Yarra Valley tourist town Marysville devastated by bushfire
			*] increased estimate to 25 fatalities.
	| url = http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,27574,25024406-2862,00.html
	| publisher = Herald Sun
	| date = 8 Feb 2009
	| accessdate = 22 feb 2009}}</ref>
			]
	:Wilsons Promontory fire starts by lightning.<ref name="Wilsons Prom">{{cite web
	| title = Tidal River camping ground evacuated as fire spreads
	| url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/09/2486078.htm
	| publisher = ABC News
	| date = 9 Feb 2009
	| accessdate = 22 feb 2009}}</ref>
	;Tuesday 10 February 2009		;Tuesday, 10 February
			*Spot fires from Kinglake complex fires merged to form the Maroondah/Yarra complex.
			;Tuesday, 17 February
	:Maroondah/Yarra complex forms.
			*Six fires still burned out of control, with another nineteen contained.<ref name="Healesville">{{Cite news|title=Winds cause nervous moments for Healesville|work=The Age|date=17 February 2009|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/winds-cause-nervous-moments-for-healesville-20090217-89gu.html|access-date=17 February 2009|location=Melbourne|archive-date=19 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219160428/http://www.theage.com.au/national/winds-cause-nervous-moments-for-healesville-20090217-89gu.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
			*Containment lines surrounded 85 per cent of the Kinglake–Murrindindi complex.<ref name="Healesville"/>
			*The Kilmore East&nbsp;– Murrindindi complex south fire burned in Melbourne's ] and ] water ]s.<ref name="Healesville"/>
			*Bunyip and Beechworth fires almost contained.<ref name="Healesville"/>
	;Tuesday 17 February:		;Thursday, 19 February
			*Victoria Police increased estimate to 208 fatalities.
	:Six fires still burn out of control with another 19 contained.<ref name="Healesville"> {{cite news
	| title =Winds cause nervous moments for Healesville
	| publisher = The Age
	| date = 2009-02-17
	| url = http://www.theage.com.au/national/winds-cause-nervous-moments-for-healesville-20090217-89gu.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-17 }}
	</ref>
	:Containment lines surround 85 per cent of the Kinglake-Murrindindi complex.<ref name="Healesville"/>
	:The Kilmore East-Murrindindi Complex South fire burns in Melbourne's O'Shannassy and Armstrong Creek water catchments.<ref name="Healesville"/>
	:The Bunyip and Beechworth fires close to being contained.<ref name="Healesville"/>
	;Monday 23 February 2009:		;Monday, 23 February
	:Temperatures in the mid 30s Celsius (mid 90s Farenheit), northerly winds and a cool change precipitates a flare up of many of the fires and ignites several new fires, the most major being in the southern ] near ], south of ] and the Otway Ranges, and directs previously burning fires in the Yarra Ranges towards settlements in the upper Yarra Valley. These new fires are contained and control lines hold existing fires away from settlements.		*Temperatures in the mid-30 degrees Celsius (mid-90 degrees Fahrenheit), northerly winds, and a cool change precipitated a flare-up of many of the fires, and ignited several new fires.
			*The most significant new fires were in the southern ] near ], south of ] (near Hogans Lane, ]), and in the ].
			*Weather conditions directed previously burning fires in the ] towards settlements in the upper Yarra Valley, but the fires were of a low intensity and were quickly contained.
	;Friday 27 February:		;Friday, 27 February
	:The Bunyip fire still burning within control lines in the Bunyip State Park and State Forest areas<ref>CFA Awareness Message - Bunyip Ridge Track Fire 7.00pm, 27/02/2009</ref>		*Bunyip fire still burnt within control lines in the Bunyip State Park and State Forest areas.<ref>CFA Awareness Message – Bunyip Ridge Track Fire 7.00pm, 27 February 2009</ref>
	:The Kilmore East-Murrindindi Complex North fire burns within containment lines on the South Eastern flank.<ref> CFA Downgrade Message - Alert to Awareness-Kilmore East Murrindindi Complex North Fire, 27/02/2009</ref>		*The Kilmore East&nbsp;– Murrindindi complex north fire burned within containment lines on the southeastern flank.<ref>CFA Downgrade Message – Alert to Awareness-Kilmore East Murrindindi Complex North Fire, 27 February 2009</ref>
	:The Kilmore East-Murrindindi Complex South Fire activity continues in areas close to several towns in the Yarra Valley and the Warburton Valley.<ref>CFA Awareness Message - Kilmore East - Murrindindi Complex South Fire 7.20 pm, 27/02/2009</ref>		*The Kilmore East&nbsp;– Murrindindi complex south fire activity continued in areas close to several towns in the ] near both Yarra Glen and ].<ref>CFA Awareness Message – Kilmore East – Murrindindi Complex South Fire 7.20 pm, 27 February 2009</ref>
	:The Wilsons Prom Cathedral Fire {{convert|24150|ha|acre|abbr=on}} in size and still burning.<ref>CFA Awareness Message - Wilsons Prom Cathedral Fire 6.00pm, 27/02/2009</ref>		*The ] Cathedral fire had burnt {{convert|24150|ha|acre|abbr=on}} and was still burning.<ref>CFA Awareness Message – Wilsons Prom Cathedral Fire 6.00pm, 27 February 2009</ref>
	:The French Island fire slowly burning in uninhabited grass and scrub bushland on the North East end of the island.<ref>Awareness Message - French Island Fire 6.50pm, 27/02/2009</ref>		*The ] fire slowly burnt in uninhabited grass and scrub bushland on the northeast end of the island.<ref>Awareness Message – French Island Fire 6.50pm, 27 February 2009</ref>
	;Tuesday 3 March 2009:
	:Extreme bushfire conditions predicted for Monday night and early Tuesday morning, involving very strong northerlies, with a change to arrive by Tuesday morning. Approximately 3 million ] messages warning of extreme fire danger conditions are sent from ] to Victorians with mobile phones as a technology trial.<ref name="SMS warning"> {{cite news
	| last = Dobbin
	| first = Marika
	| title =Victorians receive fire text warning
	| publisher = The Age
	| date = 2009-03-03
	| url = http://www.theage.com.au/national/victorians-receive-fire-text-warning-20090302-8mfq.html
	| accessdate = 2009-03-03 }}
	</ref>
	;Wednesday 4 March 2009:
	:Cooler conditions and rain from the 4-6 March enable firefighters to control and contain several fires; the Kilmore-Murrindindi Complex South being completely contained. Predictions for favourable weather signal the easing of the threat to settlements from the major fires that have been burning since 7 February.
	;Mid March 2009:		;Tuesday, 3 March 2009:
			*Extreme bushfire conditions predicted for Monday night and early Tuesday morning, involving very strong northerlies, with a change forecast to arrive by Tuesday morning. Mobile phone companies trialled technology by sending Victorians and ]ns three million ] messages on behalf of ].<ref name="SMS warning">{{Cite news|last=Dobbin|first=Marika|title=Victorians receive fire text warning|work=The Age|date=3 March 2009|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/victorians-receive-fire-text-warning-20090302-8mfq.html|access-date=3 March 2009|location=Melbourne|archive-date=3 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303121100/http://www.theage.com.au/national/victorians-receive-fire-text-warning-20090302-8mfq.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
	:Favourable conditions aided containment efforts and extinguished many of the fires.
			;Wednesday, 4 March
	==Major fires==
			*Cooler conditions and rain from 4–6 March enabled firefighters to control and contain several fires, with the Kilmore East&nbsp;– Murrindindi complex south fire being completely contained.
	===North and central===
			*Predictions for favourable weather signalled the easing of the threat to settlements from the major fires that had been burning since 7 February.
	====Kinglake-Marysville====
			;Mid-March
	]]]
			*Favourable conditions aided containment efforts and extinguished many of the fires.
	The ] fire complex was named after two earlier fires, the ] fire and the ] Mill fire, merged following the wind change on the evening of 7 February.<ref name="geelong-addy kinglake casualties">{{cite news
	| title = Reports of major casualties at Kinglake
	| publisher = Geelong Advertiser
	| date = 2009-02-08
	| url = http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2009/02/08/49445_news.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-09 }}
	</ref> The complex was the largest of the many fires burning on Black Saturday, destroying over {{convert|330000|ha|acre|abbr=on}} <ref name="abc at a glance">{{cite news
	| title = At a glance: where bushfires are burning
	| publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation
	| date = 2009-02-08
	| url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/08/2485609.htm?section=justin
	| accessdate = 2009-02-09 }}
	</ref> It was also the most destructive, with over 1,000 buildings razed and 159 lives lost in the region.
			==Major fires==
	Just before midday on 7&nbsp;February, high winds felled a 2&nbsp;km section of power lines owned by SP AusNet in ], sparking a fire in a pine plantation. The fire was fanned by extreme north-westerly winds, and traveled {{convert|30|km|abbr=on}} south-east in a narrow fire front through ] and ], towards ].<ref name="Age7Feb">{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/death-toll-may-reach-more-than-40-police-20090207-80ao.html|title=Death toll may reach more than 40: police|date=7 February 2009|work=The Age|accessdate=2009-02-07}}</ref>
			===Kinglake–Marysville fires===
	The cool change passed through the area around 6:30pm, bringing strong south-westerly winds. The wind change turned the initial long and narrow fire band into a wide firefront that moved in a north-east direction through ], ], ], ], Kinglake, ], ] and ].<ref name="geelong-addy grave concern">{{cite news
			]
	| last =
			The ] fire complex was named after two earlier fires, the ] fire and the ] Mill fire, merged following the wind change on the evening of 7 February.<ref name="geelong-addy kinglake casualties">{{Cite news|title=Reports of major casualties at Kinglake|publisher=Geelong Advertiser|date=8 February 2009|url=http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2009/02/08/49445_news.html|access-date=9 February 2009|archive-date=9 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209073155/http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2009/02/08/49445_news.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The complex was the largest of the many fires burning on Black Saturday, ultimately destroying over {{convert|330000|ha|acre|abbr=on}}.<ref name="abc at a glance">{{Cite news|title=At a glance: where bushfires are burning|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=8 February 2009|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/08/2485609.htm?section=justin|access-date=9 February 2009|archive-date=9 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209112549/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/08/2485609.htm?section=justin|url-status=live}}</ref> It was also the most destructive, with over 1,800 houses destroyed and 159 lives lost in the region.
	| first =
	| coauthors =
	| title = Kilmore fires cause grave concern
	| work =
	| pages =
	| language =
	| publisher = Geelong Advertiser
	| date = 2009-02-08
	| url = http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2009/02/08/49421_news.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-09 }}
	</ref>
	These towns were to become the worst impacted in the state, with a total of 120 deaths<ref name="deathtoll"/> and more than 550 homes destroyed.<ref name="abc grieving victoria">{{cite news
	| title = Grieving Victoria takes stock as toll nears 100
	| publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation
	| date = 2009-02-09
	| url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/09/2485712.htm?section=australia
	| accessdate = 2009-02-09 }}
	</ref>
	]
	The Murrindindi Mill fire started at 2:00pm and burned south-east, parallel to the Kilmore fire, towards ]. When the southerly change struck, it destroyed 95&nbsp;per&nbsp;cent of the houses in Narbethong<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/08/2485378.htm|title=Wiped out: Towns destroyed by killer fires|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2009-02-07}}</ref> and swept towards the historic town of ].<ref name="abc wiped out">{{cite news
	| last = Cowan
	| first = Jane
	| title = Wiped out: Town destroyed by killer fires
	| publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation
	| date = 2009-02-08
	| url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/08/2485378.htm
	| accessdate = 2009-02-09 }}
	</ref>
			====Kinglake area (Kilmore East fire)====
	Late in the afternoon of 7&nbsp;February, residents had anticipated that the fire front would bypass Marysville.<ref name="abc wiped out" /> At about 5:00pm, power was lost to the town. Around 6:35pm, the wind died away; minutes later it returned from a different direction, bringing the fire up the valley with it.<ref name="australian razed township">{{cite news
			Just before midday on 7 February, high winds felled a {{convert|2|km|mi|abbr=on}} section of power lines owned by ] in Kilmore East, sparking a fire at approximately 11:45 am in open grasslands that adjoined pine plantations. The fire was fanned by extreme northwesterly winds, and travelled {{convert|50|km|abbr=on}} southeast in a narrow fire front through ] and ], into ], and then onto the towns of ], ], ] and ].<ref name="VBRC-Vol.01-ch.5-p.075">{{cite book|author1=Teague, Bernard|title=The Kilmore East Fire: Final Report|author2=McLeod, Ronald|author3=Pascoe, Susan|date=July 2010|isbn=978-0-9807408-2-0|edition=1|volume=1: The Fires and the Fire-Related Deaths|page=75|chapter=Chapter 5|publisher=]|quote=The fire started after the conductor between poles 38 and 39 failed and the live conductor came into contact with a cable stay supporting pole 38. This contact caused arcing that ignited vegetation near the base of pole 38. An electrical fault was recorded at 11:45...|access-date=6 February 2015|chapter-url=http://www.royalcommission.vic.gov.au/Finaldocuments/volume-1/PF/VBRC_Vol1_Chapter05_PF.pdf|chapter-format=PDF – 1,478 KB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112015122/http://royalcommission.vic.gov.au/Finaldocuments/volume-1/PF/VBRC_Vol1_Chapter05_PF.pdf|archive-date=12 November 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Age7Feb">{{Cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/death-toll-may-reach-more-than-40-police-20090207-80ao.html|title=Death toll may reach more than 40: police|date=7 February 2009|work=The Age|access-date=7 February 2009|location=Melbourne|archive-date=8 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090208072330/http://www.theage.com.au/national/death-toll-may-reach-more-than-40-police-20090207-80ao.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
	| last = Davies
	| first = Julie-Anne
	| title = Razed township fears for missing
	| publisher = The Australian
	| date = 2009-02-09
	| url = http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25026480-2702,00.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-09 }}
	</ref> A police sergeant said that the main street in Marysville had been destroyed: "The motel at one end of it partially exists. The bakery has survived. Don't ask me how. Everything else is just nuked."<ref name="age sickening wait">{{cite news
	| last = Coslovich
	| first = Gabriella
	| title = Sickening wait for proof of life, or death
	| publisher = The Age
	| date = 2009-02-09
	| url = http://www.theage.com.au/national/sickening-wait-for-proof-of-life-or-death-20090208-8112.html?page=2
	| accessdate = 2009-02-09 }}
	</ref> Reports on 11 February estimated that around 100 of the town's approximate population of 500 had believed to have perished, and that only "a dozen" buildings were left. Premier Brumby described: "There's no activity, there's no people, there's no buildings, there's no birds, there's no animals, everything's just gone. So the fatality rate will be very high."<ref name="marysville-one-in-five">{{cite news
	| title = Bushfires toll at 181. Marysville toll may be one in five
	| publisher = ]
	| date = 2009-02-11
	| url = http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25037917-661,00.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-11 }}
	</ref> 34 fatalities were eventually confirmed in the Marysville area, with all but 14 of over 400 buildings destroyed. Other localities severely affected included ] and ].<ref name=Yea-Murrundindi>{{cite web|title=Yea-Murrundindi map|publisher=CFA|url=http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/incidents/images/news_image/Yea-Murrundindi_MediaMap_20090208_0015_21109.pdf|accessdate=2009-02-08}}</ref>
			The cool change passed through the area around 5:30&nbsp;pm, bringing strong southwesterly winds. The wind change turned the initial long and narrow fire band into a wide firefront that moved in a northeast direction through ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ].<ref name="geelong-addy grave concern">{{Cite news|title=Kilmore fires cause grave concern|publisher=Geelong Advertiser|date=8 February 2009|url=http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2009/02/08/49421_news.html|access-date=9 February 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209073134/http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2009/02/08/49421_news.html|archive-date=9 February 2009}}</ref>
	After the change, the two fires combined to create a massive fire front, 100&nbsp;km long.
			The area became the worst-impacted in the state, with a total of 120 deaths<ref name="deathtoll">{{cite web|title=Bushfires death toll|url=http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=19190|access-date=31 March 2009|date=30 March 2009|work=Victoria Police|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090313151520/http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=19190|archive-date=13 March 2009}}</ref> and more than 1,200 homes destroyed.
	To the south of the fire complex, visitors and residents were stranded at ] when fire surrounded the town on three sides.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/we-can-see-flames-people-stranded-in-yarra-glen-20090207-80e3.html|title='We can see flames': people stranded in Yarra Glen|date=8 February 2008|work=The Age|accessdate=2009-02-08}}</ref> Houses just to the north of Yarra Glen were destroyed and large areas of grassy paddocks burnt.
			The cause of the Kilmore East-Kinglake bushfire was found by the ] to be an ageing SP AusNet power line.<ref name=abc-kilmore-settle/>
	Investigators strongly believe that the cause of the fire that originated near the Murrundindi Mill and swept through Narbethong and Marysville was arson, with several suspects under investigation.<ref name="TheAge">{{cite news | title = Arsonists my have lit Marysville fire - Nixon | publisher = The Age | date = 2009-02-12 | url = http://www.theage.com.au/national/arsonists-may-have-lit-marysville-fire-nixon-20090212-852y.html | accessdate = 2009-02-12}}</ref> On 1 April, it was confirmed that the cause was arson.<ref>http://www.theage.com.au/national/marysville-fire-deliberately-lit-police-20090401-9j39.html</ref>
			====Marysville area (Murrindindi Mill fire)====
	====Beechworth====
			] at 6:11&nbsp;pm]]
	]
			], looking northeast across the ], towards the Kinglake fire complex on 8 February]]
	In ], a fire burnt over 300&nbsp;km² {{convert|30000|ha|acre|lk=on|abbr=on}} and threatened the towns of ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/08/2485588.htm|title=Smoke, cloud restrict Beechworth fire info|date=8 February 2009|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2009-02-08}}</ref> The fire started around 6&nbsp;pm<ref name="Beechworth Area Fire"/> on 7&nbsp;February, {{convert|3|km|abbr=on}} south of Beechworth, before being driven south through pine plantations by hot northerly winds.<ref name="herald-sun fast-moving blaze">{{cite news | authors = McNaught, Megan & Pilcher, Georgie | title = Fast-moving blaze hit with little warning | publisher = Herald Sun | date = 2009-02-09 | url = http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25025982-2862,00.html | accessdate = 2009-02-09 }}</ref>
			] toboggan run after the fire]]
			According to eyewitnesses, the Murrindindi Mill fire started at 2:55&nbsp;pm,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royalcommission.vic.gov.au/getdoc/d2c3aadc-9e1d-4799-9526-6eec70333197/Transcript_VBRC_Day_060_06-Oct-2009|title=transcript pages 8208, 8225 & 8246, Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission|publisher=Victorian Government|access-date=10 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100517022420/http://www.royalcommission.vic.gov.au/getdoc/d2c3aadc-9e1d-4799-9526-6eec70333197/Transcript_VBRC_Day_060_06-Oct-2009|archive-date=17 May 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> while Victoria Police twice told the Royal Commission that it commenced at "about 2.30&nbsp;pm".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royalcommission.vic.gov.au/Documents/Document-files/Exhibits/WIT-3010-001-0338|title=Detective Superintendent Paul Hollowood's witness statement paragraph 65|publisher=Victorian Government|access-date=10 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706123119/http://www.royalcommission.vic.gov.au/Documents/Document-files/Exhibits/WIT-3010-001-0338|archive-date=6 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royalcommission.vic.gov.au/Documents/Document-files/Exhibits/WIT-3010-003-0287|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924092239/http://www.royalcommission.vic.gov.au/Documents/Document-files/Exhibits/WIT-3010-003-0287|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 September 2015|title=Detective Superintendent Paul Hollowood's supplementary witness statement, paragraph 20|publisher=Victorian Government|access-date=10 February 2010}}</ref> It burned southeast across the Black Range, parallel to the Kilmore fire, towards ]. Experienced Air Attack Coordinator Shaun Lawlor reported flame heights of "at least 100 metres" as the fire traversed the Black Range.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royalcommission.vic.gov.au/getdoc/d2c3aadc-9e1d-4799-9526-6eec70333197/Transcript_VBRC_Day_060_06-Oct-2009|title=transcript page 8261, Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission|publisher=Victorian Government|access-date=10 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100517022420/http://www.royalcommission.vic.gov.au/getdoc/d2c3aadc-9e1d-4799-9526-6eec70333197/Transcript_VBRC_Day_060_06-Oct-2009|archive-date=17 May 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> At Narbethong, it destroyed 95&nbsp;per&nbsp;cent of the town's houses.<ref name="abc wiped out"/> When the southerly change struck, it swept towards the town of ].<ref name="abc wiped out">{{Cite news|last=Cowan|first=Jane|display-authors=etal|title=Wiped out: Town destroyed by killer fires|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=8 February 2009|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/08/2485378.htm|access-date=9 February 2009|archive-date=9 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209112921/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/08/2485378.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
	The fire destroyed an unknown number of buildings at ], south-east of Beechworth; with two residents confirmed dead.<ref name="abc buildings mudgeegonga">{{cite news | title = Buildings destroyed near Beechworth | publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date = 2009-02-08 | url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/08/2485547.htm | accessdate = 2009-02-08 }}</ref> Dense smoke and cloud cover had hindered assessment of the Beechworth fire, but as conditions cleared late on 8 February, aerial crews were able to commence surveys of the situation.<ref name="abc smoke cloud beechworth">{{cite news | title = Smoke, cloud restrict Beechworth fire info | publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date = 2009-02-08 | url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/08/2485588.htm | accessdate = 2009-02-08 }}</ref>
	], looking north-east across the ], towards the Kinglake Fire Complex on 8 February.]]
	Strong winds fuelled the fire on the night of 8&nbsp;February, and lightning ignited a new fire near ] around midday on 9&nbsp;February.<ref name="herald-sun fresh fire">{{cite news
	| last = Pilcher
	| first = Georgie
	| title = Fresh fire jumps river and threatens towns
	| publisher = Herald Sun
	| date = 2009-02-10
	| url = http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25033200-661,00.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-10 }}
	</ref> More than 440 personnel worked to contain a separate front that threatened ] and ], having jumped the ]; late on the night of 9&nbsp;February the greatest threat was to Eskdale, and fires were also burning in pine plantations 8&nbsp;km from the large town of ], at the opposite, western end of the fire area.<ref name="herald-sun fresh fire" /> While smaller towns to the east, including Gundowring and Kergunyah, remained under threat, the CFA said that there was no immediate danger to the larger towns of Beechworth and ] on the northern fringe of the fire area.<ref name="australian inquiry ordered">{{cite news
	| authors = Hannan, Ewin & Wallace, Rick
	| title = Inquiry ordered into Victoria bushfires, hunt for arsonists begins
	| publisher = The Australian
	| date = 2009-02-10
	| url = http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,24897,25033504-601,00.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-10 }}
	</ref>
			Late in the afternoon of 7 February, residents had anticipated that the fire front would bypass Marysville.<ref name="abc wiped out" /> At about 5:00&nbsp;pm, power was lost to the town. Around 5:30&nbsp;pm, the wind died away, however, minutes later it returned from a different direction, bringing the fire up the valley with it.<ref name="australian razed township">{{cite news|last=Davies|first=Julie-Anne|title=Razed township fears for missing|newspaper=The Australian|date=9 February 2009|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25026480-2702,00.html|access-date=9 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211143130/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25026480-2702,00.html|archive-date=11 February 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>
	By 10&nbsp;February, firefighters had completed a {{convert|115|km|mi|adj=on|abbr=on}} containment line around the Beechworth fire, and sought to construct {{convert|15|km|mi|abbr=on}} more, though the fire continued to burn out of control.<ref name="canberra-times prisoners help">{{cite news
	| title = Prisoners help fight Beechworth blaze
	| publisher = Canberra Times
	| date = 2009-02-10
	| url = http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/prisoners-help-fight-beechworth-blaze/1429502.aspx
	| accessdate = 2009-02-10 }}
	</ref> By that afternoon, threat messages for the area had been downgraded, though firefighters were tackling a separate fire near ], to the east of the main Beechworth fire, of between {{convert|50|to|80|ha|acre|abbr=on}}.<ref name="abc north-east urged">{{cite news
	| title = North-east residents urged to remain on fire alert
	| publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation
	| date = 2009-02-10
	| url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/10/2487509.htm
	| accessdate = 2009-02-10 }}
	</ref> Residents of Beechworth and surrounding towns were advised on the evening of 10&nbsp;February to expect increased smoke cover as 250 firefighters would be undertaking backburning to eliminate fuel within the control lines.<ref name="border-mail smoke increases">{{cite news
	| title = Smoke increases with Beechworth backburning
	| publisher = Border Mail
	| date = 2009-02-10
	| url = http://www.bordermail.com.au/news/local/news/general/smoke-increases-with-beechworth-backburning/1429957.aspx
	| accessdate = 2009-02-10 }}
	</ref>
			Afterwards, a police sergeant said that the main street in Marysville had been destroyed: "The motel at one end of it partially exists. The bakery has survived. Don't ask me how. Everything else is just nuked."<ref name="age sickening wait">{{Cite news|last=Coslovich|first=Gabriella|title=Sickening wait for proof of life, or death|work=The Age|date=9 February 2009|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/sickening-wait-for-proof-of-life-or-death-20090208-8112.html?page=2|access-date=9 February 2009|location=Melbourne|archive-date=11 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211142434/http://www.theage.com.au/national/sickening-wait-for-proof-of-life-or-death-20090208-8112.html?page=2|url-status=live}}</ref> Reports on 11 February estimated that around 100 of the town's population of approximately 500 were believed to have perished, and that only "a dozen" buildings were left. Premier Brumby described the situation: "There's no activity, there's no people, there's no buildings, there's no birds, there's no animals, everything's just gone. So the fatality rate will be very high."<ref name="marysville-one-in-five">{{cite web|title=Marysville toll may be 1 in 5|url=http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2009/02/11/51975_latest-news.html|work=The Weekly Times|access-date=9 February 2011|date=11 February 2009|archive-date=15 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315123959/http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2009/02/11/51975_latest-news.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
	The ] minimum-security prison offered up to thirty of its inmates to provide assistance to firefighters; a local DSE manager said that though untrained personnel would not be allowed at the fire front, the prisoners would be welcome in support roles.<ref name="canberra-times prisoners help" />
			Eventually 34 fatalities were confirmed in the Marysville area, with all but 14 of over 400 buildings destroyed. Other localities severely affected included ] and ].<ref name=Yea-Murrundindi>{{cite web|title=Yea-Murrundindi map|publisher=CFA|url=http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/incidents/images/news_image/Yea-Murrundindi_MediaMap_20090208_0015_21109.pdf|access-date=8 February 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090224220055/http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/incidents/images/news_image/Yea-Murrundindi_MediaMap_20090208_0015_21109.pdf|archive-date=24 February 2009}}</ref>
	====Bendigo====
	].]]
			To the south of the fire complex, visitors and residents were stranded at ] when fire surrounded the town on three sides.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/we-can-see-flames-people-stranded-in-yarra-glen-20090207-80e3.html|title='We can see flames': people stranded in Yarra Glen|date=8 February 2008|work=The Age|access-date=8 February 2009|location=Melbourne|first=Hamish|last=Townsend|archive-date=9 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209140340/http://www.theage.com.au/national/we-can-see-flames-people-stranded-in-yarra-glen-20090207-80e3.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Houses just to the north of Yarra Glen were destroyed and large areas of grassy paddocks burnt.
	A fire to the west of the city of ] burned out 5&nbsp;km² {{convert|500|ha|acre|abbr=on}}.<ref name="abc bendigo meeting">{{cite news | title = Meeting held for fire-affected Bendigo residents | publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date = 2009-02-09 | url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/08/2485623.htm | accessdate = 2009-02-09 }}</ref> The fire broke out at about 4:30&nbsp;pm on the afternoon of 7&nbsp;February, and burned through ] and ], coming within {{convert|2|km|abbr=on}} of central Bendigo, before it was brought under control late on 8 February.<ref name="abc bendigo meeting" /> It destroyed around 61 houses<ref>http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/news/local/news/general/inferno-warning-cfa/1435265.aspx</ref> in Bendigo's western suburbs, and damaged an electricity transmission line, resulting in blackouts to substantial parts of the city.<ref name="herald-sun man on fire">{{cite news | title = The man up the road is on fire | publisher = Herald Sun | date = 2009-02-09 | url = http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25025484-2862,00.html | accessdate = 2009-02-09 }}</ref> One Long Gully resident, ill and confined to his house, was killed in the fire despite the efforts of his neighbours to rescue him.<ref name="herald-sun man on fire" /> The fire changed direction late on 7&nbsp;February with the cool change, and headed back towards Eaglehawk; it was contained around lunchtime on 8 February, though it was still burning within containment lines later that day.<ref name="age mind beast">{{cite news | last = Kennedy | first = Peter | title = 'Fire had a mind of its own, like a beast' | publisher = The Age | date = 2009-02-09 | url = http://www.theage.com.au/national/fire-had-a-mind-of-its-own-like-a-beast-20090208-8115.html | accessdate = 2009-02-09 }}</ref>
			Investigators initially believed that the cause of the fire that originated near the Murrundindi Mill and swept through Narbethong and Marysville was arson, with several suspects investigated.<ref name="TheAge">{{Cite news|title=Arsonists may have lit Marysville fire – Nixon|work=The Age|date=12 February 2009|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/arsonists-may-have-lit-marysville-fire-nixon-20090212-852y.html|access-date=12 February 2009|location=Melbourne|first=Robyn|last=Grace|archive-date=17 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717094950/https://www.theage.com.au/national/arson-suspects-arrested-20090212-852y.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Later investigations prompted a 2011 declaration that arson had not been responsible.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/marysville-blaze-not-the-work-of-arsonist-20110625-1gkan.html|location=Melbourne|work=The Age|title=Marysville blaze not the work of arsonist|date=25 June 2011|access-date=25 June 2011|archive-date=28 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628204827/http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/marysville-blaze-not-the-work-of-arsonist-20110625-1gkan.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
	A relief centre was set up at ] Senior Citizens Centre.<ref name="CFA 1476708465993">{{cite web|title=Downgrade Message - Urgent Threat to Final Advice Bracewell Fire (Bendigo), 2.30 am|publisher=CFA|url=http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/incidents/incident_updates.htm#1476708465993|accessdate=2009-02-08}}</ref> During the fire, residents from Long Gully, Eaglehawk, Maiden Gully, California Gully and West Bendigo were evacuated and advised to assemble at the centre.<ref name="bendigo-advertiser wall of flames">{{cite news | title = BENDIGO BATTLES WALL OF FLAMES | publisher = Bendigo Advertiser | date = 2009-02-08 | url = http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/news/local/news/general/bendigo-battles-wall-of-flames/1427780.aspx | accessdate = 2009-02-09 }}</ref> A town meeting was held for the affected residents on 8 February.<ref name="abc bendigo meeting" /> On the same day, the ] indicated that they were investigating whether arson was the cause of the fire.<ref name="abc bendigo meeting" />
			===Beechworth fire===
	The CFA suspected that the most likely cause was a ] discarded from a car or truck on the highway.<ref>{{cite news | last = Perkin | first = Corrie | title = Cigarette butt blamed for West Bendigo fire; two dead, 50 homes lost | work = News Limited | publisher = News.com.au | date = 2009-02-09 | url = http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25027063-1243,00.html | accessdate = 2009-02-09}}</ref> However, the arson squad and local Bendigo detectives spent 9&nbsp;February investigating the fire scene, and while they could not determine exactly what had caused the fire as of 10&nbsp;February, they suspected arson.<ref name="abc arson bendigo">{{cite news
			In ], a fire burnt over {{convert|30000|ha|acre}} and threatened the towns of ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/08/2485588.htm|title=Smoke, cloud restrict Beechworth fire info|date=8 February 2009|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|access-date=8 February 2009|archive-date=9 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209112539/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/08/2485588.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The fire ignited from a felled power line at around 6:00&nbsp;pm<ref name="Beechworth Area Fire"/> on 7 February, {{convert|3|km|abbr=on}} south of Beechworth, before being driven south through pine plantations by hot northerly winds.<ref name="herald-sun fast-moving blaze">{{cite news|author1=McNaught, Megan|author2=Pilcher, Georgie|name-list-style=amp|title=Fast-moving blaze hit with little warning|newspaper=Herald Sun|date=9 February 2009|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25025982-2862,00.html|access-date=9 February 2009|archive-date=31 December 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121231004421/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/archives/old-news-pages/blaze-hit-with-little-warning/story-e6frf8zo-1111118794037|url-status=live}}</ref>
	| title = Arson suspected in deadly Bendigo blaze
	| publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation
	| date = 2009-02-10
	| url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/10/2487050.htm
	| accessdate = 2009-02-10 }}
	</ref> On June 10, 2009, Victoria Police announced that they were 'completely satisfied' that the fire had been deliberately lit.
			The fire destroyed an unknown number of buildings at ], southeast of Beechworth, with two residents confirmed dead.<ref name="abc buildings mudgeegonga">{{Cite news|title=Buildings destroyed near Beechworth|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=8 February 2009|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/08/2485547.htm|access-date=8 February 2009|archive-date=11 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211163000/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/08/2485547.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Dense smoke and cloud cover had hindered assessment of the Beechworth fire, but as conditions cleared late on 8 February, aerial crews were able to commence surveys of the situation.<ref name="abc smoke cloud beechworth">{{Cite news|title=Smoke, cloud restrict Beechworth fire info|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=8 February 2009|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/08/2485588.htm|access-date=8 February 2009|archive-date=9 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209112539/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/08/2485588.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
	====Redesdale====
	In ], a fire starting {{convert|9|km|abbr=on}} west of the town burnt 100&nbsp;km² {{convert|10000|ha|acre|abbr=on}} and destroyed 12 houses and various outbuildings. The fire threatened the towns of ] and ].{{Fact|date=February 2009}} Glenhope was threatened again on 9&nbsp;February from a smaller fire that broke away from the main front, resulting in extra fire crews being brought in from Bendigo and ].<ref name="abc arson bendigo" />
			Strong winds fuelled the fire on the night of 8 February, and lightning ignited a new fire near ] around midday on 9 February.<ref name="herald-sun fresh fire">{{cite news|last=Pilcher|first=Georgie|title=Fresh fire jumps river and threatens towns|newspaper=Herald Sun|date=10 February 2009|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/hundreds-battle-to-control-blazes/story-e6frf7jo-1111118804624|access-date=10 February 2009|archive-date=22 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322124845/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/hundreds-battle-to-control-blazes/story-e6frf7jo-1111118804624|url-status=live}}</ref> More than 440 personnel worked to contain a separate front that threatened ] and ], having jumped the ]. Late on the night of 9 February the greatest threat was to Eskdale, and fires also burnt in pine plantations {{convert|8|km|mi}} from the large town of ], at the western end of the fire area.<ref name="herald-sun fresh fire" /> While smaller towns to the east, including Gundowring and Kergunyah, remained under threat, the CFA said that there was no immediate danger to the larger towns of Beechworth and Yackandandah on the northern fringe of the fire area.<ref name="australian inquiry ordered">{{cite news|author1=Hannan, Ewin|author2=Wallace, Rick|name-list-style=amp|title=Inquiry ordered into Victoria bushfires, hunt for arsonists begins|newspaper=The Australian|date=10 February 2009|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation-weeps-as-toll-tops-166/story-e6frg6n6-1111118804823|access-date=10 February 2009}}</ref>
	The fire was contained by 10&nbsp;February. <ref name="abc arson bendigo" />
			By 10 February, firefighters had completed a {{convert|115|km|mi|adj=on|abbr=on}} containment line around the Beechworth fire, and sought to construct {{convert|15|km|mi|abbr=on}} more, though the fire continued to burn out of control.<ref name="canberra-times prisoners help">{{cite news|title=Prisoners help fight Beechworth blaze|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=10 February 2009|url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/prisoners-help-fight-beechworth-blaze/1429502.aspx|access-date=10 February 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215011337/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/prisoners-help-fight-beechworth-blaze/1429502.aspx|archive-date=15 February 2009}}</ref> By that afternoon, threat messages for the area had been downgraded, though firefighters were tackling a separate fire near ], to the east of the main Beechworth fire, of between {{convert|50|and|80|ha|acre|abbr=on}}.<ref name="abc north-east urged">{{Cite news|title=North-east residents urged to remain on fire alert|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=10 February 2009|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/10/2487509.htm|access-date=10 February 2009|archive-date=13 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213064816/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/10/2487509.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Residents of Beechworth and surrounding towns were advised on the evening of 10 February to expect increased smoke cover as 250 firefighters would be undertaking backburning to eliminate fuel within the control lines.<ref name="border-mail smoke increases">{{Cite news|title=Smoke increases with Beechworth backburning|work=Border Mail|date=10 February 2009|url=http://www.bordermail.com.au/news/local/news/general/smoke-increases-with-beechworth-backburning/1429957.aspx|access-date=10 February 2009|archive-date=11 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211211108/http://www.bordermail.com.au/news/local/news/general/smoke-increases-with-beechworth-backburning/1429957.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>
	===East===
	<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: ] on February 7, Kinglake firestorm smoke cloud in background]] -->
			The ] minimum-security prison offered up to thirty of its inmates to provide assistance to firefighters; a local DSE manager said that though untrained personnel would not be allowed at the fire front, the prisoners would be welcome in support roles.<ref name="canberra-times prisoners help" />
	====Bunyip State Park====
			===Bendigo fire===
	A fire started at Bunyip Ridge in the ] on 4 February, originating near walking tracks; it was thought to have been deliberately lit.<ref name="berwick-district-journal battle bunyip">{{cite news
			] at 5:52&nbsp;pm]]
	| last = Miller
			A fire to the west of the city of ] burned out {{convert|500|ha|acre}}.<ref name="abc bendigo meeting">{{Cite news|title=Meeting held for fire-affected Bendigo residents|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=9 February 2009|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/08/2485623.htm|access-date=9 February 2009|archive-date=9 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209222753/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/08/2485623.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The fire broke out at about 4:30&nbsp;pm on the afternoon of 7 February, and burned through ] and ], coming within {{convert|2|km|abbr=on}} of central Bendigo, before it was brought under control late on 7 February.<ref name="abc bendigo meeting" /> It destroyed around 61 houses<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/news/local/news/general/inferno-warning-cfa/1435265.aspx|title=Inferno warning: CFA – Local News – News – General|publisher=Bendigo Advertiser|date=17 February 2009|access-date=29 December 2011|archive-date=13 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213003037/http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/news/local/news/general/inferno-warning-cfa/1435265.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> in Bendigo's western suburbs, and damaged an electricity distribution line, resulting in blackouts to substantial parts of the city.<ref name="herald-sun man on fire">{{cite news|title=The man up the road is on fire|newspaper=Herald Sun|date=9 February 2009|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25025484-2862,00.html|access-date=9 February 2009|first1=Emily|last1=Power|first2=Karen|last2=Collier|archive-date=30 December 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121230150352/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/archives/old-news-pages/the-man-up-the-road-is-on-fire/story-e6frf8zo-1111118793125|url-status=live}}</ref> One Long Gully resident, ill and confined to his house, was killed in the fire despite the efforts of his neighbours to rescue him.<ref name="herald-sun man on fire" /> The fire changed direction late on 7 February with the cool change, and headed back towards Eaglehawk; it was contained at 9:52&nbsp;pm, though it was still burning within containment lines well into the next day.<ref name="age mind beast">{{cite news|last=Kennedy|first=Peter|title=Fire had a mind of its own, like a beast|newspaper=The Age|date=9 February 2009|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/fire-had-a-mind-of-its-own-like-a-beast-20090208-8115.html|access-date=9 February 2009|location=Melbourne|archive-date=11 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211143240/http://www.theage.com.au/national/fire-had-a-mind-of-its-own-like-a-beast-20090208-8115.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
	| first = Elisa
	| title = Battle to control Bunyip State Park blaze
	| publisher = Berwick & District Journal
	| date = 2009-02-12
	| url = http://berwick.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/battle-to-control-bunyip-state-park-blaze/1432527.aspx
	| accessdate = 2009-02-22 }}
	</ref> By 6 February, the fire had burned out 1&nbsp;km² {{convert|123|ha|acre|abbr=on}}, and emergency services personnel engaged in fighting the fire feared that, despite efforts to establish containment lines in the park, once the extreme weather conditions of 7 February arrived, the fire was likely to escape the confines of the park and threaten surrounding towns.<ref name="australian threatens break free">{{cite news
	| title = Bushfire threatens to break free
	| publisher = The Australian
	| date = 2009-02-06
	| url = http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25015607-12377,00.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-22 }}
	</ref>
			A relief centre was set up at ] Senior Citizens Centre.<ref name="CFA 1476708465993">{{cite web|title=Downgrade Message – Urgent Threat to Final Advice Bracewell Fire (Bendigo), 2.30 am|publisher=CFA|url=http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/incidents/incident_updates.htm#1476708465993|access-date=8 February 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090118001216/http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/incidents/incident_updates.htm|archive-date=18 January 2009}}</ref> During the fire, residents from Long Gully, Eaglehawk, Maiden Gully, California Gully, and West Bendigo were evacuated and advised to assemble at the centre.<ref name="bendigo-advertiser wall of flames">{{Cite news|title=Bendigo Battles Wall of Flames|publisher=Bendigo Advertiser|date=8 February 2009|url=http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/news/local/news/general/bendigo-battles-wall-of-flames/1427780.aspx|access-date=9 February 2009|archive-date=11 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211085656/http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/news/local/news/general/bendigo-battles-wall-of-flames/1427780.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> A town meeting was held for the affected residents on 8 February.<ref name="abc bendigo meeting" /> On the same day, ] indicated that they were investigating whether arson was the cause of the fire.<ref name="abc bendigo meeting" />
	By the morning of 7 February, the fire had broken through containment lines.<ref name="abc fire breaks lines">{{cite news
	| title = Residents warned as fire breaks lines
	| publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation
	| date = 2009-02-07
	| url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/07/2484988.htm
	| accessdate = 2009-02-22 }}
	</ref> According to the DSE incident controller for the fire, the weather conditions deteriorated much more quickly than had been predicted, saying that "Conditions overnight and in the early hours are usually mild, but our firefighters are reporting strong winds and flame heights of five to 10 metres".<ref name="australian residents high alert">{{cite news
	| title = Residents on high alert as fire nears
	| publisher = The Australian
	| date = 2009-02-07
	| url = http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25020249-12377,00.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-22 }}
	</ref> Ground-based fire crews had to retreat from the front, as the escalating conditions made firefighting in the bushland terrain impossible.<ref name="australian crews retreat">{{cite news
	| title = Fire crews forced to retreat
	| publisher = The Australian
	| date = 2009-02-07
	| url = http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25020330-12377,00.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-22 }}
	</ref> The fire broke out of the park around 4:00pm, and by 6:00pm had burnt out 24&nbsp;km² {{convert|2400|ha|acre|abbr=on}} of forest and farmland; it threatened the towns of ], ], ] and ], and embers from it were starting ]s up to {{convert|20|km|mi|abbr=on}} to the south.<ref name="age inferno terrorises">{{cite news
	| authors = Egan, Carmel & Holland, Steve
	| title = Inferno terrorises communities as it rages out of control
	| publisher = The Age
	| date = 2009-02-07
	| url = http://www.theage.com.au/national/inferno-terrorises-communities-as-it-rages-out-of-control-20090207-80fw.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-22 }}
	</ref>
			The CFA initially suspected that the most likely cause was a ] discarded from a car or truck along Bracewell Street in Maiden Gully.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Perkin|first=Corrie|title=Cigarette butt blamed for West Bendigo fire; two dead, 50 homes lost|publisher=News.com.au|date=9 February 2009|url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25027063-1243,00.html|access-date=9 February 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210111138/http://www.news.com.au/story/0%2C27574%2C25027063-1243%2C00.html|archive-date=10 February 2009}}</ref> However, the arson squad and local Bendigo detectives spent 9 February investigating the fire scene, and while they could not determine exactly what had caused the fire as of 10 February, they suspected arson.<ref name="abc arson bendigo">{{Cite news|title=Arson suspected in deadly Bendigo blaze|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=10 February 2009|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/10/2487050.htm|access-date=10 February 2009|archive-date=12 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212185307/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/10/2487050.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> On 10 June 2009, Victoria Police announced that they were 'completely satisfied' that the fire had been deliberately lit.<ref name="bendigo arson">{{cite news|last=Cooper|first=Mex|title=Black Saturday: Bendigo fatal fire 'arson'|newspaper=The Age|date=10 July 2009|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/black-saturday-bendigo-fatal-fire-arson-20090610-c2pw.html|access-date=14 December 2009|location=Melbourne|archive-date=12 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212190754/http://www.theage.com.au/national/black-saturday-bendigo-fatal-fire-arson-20090610-c2pw.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
	The fire destroyed approximately a dozen houses at Labertouche, Tonimbuk and ],<ref name="weekly-times rain only hope">{{cite news
	| last = White
	| first = Leslie
	| title = Rain the only fire hope
	| publisher = Weekly Times
	| date = 2009-02-11
	| url = http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2009/02/11/51711_latest-news.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-22 }}
	</ref> in addition to various outbuildings and a factory.<ref name="herald-sun towns alert">{{cite news
	| last = Wotherspoon
	| first = Sarah
	| title = Dozens of towns on high alert as strong winds fan flames
	| publisher = Herald Sun
	| date = 2009-02-09
	| url = http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25027282-661,00.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-09 }}
	</ref> The progress of the fire had been stopped by the afternoon of 9 February, though it had burned through 245&nbsp;km² {{convert|24500|ha|acre|abbr=on}}.<ref name="abc glance 9feb">{{cite news
	| title = At a glance: fires of concern
	| publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation
	| date = 2009-02-09
	| url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/09/2485733.htm
	| accessdate = 2009-02-09 }}
	</ref> DSE crews conducted ] operations to ensure containment of the fire on 9&nbsp;February, warning residents of areas between ] and ] about smoke from those fires.<ref name="herald-sun towns alert" />
			On 2 February 2010, police announced that the taskforce investigating the arson had arrested two youths in relation to the Bendigo fires. The youths, aged 14 and 15, were each charged with arson causing death, deliberately lighting a bushfire, lighting of a fire on a day of total fire ban and lighting of a fire in a country area during extreme weather conditions. They were also charged with multiple counts of using telecommunications systems to menace, harass and offend as well as 135 counts each of arson.<ref>{{cite news|title=Teens charged over killer Bendigo fire on Black Saturday|first=Thomas|last=Hunter|newspaper=]|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/teens-charged-over-killer-bendigo-fire-on-black-saturday-20100202-na6u.html|date=2 February 2010|access-date=25 August 2010|location=Melbourne|archive-date=6 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100406011406/http://www.theage.com.au/national/teens-charged-over-killer-bendigo-fire-on-black-saturday-20100202-na6u.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
	The fire was controlled and co-ordinated at the Pakenham ICC in the Combined Emergency Services building, with CFA and DSE personnel running the operation depending on where the fire was at the time. Pakenham VICSES, being joined in the building also provided assistance during the fire operation.
			On 7 November 2011, the Victorian Supreme Court Justice, Paul Coghlan, on advice from the prosecutor, Steven Milesi, found that the two youths were unfit to stand trial before a jury due to their intellectual disabilities.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Teens in Black Saturday arson case let off|first=Michelle|last=Henderson|publisher=9 News|url=http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8370820/black-saturday-arson-case-discontinued|access-date=7 November 2011|location=Melbourne|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107163011/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8370820/black-saturday-arson-case-discontinued|archive-date=7 November 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
	====West Gippsland====
	The West Gippsland bushfires began in a pine plantation {{convert|1|km|yd|lk=out|abbr=on}} south-east of ] at about 1:30pm on the afternoon of 7&nbsp;February.<ref name="latrobe-valley-express blaze claims lives">{{cite news
	| last = Jackson
	| first = Nicole
	| title = Blaze claims lives
	| publisher = Latrobe Valley Express
	| date = 2009-02-09
	| url = http://latrobevalley.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/blaze-claims-lives/1428488.aspx
	| accessdate = 2009-02-09 }}
	</ref> Within 30 minutes it had spread to the south-east, threatening ], ], and ]; by late afternoon the fire was approaching ] and ] on the south Gippsland coast.<ref name="latrobe-valley-express blaze claims lives" /> The cool change came through the area about 6:00pm, but the south-westerly winds it brought pushed the fire north-east through ], destroying 57 of its 61 homes,<ref name="Black Saturday">{{
	| last = McGourty
	| first = John
	| title = Black Saturday
	| publisher = Harper Collins
	| date = 2009}}
	</ref> ] and ], and towards ] and ] on the ].<ref name="latrobe-valley-express blaze claims lives" /> About 500 evacuees from the area sheltered at an emergency centre established in a theatre in ].<ref name="latrobe-valley-express blaze claims lives" />
			===Redesdale fire===
	The fire threatened the ], particularly the station's ] coal mine.<ref name="abc power secure">{{cite news
			In ], southeast of Bendigo, a fire starting {{convert|9|km|abbr=on}} west of the town burnt {{convert|10000|ha|acre|abbr=on}} and destroyed twelve houses and various outbuildings. The fire threatened the towns of ]<ref>{{cite web|last=Cain|first=Kim|date=2 March 2009|title=Five minutes and it's fire|url=http://crosslight.org.au/2009/03/02/five-minutes-and-its-fire/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331020948/http://crosslight.org.au/2009/03/02/five-minutes-and-its-fire/|archive-date=31 March 2014|access-date=5 February 2014|website=Crosslight}}</ref> and ].<ref>{{Cite web|date=26 August 2013|title=Back from the brink|url=http://www.elliottmidnews.com.au/story/1731025/back-from-the-brink/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221195508/http://www.elliottmidnews.com.au/story/1731025/back-from-the-brink/|archive-date=21 February 2014|access-date=5 February 2014|website=Midland Express}}</ref>{{Citation needed|date=February 2009}} Glenhope was threatened again on 9 February from a smaller fire that broke away from the main front, resulting in extra fire crews being brought in from Bendigo and ].<ref name="abc arson bendigo"/> The fire was contained by 10 February.<ref name="abc arson bendigo" />
	| title = Victoria's power 'secure but under threat'
	| publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation
	| date = 2009-02-08
	| url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/08/2485646.htm
	| accessdate = 2009-02-09 }}
	</ref> On the night of 7 February, the fire approached the mine's ] dump, but did not damage any infrastructure, nor did it affect the station's operations.<ref name="latrobe-valley-express loy yang alert">{{cite news
	| title = Loy Yang on alert
	| publisher = Latrobe Valley Express
	| date = 2009-02-09
	| url = http://latrobevalley.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/loy-yang-on-alert/1428502.aspx
	| accessdate = 2009-02-09 }}
	</ref> Several small fires broke out in the bunker storing raw coal from the mine, but were contained with no damage.<ref name="latrobe-valley-express loy yang alert" /> The threat eased by the evening of 8 February as temperatures cooled and some light rain fell; one small ] broke out to the south of the power station, but it was contained by water bombing aircraft.<ref name="abc power secure" />
			===Bunyip State Park fire===
	By 9 February, the Churchill fire complex was still burning out of control, with fronts through the ] and the ].<ref name="abc gippsland fires rage">{{cite news
			A fire started at Bunyip Ridge in the ] on 4 February, originating near walking tracks; it was thought to have been deliberately lit.<ref name="berwick-district-journal battle bunyip">{{Cite news|last=Miller|first=Elisa|title=Battle to control Bunyip State Park blaze|publisher=Berwick & District Journal|date=12 February 2009|url=http://berwick.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/battle-to-control-bunyip-state-park-blaze/1432527.aspx|archive-url=https://archive.today/20110821174141/http://berwick.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/battle-to-control-bunyip-state-park-blaze/1432527.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 August 2011|access-date=22 February 2009}}</ref> By 6 February, the fire had burned out {{convert|123|ha|acre}}, and emergency services personnel engaged in fighting the fire feared, despite efforts to establish containment lines in the park, that once the extreme weather conditions of 7 February arrived the fire would escape the confines of the park and threaten surrounding towns.<ref name="australian threatens break free">{{cite news|title=Bushfire threatens to break free|newspaper=The Australian|date=6 February 2009|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25015607-12377,00.html|access-date=22 February 2009}}{{Dead link|date=June 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
	| title = Gippsland fires continue to rage
	| publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation
	| date = 2009-02-09
	| url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/09/2485927.htm
	| accessdate = 2009-02-09 }}
	</ref> By late that afternoon, the complex had burnt out 323&nbsp;km² {{convert|32860|ha|acre|abbr=on}} and had killed eleven people.<ref name="geelong-addy loy yang">{{cite news
	| title = Bushfire races towards Loy Yang power station
	| publisher = Geelong Advertiser
	| date = 2009-02-09
	| url = http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2009/02/09/49745_news.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-09 }}
	</ref> Wind changes that evening exacerbated parts of the Churchill complex, causing the CFA to issue further warnings to residents at ] and surrounding areas.<ref name="herald-sun shifting winds">{{cite news
	| title = Shifting winds flare up fire fronts
	| publisher = Herald Sun
	| date = 2009-02-09
	| url = http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25029037-661,00.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-09 }}
	</ref>
			By the morning of 7 February, the fire had broken through containment lines.<ref name="abc fire breaks lines">{{Cite news|title=Residents warned as fire breaks lines|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=7 February 2009|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/07/2484988.htm|access-date=22 February 2009|archive-date=9 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209155734/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/07/2484988.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> According to the DSE incident controller for the fire, the weather conditions deteriorated much more quickly than predicted, stating that "conditions overnight and in the early hours are usually mild, but our firefighters are reporting strong winds and flame heights of five to 10 metres".<ref name="australian residents high alert">{{cite news|title=Residents on high alert as fire nears|newspaper=The Australian|date=7 February 2009|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25020249-12377,00.html|access-date=22 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210143048/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25020249-12377,00.html|archive-date=10 February 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ground-based fire crews had to retreat from the fire front as the escalating conditions made firefighting in the bushland terrain impossible.<ref name="australian crews retreat">{{cite news|title=Fire crews forced to retreat|newspaper=The Australian|date=7 February 2009|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25020330-12377,00.html|access-date=22 February 2009}}{{Dead link|date=June 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The fire broke out of the park around 4:00&nbsp;pm, and by 6:00&nbsp;pm had burnt out {{convert|2400|ha|acre}} of forest and farmland, threatening the towns of ], ], ], ], ] and ], and embers were starting spot fires up to {{convert|20|km|mi|abbr=on}} to the south.<ref name="age inferno terrorises">{{cite news|author1=Egan, Carmel|author2=Holland, Steve|name-list-style=amp|title=Inferno terrorises communities as it rages out of control|newspaper=The Age|date=7 February 2009|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/inferno-terrorises-communities-as-it-rages-out-of-control-20090207-80fw.html|access-date=22 February 2009|location=Melbourne|archive-date=10 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210132444/http://www.theage.com.au/national/inferno-terrorises-communities-as-it-rages-out-of-control-20090207-80fw.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
	Investigators revealed that they strongly believed arson is the most likely cause of the Churchill fire.<ref name="TheAge"/> A man from Churchill was arrested by police at 4:00pm on 12 February, in relation to the Churchill fires, and was questioned at the Morwell police station, before being charged on 13 February with one count each of arson causing death, intentionally lighting a bushfire and possession of ].<ref name="age churchill arrest" /> On 16 February, a suppression order was lifted and the accused arsonist was named as Churchill resident Brendan Sokaluk, 39.<ref name="heraldsun churchill arsonist named">{{ cite news
	| title = Bushfire fatal arson accused named as Brendan Sokaluk
	| publisher = Herald-Sun
	| date = 2009-02-16
	| url = http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25060019-661,00.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-16 }}</ref>
			The fire destroyed approximately a dozen houses at Labertouche, Tonimbuk, and Drouin West,<ref name="weekly-times rain only hope">{{Cite news|last=White|first=Leslie|title=Rain the only fire hope|work=Weekly Times|date=11 February 2009|url=http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2009/02/11/51711_latest-news.html|access-date=22 February 2009|archive-date=21 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221034725/http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2009/02/11/51711_latest-news.html|url-status=live}}</ref> in addition to various outbuildings and a factory.<ref name="herald-sun towns alert">{{cite news|last=Wotherspoon|first=Sarah|title=Dozens of towns on high alert as strong winds fan flames|newspaper=Herald Sun|date=9 February 2009|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/towns-on-high-alert-as-winds-change/story-e6frf7jo-1111118796733|access-date=9 February 2009|archive-date=22 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322111824/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/towns-on-high-alert-as-winds-change/story-e6frf7jo-1111118796733|url-status=live}}</ref> The progress of the fire had been stopped by the afternoon of 9 February, though it had burned through {{convert|24500|ha|acre}}.<ref name="abc glance 9feb">{{Cite news|title=At a glance: fires of concern|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=9 February 2009|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/09/2485733.htm|access-date=9 February 2009|archive-date=10 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210122727/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/09/2485733.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> DSE crews conducted ] operations to ensure containment of the fire on 9 February, warning residents of areas between ] and ] about smoke from those fires.<ref name="herald-sun towns alert" />
	====Dandenong Ranges====
	] in ].]]
	]
	In ], a fire damaged the rail track and caused the closure of the ] as well as all major roads.<ref name="trains">{{cite web | title = Gippsland, Seymour & Warrnambool lines ~ Services suspended due to bushfires ~ Sun 8 Feb | publisher = V/Line | date = 2009-02-08 | url = http://www.vline.com.au/home/news/TodaysServiceChanges/361096156/Article.aspx | accessdate = 2009-02-08}}</ref> The fire, which was contained by CFA crews within three hours, burned at least {{convert|2|ha|acre|abbr=on}} along the railway.<ref name="herald-sun owners flee">{{cite news | title = Owners flee as fires gut homes| publisher = Herald Sun| date = 2009-02-08| url =http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25023951-662,00.html| accessdate = 2009-02-09 }}</ref>
			The fire was controlled and co-ordinated at the Pakenham ICC in the Combined Emergency Services building, with CFA and DSE personnel running the operation depending on where the fire was at the time. Pakenham VICSES, who shared the building, also provided assistance during the fire operation.
	In the southern Dandenong Ranges, bushfires ignited around ], one of which was caused by sparks from a power tool.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/bushfires-ravage-state/2009/02/07/1233423565321.html|title=Many may be trapped in homes|date=8 February 2009|work=Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=2009-02-08}}</ref> Six homes were destroyed in ] and three in ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://dandenong-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/bunyip-fires-continue/|title=Fire crews mop up after Narre Warren South blaze|date=8 February 2009|publisher=Dandenong Leader|accessdate=2009-02-08}}</ref>.
			]
	Fires were also started in bushland along Terrys Avenue in Belgrave (which was contained and extinguished thanks to a speedy response from the ]), and Lysterfield State Forest in ]; Among other things destroyed was the few days old ] Tanker 1 of the ].
	====Wilsons Promontory====		===Central Gippsland fires===
			The Central Gippsland bushfires began in a pine plantation {{convert|1|km|miles|abbr=on}} southeast of ] at about 1:30&nbsp;pm on the afternoon of 7 February.<ref name="latrobe-valley-express blaze claims lives">{{cite web|last=Jackson|first=Nicole|website=Latrobe Valley Express|title=Blaze claims lives|date=12 February 2009|url=http://latrobevalley.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/blaze-claims-lives/1428488.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212204101/http://latrobevalley.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/blaze-claims-lives/1428488.aspx|archive-date=12 February 2009|url-status=dead|access-date=30 September 2023}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=8 February 2009|title=Nine confirmed dead in Gippsland, fires still burning|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-02-08/nine-confirmed-dead-in-gippsland-fires-still/287424|access-date=17 July 2021|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|archive-date=2 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202065323/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-02-08/nine-confirmed-dead-in-gippsland-fires-still/287424|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web|date=July 2010|title=The Churchill Fire|url=http://www.royalcommission.vic.gov.au/commission-reports/final-report/volume-1/chapters/the-churchill-fire|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330051237/http://www.royalcommission.vic.gov.au/commission-reports/final-report/volume-1/chapters/the-churchill-fire|archive-date=30 March 2014|access-date=17 July 2021|website=2009 VBRC – Final Report – Vol 1|publisher=Victorian Government|via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Within 30 minutes it had spread to the southeast, threatening ], ], and ], and by late afternoon the fire was approaching ] and ] on the south Gippsland coast.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="latrobe-valley-express blaze claims lives" /> The cool change came through the area about 6:00&nbsp;pm, but the southwesterly winds it brought pushed the fire northeast through ], destroying 57 of its 61 homes.<ref name="Black Saturday">{{Cite book|last=McGourty|first=John|title=Black Saturday|publisher=Harper Collins|year=2009|isbn=978-0-7322-9010-8}}</ref> The fire continued on to ] and ],<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> and towards ] and ] on the ].<ref name="latrobe-valley-express blaze claims lives" /> About 500 evacuees from the area sheltered at an emergency centre established in a theatre in ].<ref name="latrobe-valley-express blaze claims lives" />
	On 8&nbsp;February lightning sparked a fire in ] which has as of the 17th burnt more than 110&nbsp;km² {{convert|11000|ha|acre|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/17/2493953.htm|title=Crews unable to slow Wilsons Promontory blaze|date=17 February 2009|work=ABC News|accessdate=2009-02-18}}</ref> This fire posed no immediate threat to campers but due to excessive fuel and inaccessibility authorities chose to evacuate the park, with some campers being evacuated by boat.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/09/2486078.htm?section=australia|title=Tidal River camping ground evacuated as fire spreads|date=9 February 2009|work=ABC News|accessdate=2009-02-10}}</ref>
			The fire threatened the ], particularly the station's ].<ref name="abc power secure">{{Cite news|title=Victoria's power 'secure but under threat'|publisher=] ABC News (Australian radio network)|date=8 February 2009|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/08/2485646.htm|access-date=9 February 2009|archive-date=11 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211150924/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/08/2485646.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> On the night of 7 February, the fire approached the mine's ] dump, but did not damage any infrastructure, nor did it affect the station's operations.<ref name="latrobe-valley-express loy yang alert">{{Cite news|title=Loy Yang on alert|newspaper=Latrobe Valley Express|date=9 February 2009|url=http://latrobevalley.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/loy-yang-on-alert/1428502.aspx|archive-url=https://archive.today/20110822020413/http://latrobevalley.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/loy-yang-on-alert/1428502.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 August 2011|access-date=9 February 2009}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> Several small fires broke out in the bunker storing raw coal from the mine, but were contained with no damage.<ref name="latrobe-valley-express loy yang alert" /> The threat eased by the evening of 8 February as temperatures cooled and some light rain fell. One small ] broke out to the south of the power station, but it was contained by water bombing aircraft.<ref name="abc power secure" />
	At a community meeting on 11 February, DSE and ] authorities revealed a plan to backburn across the entrance to the promontory, in order to prevent any possibility of the fire burning out of the park and into farmland and towards the towns of ] and ].<ref name="age park backburning debate">{{cite news
	| last = Millar
	| first = Royce
	| title = National park at forefront of backburning debate
	| publisher = The Age
	| date = 2009-02-12
	| url = http://www.theage.com.au/national/national-park-at-forefront-of-backburning-debate-20090212-85iy.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-16 }}
	</ref> ] reported that locals were divided on the merits of the plan, some concerned as to why the backburning had not been carried out earlier, and some worried at the large scale of the proposed burns, that were reportedly to be larger than both the existing fire and also the April 2005 fires that affected the park<ref name="crikey light up prom">{{cite news
	| last = Elmore
	| first = Lionel
	| title = Parks Victoria uses the fire crisis to light up the Prom again
	| publisher = Crikey
	| date = 2009-02-12
	| url = http://www.crikey.com.au/Bushfires/20090212-Parks-Victoria-use-the-fire-crisis-to-light-the-prom-again.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-16 }}
	</ref> Strong easterly winds on 12 February, however, forced authorities to postpone the proposed burns lest they themselves pose a danger to surrounding communities, though they did proceed with preparatory work.<ref name="abc winds force change">{{cite news
	| title = Winds force change to backburning plans
	| publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation
	| date = 2009-02-12
	| url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/12/2489694.htm
	| accessdate = 2009-02-16 }}
	</ref>.
			By 9 February, the ''Churchill fire complex'' was still burning out of control, with fronts through the ] and the ].<ref name="abc gippsland fires rage">{{Cite news|title=Gippsland fires continue to rage|publisher=]|date=9 February 2009|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/09/2485927.htm|access-date=9 February 2009|archive-date=11 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211161012/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/09/2485927.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> By late that afternoon, the complex had burnt out {{convert|32860|ha|acre}} and had killed eleven people.<ref name="geelong-addy loy yang">{{Cite news|title=Bushfire races towards Loy Yang power station|newspaper=]|date=9 February 2009|url=http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2009/02/09/49745_news.html|access-date=9 February 2009|archive-date=12 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212152755/http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2009/02/09/49745_news.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Wind changes that evening exacerbated parts of the Churchill complex, causing the CFA to issue further warnings to residents at ] and surrounding areas.<ref name="herald-sun shifting winds">{{cite news|title=Shifting winds flare up fire fronts|newspaper=]|date=9 February 2009|url=http://www.news.com.au/news/towns-under-attack-as-fires-rage/story-fna7dq6e-1111118800360|access-date=9 February 2009|archive-date=27 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131027115706/http://www.news.com.au/news/towns-under-attack-as-fires-rage/story-fna7dq6e-1111118800360|url-status=live}}</ref>
	As of 16 February, the fire had advanced to be 7.5&nbsp;km away from the park entrance, but was not threatening any towns.<ref name="herald-sun prepare mourning">{{cite news
	| title = Prepare for day of mourning
	| publisher = Herald Sun
	| date = 2009-02-16
	| url = http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25058821-661,00.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-16 }}
	</ref>.<br clear="right">
			Investigators revealed that they strongly believed arson was the most likely cause of the Churchill fire.<ref name="TheAge"/> A man from Churchill,<ref name="age churchill arrest" /> Brendan Sokaluk of Chuchill,<ref name=age-arsonist>{{cite news|last=Moses|first=Asher|title=Vigilantes publish alleged arsonist's image online|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2009/02/16/1234632703992.html|work=]|access-date=10 February 2011|date=16 February 2009|location=Melbourne|archive-date=16 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100116075502/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2009/02/16/1234632703992.html|url-status=live}}</ref> was arrested by police on 12 February and charged with one count each of arson causing death and intentionally lighting a bushfire.<ref name="age churchill arrest" /> He was convicted of 10 counts of arson causing death and sentenced to 17 years 9 months' imprisonment in April 2012.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-27/black-saturday-arsonist-sentenced-to-28holdholdhold29/3976564|title=Black Saturday arsonist jailed for almost 18 years|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|date=27 April 2012|access-date=10 March 2017|archive-date=14 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314053912/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-27/black-saturday-arsonist-sentenced-to-28holdholdhold29/3976564|url-status=live}}</ref>
	====Maroondah/Yarra complex====
	], on 10 February.]]
			To also be noted: Mirboo North, known as the Delburn bushfire was lit 7 February 2009. This fire stretch out toward Morwell, devastating the beautiful towns of Mirboo North, Darlimurla, Boolarra and Boolarra South.
	The Maroondah/Yarra complex was a combination of several fires that had earlier been burning to the east of ] and ] on 10 February, as part of the greater 'Kilmore-Murrindindi Complex South'.<ref name="age yarra valley threat">{{cite news
	| last = Smith
	| first = Britt
	| title = Fires threaten Yarra Valley
	| publisher = The Age
	| date = 2009-02-10
	| url = http://www.theage.com.au/national/fires-threaten-yarra-valley-20090210-82m1.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-10 }}
	</ref> By late that morning, the complex had burned out 5&nbsp;km² {{convert|505|ha|acre|abbr=on}}, with 184 personnel and 56 tankers responding to the fires.<ref name="age yarra valley threat" /> A CFA spokesperson said that while temperatures had cooled, strong winds were proving problematic, with towns in the area being threatened by ]s blown from the fires.<ref name="age yarra valley threat" /> Around midday, the immediate threat to property in the areas around Healesville was downgraded, though a DSE spokesperson said that residents should be mindful of localised changes in the weather.<ref name="age healesville threat downgraded">{{cite news
	| last = Grace
	| first = Robyn
	| title = Healesville fire threat downgraded
	| publisher = The Age
	| date = 2009-02-10
	| url = http://www.theage.com.au/national/healesville-fire-threat-downgraded-20090210-82ur.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-10 }}
	</ref>
	===West===		===Dandenong Ranges fire===
			] in ]]]
	====Horsham====
			]
	The ] fire burnt {{convert|5700|ha|acre|abbr=on}}, including the golf club and eight homes.<ref name="Age7Feb"/> The ] fire ] was also destroyed.<ref name="ABCHorsham">{{cite news
			In ] a fire damaged the rail track and caused the closure of the ], as well as all major roads.<ref name="trains">{{cite web|title=Gippsland, Seymour & Warrnambool lines ~ Services suspended due to bushfires ~ Sun 8 Feb|publisher=V/Line|date=8 February 2009|url=http://www.vline.com.au/home/news/TodaysServiceChanges/361096156/Article.aspx|access-date=8 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928175315/http://www.vline.com.au/home/news/TodaysServiceChanges/361096156/Article.aspx|archive-date=28 September 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> The fire, which was contained by CFA crews within three hours, burned at least {{convert|2|ha|acre|abbr=on}} along the railway.<ref name="herald-sun owners flee">{{cite news|title=Owners flee as fires gut homes|newspaper=Herald Sun|date=8 February 2009|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25023951-662,00.html|access-date=9 February 2009|archive-date=31 December 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121231003707/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/owners-flee-as-fires-gut-homes/story-e6frf7kx-1111118788735|url-status=live}}</ref>
	| url = http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2009/02/08/2485469.htm
	| title = Horsham assesses bushfire damage
	| work = ABC South East SA
	| publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation
	| date = 2009-02-08
	| accessdate = 2009-02-20}}</ref>
			In the southern Dandenong Ranges, bushfires ignited around ], one of which was caused by sparks from a power tool.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/bushfires-ravage-state/2009/02/07/1233423565321.html|title=Many may be trapped in homes|date=8 February 2009|work=]|access-date=8 February 2009|archive-date=11 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211094350/http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/bushfires-ravage-state/2009/02/07/1233423565321.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Six homes were destroyed in ] and three in ].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://dandenong-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/bunyip-fires-continue/|title=Fire crews mop up after Narre Warren South blaze|date=8 February 2009|publisher=Dandenong Leader|access-date=8 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706113405/http://dandenong-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/bunyip-fires-continue/|archive-date=6 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
	The fire was started at 12.30&nbsp;pm on 7 February when strong winds felled a power pole at ], west of the city,<ref name="herald-sun firing line">{{cite news
	| last = Thom
	| first = Greg
	| title = It's frightening in the firing line
	| publisher = Herald Sun
	| date = 2009-02-09
	| url = http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25025676-2862,00.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-09 }}
	</ref> before heading south-west and then south-east, across the ] and ] to the Horsham Golf Course and then to ], south of the city.<ref name="wimmera-mail-times latest report">{{cite news
	| title = Horsham fire: The latest report
	| publisher = Wimmera Mail-Times
	| date = 2009-02-08
	| url = http://wimmera.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/horsham-fire-the-latest-report/1427805.aspx
	| accessdate = 2009-02-08 }}
	</ref> Firefighters managed to save the general store, town hall and school at Haven, though flames came within metres of those buildings.<ref name="wimmera-mail-times haven saved">{{cite news
	| title = Haven school, hall, general store saved
	| publisher = Wimmera Mail-Times
	| date = 2009-02-07
	| url = http://wimmera.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/haven-school-hall-general-store-saved/1427514.aspx
	| accessdate = 2009-02-07 }}
	</ref> Winds of up to {{convert|90|km/h|abbr=on}}, that changed direction three times throughout the day, produced conditions described by the local CFA incident controller as the worst he had ever seen.<ref name="herald-sun firing line" /> To the south-west of Horsham, a ] driver collected his fare, an 82-year-old wheelchair-bound woman and her daughter, from her house as the fire was no more than {{convert|100|m|yd|abbr=on}} away; the house was alight as the taxi drove off, and burned down within minutes.<ref name="age molly cab">{{cite news
	| last = Flitton
	| first = Daniel
	| title = Molly flees the scene of 61 good years in a cab
	| publisher = The Age
	| date = 2009-02-09
	| url = http://www.theage.com.au/national/molly-flees-the-scene-of-61-good-years-in-a-cab-20090208-8117.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-09 }}
	</ref>
			In the weeks following Black Saturday, fires were started in bushland along Terrys Avenue in ] (which was quickly contained and extinguished by the CFA), and Lysterfield State Forest in ]. Amongst the damage was the almost new ] CFA Tanker 1.
	At 3&nbsp;pm more than 400 personnel were engaged in fighting the fire,<ref name="wimmera-mail-times latest report" /> as well as two water-bombing aircraft, 54 ] (CFA) tankers and 35 Department of Sustainability and the Environment (DSE) units.<ref name="wimmera-mail-times haven saved" /> By 6&nbsp;pm the front had moved east, and as the wind changed, was then pushed north-east across the ] to ], east of Horsham.<ref name="wimmera-mail-times latest report" />
	====Coleraine====		===Wilsons Promontory fire===
			On 8 February lightning sparked a fire in ] which burned more than {{convert|11000|ha|acre|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/17/2493953.htm|title=Crews unable to slow Wilsons Promontory blaze|date=17 February 2009|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|access-date=18 February 2009|archive-date=21 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221005908/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/17/2493953.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> This fire posed no immediate threat to campers, but due to excessive fuel and inaccessibility authorities chose to evacuate the park, with some campers being evacuated by boat.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/09/2486078.htm?section=australia|title=Tidal River camping ground evacuated as fire spreads|date=9 February 2009|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|access-date=10 February 2009|archive-date=17 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717094926/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-02-09/tidal-river-camping-ground-evacuated-as-fire/288950|url-status=live}}</ref>
	Near ], a fire started beside the ] around 12:30pm on 7 February, near the intersection with Balochile Road, 2&nbsp;km north-west of the township.<ref name="warrnambool-standard man badly burnt">{{cite news
	| last = Johnson
	| first = Alex
	| title = Man badly burnt when wind gust changes blaze direction
	| publisher = Warrnambool Standard
	| date = 2009-02-09
	| url = http://www.standard.net.au/news/local/news/general/man-badly-burnt-when-wind-gust-changes-blaze-direction/1427877.aspx
	| accessdate = 2009-02-17 }}
	</ref> The fire was started when power lines clashed and sparked.<ref name="warrnambool-standard pomborneit arsonist">{{cite news
	| last = Johnson
	| first = Alex
	| title = CFA suspects Pomborneit blaze was lit by an arsonist
	| publisher = Warrnambool Standard
	| date = 2009-02-12
	| url = http://www.standard.net.au/news/local/news/general/cfa-suspects-pomborneit-blaze-was-lit-by-an-arsonist/1431406.aspx
	| accessdate = 2009-02-17 }}
	</ref> Over 230 firefighters, with 43 appliances and two water bombing aircraft, worked to contain the fire which burnt {{convert|770|ha|acre|abbr=on}}.<ref name="warrnambool-standard man badly burnt" /> The fire destroyed one house and a hayshed, as well as injuring livestock, but firefighters were able to save six other homes, including that of the parents of ] ].<ref name="warrnambool-standard man badly burnt" /> The fire threatened to burn through the township, but a wind change around 2pm pushed the fire to the north-east instead.<ref name="border-watch coleraine saved">{{cite news
	| title = Coleraine saved from fire devastation
	| publisher = The Border Watch
	| date = 2009-02-09
	| url = http://www.borderwatch.com.au/archives/2307
	| accessdate = 2009-02-17 }}
	</ref> The regional CFA operations officer said of the wind change that "ll that happened within about an hour and we were lucky; we thought it would go through Coleraine, but it headed off at the last minute."<ref name="border-watch coleraine saved" /> At about 6pm the fire was controlled.<ref name="border-watch coleraine saved" />
			At a community meeting on 11 February, DSE and ] authorities revealed a plan to back-burn across the entrance to the promontory, in order to prevent any possibility of the fire burning out of the park and into farmland and towards the towns of ] and ].<ref name="age park backburning debate">{{cite news|last=Millar|first=Royce|title=National park at forefront of backburning debate|newspaper=The Age|date=12 February 2009|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/national-park-at-forefront-of-backburning-debate-20090212-85iy.html|access-date=16 February 2009|location=Melbourne|archive-date=15 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215202216/http://www.theage.com.au/national/national-park-at-forefront-of-backburning-debate-20090212-85iy.html|url-status=live}}</ref> ] reported that locals were divided on the merits of the plan, some concerned as to why the back-burning had not been carried out earlier, and some worried at the large scale of the proposed burns, which were reported to be larger than both the existing fire as well as the April 2005 fires that affected the park<ref name="crikey light up prom">{{cite magazine|last=Elmore|first=Lionel|title=Parks Victoria uses the fire crisis to light up the Prom again|magazine=Crikey|date=12 February 2009|url=http://www.crikey.com.au/Bushfires/20090212-Parks-Victoria-use-the-fire-crisis-to-light-the-prom-again.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121230111835/http://www.crikey.com.au/Bushfires/20090212-Parks-Victoria-use-the-fire-crisis-to-light-the-prom-again.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 December 2012|access-date=16 February 2009}}</ref> Strong easterly winds on 12 February forced authorities to postpone the proposed burns lest they themselves pose a danger to surrounding communities, though they did proceed with preparatory work.<ref name="abc winds force change">{{Cite news|title=Winds force change to backburning plans|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=12 February 2009|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/12/2489694.htm|access-date=16 February 2009|archive-date=15 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215222633/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/12/2489694.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
	A local man was badly burned while helping a farmer move livestock out of harms way; the man was caught when the same wind change that saved the town pushed the fire in his direction, and suffered burns to 50% of his body.<ref name="warrnambool-standard man badly burnt" /> As of 12 February, the man remained in ] in a critical condition.<ref name="warrnambool-standard pomborneit arsonist" />
	====Weerite====		===Maroondah/Yarra fires===
			], on 10 February]]
	At ], east of ], a fire burnt {{convert|1300|ha|acre|abbr=on}}, and damaged the rail line between ] and ].<ref name="raildamage">{{cite web|url=http://www.vline.com.au/media/news/MediaReleases/167160954/Article.aspx|title=Urgent travel advice - Train disruptions to continue on Sunday due to bush fires|work=VLine|publisher=VLine|accessdate=2009-02-08}}</ref> Approximately 3000 sleepers were burnt across a {{convert|4|km|mi|adj=on}} section of track.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/10/2487383.htm?site=southwestvic|title=Rail services to get back on track|work=]|accessdate=2009-02-11}}</ref> The rail line was re-opened by Monday 16&nbsp;February.<ref name="vline-reopenings">{{cite web|url=http://www.vline.com.au/home/news/TodaysServiceChanges/1619813874/Article.aspx|title=Warrnambool services - Full train service has returned|work=]|accessdate=2009-02-17}}</ref>
			The ''Maroondah/Yarra complex'' was a combination of several fires that had earlier been burning to the east of ] and ] on 10 February, as part of the greater Kilmore East&nbsp;– Murrindindi complex south.<ref name="age yarra valley threat">{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Britt|title=Fires threaten Yarra Valley|newspaper=The Age|date=10 February 2009|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/fires-threaten-yarra-valley-20090210-82m1.html|access-date=10 February 2009|location=Melbourne|archive-date=12 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212063639/http://www.theage.com.au/national/fires-threaten-yarra-valley-20090210-82m1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> By late that morning, the complex had burned out {{convert|505|ha|acre}}, with 184 personnel and 56 tankers responding to the fires.<ref name="age yarra valley threat" /> A CFA spokesperson said that while temperatures had cooled, strong winds were proving problematic, with towns in the area being threatened by ]s blown from the fires.<ref name="age yarra valley threat" /> Around midday, the immediate threat to property in the areas around Healesville was downgraded, though a DSE spokesperson said that residents should be mindful of localised changes in the weather.<ref name="age healesville threat downgraded">{{cite news|last=Grace|first=Robyn|title=Healesville fire threat downgraded|newspaper=The Age|date=10 February 2009|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/healesville-fire-threat-downgraded-20090210-82ur.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121230215716/http://www.theage.com.au/national/healesville-fire-threat-downgraded-20090210-82ur.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 December 2012|access-date=10 February 2009|location=Melbourne}}</ref>
			===Horsham fire===
	The fire caused unquantified losses of stock, and destroyed several outbuildings, but all houses under threat were saved by CFA firefighters.<ref name="warrnambool-standard pombo fire">{{cite news
			The ] fire burnt {{convert|5700|ha|acre|abbr=on}}, including the golf club and eight homes.<ref name="Age7Feb"/> Two firefighters from the ] brigade narrowly escaped when their ] was engulfed by fire.<ref name="ABCHorsham">{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2009/02/08/2485469.htm|title=Horsham assesses bushfire damage|work=ABC South East SA|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=8 February 2009|access-date=20 February 2009|archive-date=8 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108210447/http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2009/02/08/2485469.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
	| title = BREAKING NEWS: Fire races through Pombo
	| publisher = Warrnambool Standard
	| date = 2009-02-08
	| url = http://www.standard.net.au/news/local/news/general/breaking-news-fire-races-through-pombo/1427768.aspx
	| accessdate = 2009-02-08 }}
	</ref> The fire is thought to have been started by sparking felled power lines along the ], which carried restricted speeds for a short time due to the heavy smoke in the area.<ref name="vicroads closures">{{cite web|url=http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/NewsRoom/BushFiresRoadClosures/|title=Bush Fires - Road Closures: VicRoads|work=VicRoads|publisher=VicRoads|accessdate=2009-02-09}}</ref>
			The fire was ignited at 12:30&nbsp;pm on 7 February when strong winds initiated the failure of a 40-year-old tie wire, felling a power line at Remlaw, west of the city.<ref name="herald-sun firing line">{{cite news|last=Thom|first=Greg|title=It's frightening in the firing line|newspaper=Herald Sun|date=9 February 2009|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25025676-2862,00.html|access-date=9 February 2009|archive-date=30 December 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121230180027/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/its-frightening-in-the-firing-line/story-e6frf7kx-1111118793625|url-status=live}}</ref> The fire spread southwest and then southeast, across the ] and ], to the Horsham Golf Course, and then to ], south of the city.<ref name="wimmera-mail-times latest report">{{Cite news|title=Horsham fire: The latest report|publisher=Wimmera Mail-Times|date=8 February 2009|url=http://wimmera.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/horsham-fire-the-latest-report/1427805.aspx|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121231084331/http://wimmera.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/horsham-fire-the-latest-report/1427805.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=31 December 2012|access-date=8 February 2009}}</ref> Firefighters managed to save the general store, town hall and school at Haven, though flames came within metres of those buildings.<ref name="wimmera-mail-times haven saved">{{Cite news|title=Haven school, hall, general store saved|publisher=Wimmera Mail-Times|date=7 February 2009|url=http://wimmera.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/haven-school-hall-general-store-saved/1427514.aspx|access-date=7 February 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211152700/http://wimmera.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/haven-school-hall-general-store-saved/1427514.aspx|archive-date=11 February 2009}}</ref> Winds of up to {{convert|90|km/h|abbr=on}} changed direction three times throughout the day, producing conditions described by the local CFA incident controller as the worst he had ever seen.<ref name="herald-sun firing line" /> To the southwest of Horsham an 82-year-old woman in a wheelchair and her daughter were collected from her house by a taxi when the fire was no more than {{convert|100|m|yd|abbr=on}} away; the house was alight as the taxi drove off, and burned down within minutes.<ref name="age molly cab">{{cite news|last=Flitton|first=Daniel|title=Molly flees the scene of 61 good years in a cab|newspaper=The Age|date=9 February 2009|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/molly-flees-the-scene-of-61-good-years-in-a-cab-20090208-8117.html|access-date=9 February 2009|location=Melbourne|archive-date=11 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211142417/http://www.theage.com.au/national/molly-flees-the-scene-of-61-good-years-in-a-cab-20090208-8117.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
	==Responses==
	===Government===
	] ] ] joined United States ] ] at a ceremony Thursday where ] ] thanked United States wildland firefighters for their assistance during recent devastating fires in the State of Victoria, Australia.]]
	While the ] was suspended due to the emergency,<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/09/2486004.htm| title=Parliament on hold as Rudd tours devastated Victoria| date=9 February 2009|work=ABC News| publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation| accessdate=2009-02-09}}</ref> the ] continued to address the disaster. The ], ], accepted an offer from the ], ], to advise the ] to dispatch members of the ] to provide assistance in that state. Rudd described the bushfires as an "appalling tragedy for Victoria," saying "Hell and all its fury has visited the good people of Victoria in the last 24 hours."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=744898|title=Hell's fury unleashed on Victoria: Rudd|publisher=Ninemsn|accessdate=2009-02-08}}</ref>
	]{{ndash}} ] of all ]s, including Australia{{ndash}} made a donation to the Australian Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Fund,<ref>{{cite news| title=Queen to make donation for Australia fire victims| url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hps5eo8YRb2okqHIOq5MBnCpPQHA| accessdate=2009-02-11}}</ref> and stated that she "was shocked and saddened to learn of the terrible toll being exacted by the fires this weekend," and sent "heartfelt condolences to the families of all those who have died and... deep sympathy to the many that have lost their homes in this disaster," as well as expressing admiration for the firefighters and other emergency personnel.<ref>{{Citation| last=Tortaro| first=Paola| title=Queen's shock over bushfire deaths| newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald| year=2009| date=9 February| url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/queens-shock-over-bushfire-deaths/2009/02/09/1234027895151.html| accessdate=9 February 2009}}</ref> Similarly, her son and heir to the Australian throne, ], stated at a reception he hosted for the ]: "Both my wife and I were so horrified along with so many other people in this country by the extent of the bush fires because I know every year Australia suffers from dreadful events, but this year somehow it's even more dreadful... We just wanted people to know how deeply we feel for all those families who have suffered so terribly... The sheer extent of the horrors is hard to comprehend I think to people who don't live in Australia or know Australia."<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/newsandgallery/news/the_prince_holds_a_reception_for_the_royal_flying_doctor_ser_1808679525.html| title=The Prince of Wales > News and Gallery > News > The Prince holds a reception for The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia| publisher=Clarence House| date=13 January 2009| accessdate=17 January 2009}}</ref> It was then announced on 18 February that ], would represent the Queen at a memorial service to be held in the ] in ], and to tour some of the areas affected by the fires.<ref>{{cite press release| title=Princess to attend memorial service| publisher=Press Association| date=18 February 2009| url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5gyBlqyxQfs1dciWKG6CM2jo_ARAQ| accessdate=20 February 2009}}</ref>
	] Party leader ] told Sky News, that " are a sobering reminder of the need for and the whole world to act and put at a priority the need to tackle climate change,"<ref name=BryanWalshTime>{{cite news | last = Walsh | first = Bryan | title = Why Global Warming May Be Fueling Australia's Fires | publisher = Time | date = 2009-02-09 | url = http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1878220,00.html?imw=Y | accessdate = 2009-02-12}}</ref> and Chief Commissioner of the Victoria Police, ], who was due to retire in March 2009, announced on 10 February that she would be stepping down early in order to lead a state government committee charged with rebuilding the fire-affected areas.<ref name="age nixon taskforce">{{cite news| last=Silvester| first=John| title=Nixon stands down to head up bushfire taskforce| publisher=The Age| date=10 February 2009| url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/nixon-stands-down-to-head-up-bushfire-taskforce-20090210-82sb.html| accessdate=10 February 2009}}</ref>
	===Fire fighting===
	<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: ] on February 8]] -->
	More than 4,000 firefighters from the ] (CFA)<ref name="reuters 4000">{{cite news| last=Perry| first=Michael| title=Australia bushfire toll 181 and rising, arson probe| publisher=Reuters| date=10 February 2009| url=http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE5171EI20090210| accessdate=11 February 2009}}</ref>{{ndash}} which is primarily responsible for fires on private property{{ndash}} and the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE){{ndash}} primarily responsible for fires on public land{{ndash}} have worked to battle the fires. These groups were assisted by the military aid offered by the Commonwealth ], and the firefighters sent not only by the states of NSW, South Australia, ACT, Tasmania, and Western Australia,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/09/2485856.htm|title=NSW offers more support to Victoria|work=ABC News|accessdate=2009-02-11}}</ref> but also from firefighting personnel from ],<ref>{{cite news| title=Bushfire death toll set to double as police seek 'mass murderers'| work=New Zealand Herald| date=2009-02-08| url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10555734| accessdate=2009-02-08}}</ref> the latter being limited in number by the extreme fire risk that was concurrent in parts of New Zealand.<ref>{{cite news| title=Local fire risk looms over aid | work=New Zealand Herald| date=2009-02-10| url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10555874| accessdate=2009-02-12}}</ref>. The ]. (MFB) who are primarily responsible for the Melbourne metropolitan area, also sent firefighters and support staff to aid in the effort.<ref>http://www.mfb.vic.gov.au/News/MFB-response-to-Black-Saturday-.html</ref>
	===Aid efforts===
	{{Rewrite|section=yes|date=May 2009}}
	{{seealso|2009 Victorian bushfire donations}}
	Humanitarian responses to the fires came quickly from government, businesses, individuals and aid agencies, including direct relief efforts as well as fundraising.
	The Victorian Government's Department of Human Services offered immediate assistance of up to $1,067 for affected people.<ref>{{cite web | title = Financial assistance | work = Victorian Government | publisher = Department of Human Services | url = http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/emergency/current-events/bushfire/financial-assistance | accessdate = 2009-02-09}}</ref> The ] announced a $10 million package of emergency assistance, available from 9&nbsp;February, providing $1,000 per adult and $400 per child for those who had been hospitalised with injuries or who had lost their homes.<ref name="abc fed govt package">{{cite news | title = Federal Government $10&nbsp;m bushfire assistance package | work = ABC Rural | publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date = 2009-02-09 | url = http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/200902/s2485841.htm | accessdate = 2009-02-09 }}</ref>
	The bushfire appeal raised more than $372 million in total.<ref>{{cite web
	| url = http://www.premier.vic.gov.au
	| title=Premier's Department
	| work=Victorian Government
	| date= 2009-06-25
	| accessdate=2009-06-29}}</ref> The appeal by the ] raised over $315 million.<ref>, ''Red Cross'', April 17, 2009</ref> The Red Cross Blood Service received 6,000 offers of ]s on the morning of 9&nbsp;February alone.<ref name="canberra-times blood bank overwhelmed">{{cite news
	| last = Smith
	| first = Bridie
	| title = Blood bank overwhelmed by donors
	| publisher = Canberra Times
	| date = 2009-02-10
	| url = http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/national/national/general/blood-bank-overwhelmed-by-donors/1429129.aspx
	| accessdate = 2009-02-10 }}
	</ref> ] appeal raised $17.5 million.<ref>, ''Salvation Army''</ref>
	Major banks ], ], the ] and ] each announced $1 million in donations for fire victims.<ref name="smh business pledges">{{cite news
	| last = Westerman
	| first = Helen
	| title = Business pledges help for Victorian bushfire victims
	| publisher = Sydney Morning Herald
	| date = 2009-02-09
	| url = http://smallbusiness.smh.com.au/managing/management/business-pledges-help-for-victorian-bushfire-victims-912401582.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-09 }}
	</ref> ], Australia's largest telecommunications company, donated $500,000 and pledged to match employee donations to the value of $250,000, bringing the total to over $1 million.<ref name="The Age Fires and floods damage Telstra network">{{cite news
	| title = Fires and floods damage Telstra network
	| publisher = The Age
	| date = 2009-02-10
	| url = http://www.theage.com.au/news/home/technology/fires-and-floods-damage-telstra-network/2009/02/10/1234028017340.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-10 }}
	</ref> Telstra also provided free telephone diversions to those affected and offered free local and mobile calls on selected public phone boxes in bushfire areas.<ref name="Business Spectator Telstra Restores Services">{{cite news
	| title = Telstra restores services cut off by bushfires
	| publisher = Business Spectator
	| date = 2009-02-10
	| url = http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Telstra-restores-services-cut-off-by-bushfires-$pd20090210-P56V9?OpenDocument
	| accessdate = 2009-02-10 }}
	</ref> ] donated $2 million.<ref>, ''news.com.au'', February 10, 2009</ref>
	] donated $635,000 to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal, along with donations from employees to be matched from the BP Foundation. BP has offered free food and drinks to emergency service personnel.
	<ref>{{cite news
	| title = BP Australia's Response to the Victorian Bushfires
	| publisher = BP Australia Ltd
	| date = 2009-02
	| url = http://www.bp.com/sectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=9028149&contentId=7051182
	| accessdate = 2009-02 }}</ref>
	] donated $200,000 to be distributed as either cash or fuel. Caltex also stated that they will match dollar for dollar, all contributions to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal made by Caltex employees.
	<ref>{{cite news
	| title = Caltex pledges support to Victoria
	| publisher = Caltex
	| date = 2009-02-11
	| url = http://www.caltex.com.au/about_news_detail.asp?id=1105
	| accessdate = 2009-02-11 }}
	</ref>
	] donated $1 million.<ref name="woolworths bank pledge">{{cite news
	| title = Woolworths donate money for bushfire victims
	| publisher = RetailBiz
	| date = 2009-02-11
	| url = http://www.retailbiz.com.au/news/article/SCAQMBSRSF.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-11 }}
	</ref>
	] donated $500,000. Their supermarket division, ], donated profits from all stores on Friday 13 February while ], their discount department store chain, donated $100,000 to ].<ref>{{cite web
	| title = News: Victorian Bushfires
	| work = Wesfarmers press release
	| publisher = Wesfarmers Limited
	| url = http://www.wesfarmers.com.au/getfile.aspx?Type=document&ID=35184&ObjectType=3&ObjectID=3230
	| accessdate = 2009-02-10}}
	</ref>
	] used a match scheduled for 10 February between Australia and New Zealand to raise money for fire victims.<ref name="cricinfo ca raises money">{{cite news
	| last = Brown
	| first = Alex
	| title = Cricket Australia raises money for bushfire victims
	| publisher = Cricinfo
	| date = 2009-02-08
	| url = http://content-www.cricinfo.com/australia/content/story/389798.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-09 }}
	</ref> ] and ] raised money from a Twenty20 Cricket match at the SCG between the Waugh XI and the Taylor XI.<ref>Maria Tsialis, , ''Sydney Morning Herald'', February 21, 2009</ref> The ] moved the ] match on 13 February between ] and ] from ] to Melbourne as a bushfire appeal match.<ref name="afl bushfire appeal match">{{cite news
	| last = Burgan
	| first = Matt
	| title = Dogs, Dons to play match for bushfire victims
	| publisher = Australian Football League
	| date = 2009-02-09
	| url = http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/default.aspx?newsid=71899
	| accessdate = 2009-02-10 }}
	</ref><ref name="afl-match-results">{{cite news
	| last = Vaughan
	| first = Roger
	| title = AFL stages bushfire benefit game
	| publisher = Sydney Morning Herald
	| date = 2009-02-13
	| url = http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sport/afl-stages-bushfire-benefit-game-20090213-8770.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-14 }}
	</ref> ] Australia donated $100,000 and the use of their main transporter as a communications centre and command post for the duration of the crisis.<ref name="v8sa-donation">{{cite news
	| title = V8SA give $100,000 to Bushfire Appeal
	| publisher = V8 Supercars Australia
	| date = 2009-02-10
	| url = http://www.v8supercars.com.au/content/hero_news/february09/v8sa_give_100000_to_bushfire_appeal_/
	| accessdate = 2009-02-13 }}
	</ref> ] donated $100,000 to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal and will provide replacement football (soccer) equipment to Victorian schools and junior clubs affected by the disaster.<ref name="FFA make bushfire relief pledge">{{cite news
	| title = FFA make bushfire relief pledge
	| publisher = AAP
	| date = 2009-02-08
	| url = http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/australia/ffa-make-bushfire-relief-pledge-171833/
	| accessdate = 2009-02-09 }}
	</ref>
	On 12 February, the ] held a telethon to benefit the victims of the bushfires, through the ]. Titled ''Australia Unites - The Victorian Bushfire Appeal'', the event was hosted by Nine Network personality ], and accompanied by many celebrities, athletes and entertainers,<ref></ref> raising about A$20.5 million. <ref></ref>
	On March 14, a charity concert '']'' was held simultaneously in Melbourne and Sydney with ticket sales exceeding $8.8 million. Some funds also went to aid those affected by floods in Queensland.<ref>, ''ABC News'', March 17, 2009</ref><ref>, ''ABC News'', March 14, 2009</ref>
	====Aid for injured wildlife====
	As a result of the bushfires, many hundreds of burnt animals required care in wildlife centres across Victoria. Additionally, six wildlife care centres were destroyed by the bushfires. Wildlife Victoria requested help to treat and feed the animals through the Wildlife Victoria Bushfire Appeal.<ref></ref> The National Parks and Wildlife Service also requested donations be made for burnt and injured wildlife.<ref></ref>
	====Aid for local business====
	] has provided over 120 accountants to assist with business recovery efforts. Working through ], they will help to reconstruct lost financial records and reestablish businesses in communities affected by the bushfires.<ref>{{cite news|last=Davis|first=Bronwyn|title=Starting over|work=INTHEBLACK|volume=79|issue=4|date=May 2009|pages=26-29|url=http://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/cps/rde/xchg/SID-3F57FECB-405C2C40/cpa/hs.xsl/724_32008_ENA_HTML.htm|accessdate=2009-05-23}}</ref>
	===Media and community action===
	].]]
	Australian national flags were lowered to half-mast in remembrance of the victims, and members of the Australian parliament gave speeches and observed a moment of silence, while Roman Catholic Archbishop Philip Wilson of Adelaide pledged that Saint Vincent de Paul and other Catholic aid organisations would offer assistance, and offered prayers and condolences on behalf of the Australian Catholic conference of bishops. Pope Benedict XVI, through his Secretary of State, ], offered assistance and assurance of prayers and spiritual support to the Governor General.
	At the same time, from 7 February onwards, all major Australian television channels increased their nightly bulletin times to cover the fires in more detail, such as ] in Victoria, which postponed programs to relay up to the minute news of the fires,{{cite}} and the ] set up a message board where people could offer or request help, which was inundated with replies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.abc.net.au/victoria/2009/02/offer-help---or.html?program=melbourne_bushfires|title=ABC Melbourne: Offer help}}</ref> Similarly, several organisations and individuals used the microblogging service ] to post updates on the developing situation, using a conversion of the Country Fire Authority's RSS stream and the local emergency radio station.
	The ] has become a symbol of support for the emergency services involved in the disaster. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,25053649-2761,00.html|title=Collect your free yellow ribbon to honour fire heroes|publisher=The Sunday Times|accessdate=22 February 2009}}</ref>
			At 3:00&nbsp;pm more than 400 personnel were engaged in fighting the fire,<ref name="wimmera-mail-times latest report" /> as well as two water-bombing aircraft, 54 CFA tankers, and 35 DSE units.<ref name="wimmera-mail-times haven saved" /> By 6:00&nbsp;pm the front had moved east, and a wind change then pushed it northeast across the ] to ], east of Horsham.<ref name="wimmera-mail-times latest report" />
	On the 2nd of March, in anticipation and to create awareness of the extreme bushfire weather conditions predicted for the following days, many residents around Victoria received a text message that read: ''Msg from Vic Police:Extreme weather in Vic expected Mon night & Tues.High wind & fire risk.Listen to local ABC Radio for emergency updates.Do not reply to this''. The message was sent to around 5 million phones throughout Victoria and Tasmania.<ref>, ''ABC News'', March 3, 2009</ref>{{fact|date=May 2009|reason=is it 5 million or 1.5 million? sources differ.}}
	===International reaction===		===Coleraine fire===
			Shortly before 12:30&nbsp;pm on 7 February 2009 a fire started on farmland, {{convert|5|km|mi|abbr=on}} northwest of ] in western Victoria.<ref name="SUBM-202-006-0001">{{cite web|title=Counsel Assisting submission re Coleraine fire|publisher=2009 Bushfires Royal Commission|date=23 December 2009|url=http://www.royalcommission.vic.gov.au/getdoc/2d57334a-d7a3-41fd-a469-04891009875e/SUBM-202-006-0001|access-date=14 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110314181415/http://www.royalcommission.vic.gov.au/getdoc/2d57334a-d7a3-41fd-a469-04891009875e/SUBM-202-006-0001|archive-date=14 March 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> In gusting winds, a corroded tie wire holding a 48-year-old ] (SWER) conductor to an insulator failed due to metal fatigue.<ref name="SUBM-202-006-0001" /> The insulator was atop Pole 3 {{Coord|37|34|51.7|S|141|38|28.8|E|display=inline|type:event}} on the 12,700-volt Colfitz North spur line. The galvanised steel conductor swung free in the wind, suspended by poles 2 and 4, a span of {{convert|540|m|ft|abbr=on}}. It is not believed to have touched the ground, but was pushed into a nearby ] tree by the strong prevailing wind.
	See '']''
			Burning gumleaves fell to the ground and ignited grass, from which the fire grew extremely rapidly in the hot, dry and windy conditions.<ref name="SUBM-202-006-0001" /> Over 230 firefighters, with 43 appliances and two water bombing aircraft, worked to contain the fire which burnt {{convert|770|ha|acre|abbr=on}}.<ref name="warrnambool-standard man badly burnt">{{Cite news|last=Johnson|first=Alex|title=Man badly burnt when wind gust changes blaze direction|work=Warrnambool Standard|date=9 February 2009|url=http://www.standard.net.au/news/local/news/general/man-badly-burnt-when-wind-gust-changes-blaze-direction/1427877.aspx|access-date=17 February 2009|archive-date=22 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091022222401/http://www.standard.net.au/news/local/news/general/man-badly-burnt-when-wind-gust-changes-blaze-direction/1427877.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> The fire destroyed one house, two haysheds, three tractors, the Coleraine Avenue of Honour, and {{convert|200|km|mi|abbr=on}} of fences,<ref name="SUBM-202-006-0001" /> as well as injuring livestock, but firefighters were able to save six other homes, including that of the parents of ] ].<ref name="warrnambool-standard man badly burnt" />
	===Other emergency organisations' responses===
	====St John Ambulance====
	] were involved from two weeks before and many weeks after 'Black Saturday' providing first aid services to other emergency service personnel involved and local residents. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stjohn.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=332&Itemid=999999|title=Victoria's Bushfires Disaster 2009 - St John Ambulance Volunteer Appeal |publisher=St John Ambulance Australia|accessdate=19 April 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/news/opinion/letters/general/response-to-bushfires-engenders-great-pride/1458912.aspx|title=Response to bushfires engenders great pride |publisher=Bendigo Advertiser|accessdate=19 April 2009}}</ref>.
			The fire threatened to burn through the township, but a wind change around 2:00&nbsp;pm pushed the fire to the northeast instead.<ref name="border-watch coleraine saved">{{Cite news|title=Coleraine saved from fire devastation|publisher=The Border Watch|date=9 February 2009|url=http://www.borderwatch.com.au/archives/2307|access-date=17 February 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212123437/http://www.borderwatch.com.au/archives/2307|archive-date=12 February 2009}}</ref> The regional CFA operations officer said of the wind change that "ll that happened within about an hour and we were lucky; we thought it would go through Coleraine, but it headed off at the last minute."<ref name="border-watch coleraine saved" /> At about 6:00&nbsp;pm the fire was controlled.<ref name="border-watch coleraine saved" />
	St John volunteers were also sent by their various state commands to join the Victorian volunteers who were already assisting. These included:
	*Over 50 members and two emergency management teams from ] <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/12/2489724.htm|title=SA ambulance volunteers head to Victoria |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=19 April 2009}}</ref>
	*Five members to assist in manning the Victorian Headquarters from the ] <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stjohnnt.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=162:nt-st-john-volunteers-to-assist-the-victorian-bushfire-effort&catid=37:media-releases&Itemid=271|title=NT St John Volunteers to Assist the Victorian Bushfire Effort |publisher=St John Ambulance Australia|accessdate=19 April 2009}}</ref>
			A local man was badly burned while helping a farmer move livestock out of harm's way; the man was caught when the same wind change that saved the town pushed the fire in his direction, and he suffered burns to 50% of his body,<ref name="warrnambool-standard man badly burnt" /> but recovered.<ref name="smeets">{{Cite news|title=Bushfire burns victim takes first steps in recovery|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=9 March 2009|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/09/2510820.htm|access-date=14 February 2010|archive-date=17 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717094927/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-03-09/bushfire-burns-victim-takes-first-steps-in-recovery/1612584|url-status=live}}</ref>
	Multiple first aid posts were set up across the bushfire-affected areas, mainly at fire-staging grounds where services could be provided to ] firefighters and other personnel involved <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stjohn.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=333&Itemid=999999|title=Victoria's Bushfire - Message from the Chancellor |publisher=St John Ambulance Australia|accessdate=19 April 2009}}</ref>.
			===Weerite fire===
	By the 8th February, St John were operating 16 first aid posts and were represented at the Integrated Fire Coordination Centre (IFCC) and 3 Incident Control Centres (ICCs). Around 300 Victorian members were deployed <ref name="St John Ambulance Australia">{{cite web|url=http://www.stjohn.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=38&Itemid=52|title=St John Ambulance Australia responds to the Victorian fires |publisher=St John Ambulance Australia|accessdate=24 April 2009}}</ref>.
			At ], east of ], a fire burnt {{convert|1300|ha|acre|abbr=on}}, and damaged the rail line between ] and ].<ref name="raildamage">{{cite web|url=http://www.vline.com.au/media/news/MediaReleases/167160954/Article.aspx|title=Urgent travel advice – Train disruptions to continue on Sunday due to bush fires|work=VLine|access-date=8 February 2009|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121231080137/http://www.vline.com.au/media/news/MediaReleases/167160954/Article.aspx|archive-date=31 December 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Approximately 3,000 sleepers were burnt across a {{convert|4|km|mi|abbr=on}} section of track.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/10/2487383.htm?site=southwestvic|title=Rail services to get back on track|publisher=]|access-date=11 February 2009|date=10 February 2009|archive-date=12 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112115111/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/10/2487383.htm?site=southwestvic|url-status=live}}</ref> The rail line was re-opened by 16 February.<ref name="vline-reopenings">{{cite web|url=http://www.vline.com.au/home/news/TodaysServiceChanges/1619813874/Article.aspx|title=Warrnambool services – Full train service has returned|work=]|access-date=17 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314012913/http://www.vline.com.au/home/news/TodaysServiceChanges/1619813874/Article.aspx|archive-date=14 March 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
	. It was also the largest national deployment to a disaster in Australia by St John Ambulance <ref name="St John Ambulance Australia"/>.
			The fire caused unquantified losses of stock, and destroyed several outbuildings, but all houses under threat were saved by CFA firefighters.<ref name="warrnambool-standard pombo fire">{{Cite news|title=Breaking News: Fire races through Pombo|work=Warrnambool Standard|date=8 February 2009|url=http://www.standard.net.au/news/local/news/general/breaking-news-fire-races-through-pombo/1427768.aspx|access-date=8 February 2009|archive-date=12 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212190204/http://www.standard.net.au/news/local/news/general/breaking-news-fire-races-through-pombo/1427768.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> The fire is thought to have been started by sparking from felled power lines along the ], which carried restricted speeds for a short time due to the heavy smoke in the area.<ref name="vicroads closures">{{cite web|url=http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/NewsRoom/BushFiresRoadClosures/|title=Bush Fires – Road Closures: VicRoads|work=VicRoads|access-date=9 February 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090516031620/http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/NewsRoom/BushFiresRoadClosures/|archive-date=16 May 2009}}</ref>
	===Amateur Radio - Wireless Institute Civil and Emergency Network (WICEN)===
	] operators from WICEN Victoria (see also ]) were activated for the emergency and the aftermath until ], with assistance from other WICEN juridictions (NSW, ACT, SA), providing communications on Amateur Radio frequencies and also acting as radio operators for other agencies.<ref>, WICEN Vic, accessed ]</ref>
	==Investigations==		==Investigations==
			]
	Investigations began almost immediately following the fires to identify victims, and by 10&nbsp;February the ] were engaged in investigating the origin of the fires and people who might have started them.<ref name="australian police track arsonists">{{cite news
			]
	| authors = Callick, Rowan & Akerman, Pia
			]
	| title = Police track arsonists responsible for Victoria bushfires
			]
	| publisher = The Australian
			Investigations began almost immediately following the fires to determine a wide variety of things, including identification of victims, cause of ignition sources, and assessments of authority responses. A ] into the Black Saturday bushfires was conducted, a process that was intended to determine the true nature of the background causes, preparation of responsible agencies, circumstances on the day, chronology, and impacts of the events in question.
	| date = 2009-02-10
	| url = http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25032884-2702,00.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-10 }}
	</ref>
	===Forensic===		===Forensic===
	Chief Commissioner of the Victoria Police, ], formed a taskforce to assist in identifying victims, coordinated by Inspector Greg Hough.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/emotional-premier-gives-fire-warning-20090208-80n3.html|title=Emotional Premier gives fire warning|last=Moncrieff|first=Mark|date=8 February 2009|work=The Age|accessdate=2009-02-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25031605-662,00.html |title=Months to identify bodies in Victorian bushfires, police say |date=9 February 2009 |work=The Herald Sun (from ]) |accessdate=2009-02-09}}</ref> Around 40 police from interstate and overseas are assisting with Disaster Victim Identification. The police are from Tasmania, New South Wales, Australian Federal Police, Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. New Zealand police have provided four victim identification dogs and handlers.<ref>Victoria Police Media Release 17 February 2009. http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=19541</ref>		Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police, ], formed a taskforce to assist in identifying victims, coordinated by Inspector Greg Hough.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Moncrief|first=Mark|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/emotional-premier-gives-fire-warning-20090208-80n3.html|title=Emotional Premier gives fire warning|date=8 February 2009|work=The Age|access-date=8 February 2009|location=Melbourne|archive-date=17 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717094922/https://www.theage.com.au/national/10-million-government-fund-for-bushfire-victims-20090208-80n3.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25031605-662,00.html|title=Months to identify bodies in Victorian bushfires, police say|date=9 February 2009|work=Herald Sun|access-date=9 February 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210115638/http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0%2C21985%2C25031605-662%2C00.html|archive-date=10 February 2009}}</ref> Around forty police from interstate and overseas assisted with Disaster Victim Identification (DVI). The police were sourced from the Australian Federal Police, Tasmania, New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia, New Zealand, and Indonesia. New Zealand police also provided four victim identification dogs and handlers.<ref>Victoria Police Media Release 17 February 2009. http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=19541 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930133323/http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=19541 |date=30 September 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Kiwis to help identify victims|work=The New Zealand Herald|date=11 February 2009|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10556104|access-date=11 February 2009|first=Beck|last=Vass|archive-date=20 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020063650/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10556104|url-status=live}}</ref>
	New Zealand has also sent a team of DVI-trained police officers on a three-week assignment.<ref>{{cite news | title = Kiwis to help identify victims | work = New Zealand Herald | publisher = APN News & Media | date = 2009-02-11 | url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10556104 | accessdate = 2009-02-11}}</ref>
	===Criminal===		===Criminal===
	Some of the fires are suspected to have been deliberately lit by ] — whose action has been described as "mass murder" by the Australian Prime Minister ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/08/2485579.htm?section=australia|title=Rudd angrily denounces 'mass murder' arsonists|date=9 February 2009|work=ABC News|accessdate=2009-02-09}}</ref>
			====Arson====
	Commissioner Nixon stated on 9&nbsp;February that all fire sites would be treated as ]s.<ref name="australian police track arsonists" /> On that day a man was arrested in connection with the fires at Narre Warren; it was alleged by police that he had been operating a power tool, sparks from which ignited a grass fire, destroying two houses.<ref name="australian police track arsonists" />
			Some of the fires were suspected to have been deliberately lit by ]. Chief Commissioner Nixon stated on 9 February 2009 that all fire sites would be treated as ]s.<ref name="australian police track arsonists">{{cite news|author1=Callick, Rowan|author2=Akerman, Pia|name-list-style=amp|title=Police track arsonists responsible for Victoria bushfires|newspaper=The Australian|date=10 February 2009|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25032884-2702,00.html|access-date=10 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213044555/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25032884-2702,00.html|archive-date=13 February 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>
	On 12&nbsp;February, two people were arrested in connection with the fires, having been observed by members of the public acting suspiciously in areas between ] and ]; although they were both released without charges laid.<ref name="age suspects arrested">{{cite news		On 9 February a man was arrested in connection with the fires at Narre Warren; it was alleged by police that he had been operating a power tool, sparks from which ignited a grass fire, destroying two houses.<ref name="australian police track arsonists" /> On 12 February, two people were arrested in connection with the fires, having been observed by members of the public acting suspiciously in areas between ] and ]; however, they were subsequently released without charges being laid.<ref name="age suspects arrested">{{cite news|last=Grace|first=Robyn|title=Arson suspects arrested|newspaper=The Age|date=12 February 2009|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/arson-suspects-arrested-20090212-852y.html|access-date=12 February 2009|location=Melbourne|archive-date=13 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213065608/http://www.theage.com.au/national/arson-suspects-arrested-20090212-852y.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
	| last = Grace
	| first = Robyn
	| title = Arson suspects arrested
	| publisher = The Age
	| date = 2009-02-12
	| url = http://www.theage.com.au/national/arson-suspects-arrested-20090212-852y.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-12 }}
	</ref>
			A man from Churchill, Brendan Sokaluk, was arrested by police on 12 February, in relation to the Churchill fires, and was questioned at the Morwell police station, before being charged on 13 February with one count each of arson causing death, intentionally lighting a bushfire, and possession of ].<ref name="age churchill arrest">{{cite news|last=Silvester|first=John|title=Churchill arson suspect arrested|newspaper=The Age|date=13 February 2009|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/churchill-arson-suspect-arrested-20090213-86o3.html|access-date=13 February 2009|location=Melbourne|archive-date=17 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717094943/https://www.theage.com.au/national/churchill-arson-suspect-charged-20090213-86o3.html|url-status=live}}</ref> At a file hearing in the ] in Melbourne on 16 February the man was ] ahead of a ] scheduled for 26 May.<ref name="age accused fails face court">{{cite news|last=Rennie|first=Reko|title=Churchill arson accused fails to face court|newspaper=The Age|date=16 February 2009|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/churchill-arson-accused-fails-to-face-court-20090216-88bq.html|access-date=16 February 2009|location=Melbourne|archive-date=17 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217025530/http://www.theage.com.au/national/churchill-arson-accused-fails-to-face-court-20090216-88bq.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the hearing, a ] on the 42-year-old man's identity was lifted, though the order remained in force with respect to publishing his address or any images of him.<ref name="age accused fails face court" /> Despite the order, several members of the public obtained his photograph from his ] profile and published it on the ] website ] along with his home address, and others made threats of violence against him.<ref name="age vigilantes publish">{{cite news|last=Moses|first=Asher|title=Vigilantes publish alleged arsonist's image online|newspaper=The Age|date=16 February 2009|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2009/02/16/1234632703992.html|access-date=16 February 2009|location=Melbourne|archive-date=18 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218080339/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2009/02/16/1234632703992.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The man's lawyer said that, as a consequence of that information being published, threats were made against the man's family.<ref name="age threats taken down">{{cite news|last=Moses|first=Asher|title='Arsonist' online threats taken down|newspaper=The Age|date=17 February 2009|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2009/02/17/1234632787036.html|access-date=17 February 2009|location=Melbourne|archive-date=19 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219012633/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2009/02/17/1234632787036.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The man's ex-girlfriend and her family were also harassed after the ] newspaper published a photograph and a story about her.<ref name="australian ex-girlfriend">{{cite news|title=Family of Brendan Sokaluk's ex-girlfriend calls for calm|newspaper=The Australian|date=17 February 2009|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/accused-arsonists-ex-harassed/story-e6frg6n6-1111118877151|access-date=17 February 2009|archive-date=25 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225040248/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/accused-arsonists-ex-harassed/story-e6frg6n6-1111118877151|url-status=live}}</ref> On 17 February, after requests from Victoria Police, the man's MySpace profile was removed; Facebook commenced deleting postings containing threats, and deleted a photo from one group.<ref name="age threats taken down" />
	A man from Churchill was arrested by police on 12 February, in relation to the Churchill fires, and was questioned at the Morwell police station, before being charged on 13 February with one count each of arson causing death, intentionally lighting a bushfire and possession of ].<ref name="age churchill arrest">{{cite news
	| last = Silvester
	| first = John
	| title = Churchill arson suspect arrested
	| publisher = The Age
	| date = 2009-02-13
	| url = http://www.theage.com.au/national/churchill-arson-suspect-arrested-20090213-86o3.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-13 }}
	</ref> At a file hearing in the ] in Melbourne on 16 February, the man was ] ahead of a ] scheduled for 26 May.<ref name="age accused fails face court">{{cite news
	| last = Rennie
	| first = Reko
	| title = Churchill arson accused fails to face court
	| publisher = The Age
	| date = 2009-02-16
	| url = http://www.theage.com.au/national/churchill-arson-accused-fails-to-face-court-20090216-88bq.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-16 }}
	</ref> Following the hearing, a ] on the 39-year-old man's identity was lifted, though the order remained in force with respect to publishing his address or any images of him.<ref name="age accused fails face court" /> Despite the order, several members of the ] website ] published the man's photograph (obtained from his ] profile) and address on the site, and others made threats of violence against him.<ref name="age vigilantes publish">{{cite news
	| last = Moses
	| first = Asher
	| title = Vigilantes publish alleged arsonist's image online
	| publisher = The Age
	| date = 2009-02-16
	| url = http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2009/02/16/1234632703992.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-16 }}
	</ref> The man's lawyer said that, as a consequence of that information being published, threats were made against the man's family.<ref name="age threats taken down">{{cite news
	| last = Moses
	| first = Asher
	| title = 'Arsonist' online threats taken down
	| publisher = The Age
	| date = 2009-02-17
	| url = http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2009/02/17/1234632787036.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-17 }}
	</ref> The man's ex-girlfriend and her family were also harassed after the '']'' newspaper published a photograph and a story about her.<ref name="australian ex-girlfriend">{{cite news
	| title = Family of Brendan Sokaluk's ex-girlfriend calls for calm
	| publisher = The Australian
	| date = 2009-02-17
	| url = http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25066838-2702,00.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-17 }}
	</ref> On 17 February, after requests from Victoria Police, the man's MySpace profile was removed; Facebook commenced deleting postings containing threats, and deleted a photo from one group.<ref name="age threats taken down" />
	===Royal Commission===		====Looting====
			By the morning of 11 February 2009, reports of ] had been posted. Witnesses reported seeing acts of looting occurring at a property at ], shortly after the removal of the body of a victim from the property.<ref name="heathcote-looters">{{Cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/looters-move-in-to-rob-the-dead/story-e6frf7jo-1111118813856|title=Looters move in to rob the dead at Heathcote Junction|newspaper=]|date=11 February 2009|access-date=6 April 2016|archive-date=22 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322101806/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/looters-move-in-to-rob-the-dead/story-e6frf7jo-1111118813856|url-status=live}}</ref> That evening, via a report on ], a number of residents of ] who had been allowed back into the area to inspect the damage, revealed that a "Looters Will Be Shot" sign had been posted in the town, after a number of suspicious people and vehicles were seen moving through the town. On 12 February, a small number of arrests were made, and charges laid against people in relation to "looting offences", as announced by the Victoria Police chief commissioner, ].<ref name="looting-arrests-charges">{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/13/2490280.htm?section=justin|title=Alleged looters charged in bushfire aftermath|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=13 February 2009|access-date=13 February 2009|archive-date=17 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717094928/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-02-13/alleged-looters-charged-in-bushfire-aftermath/293976|url-status=live}}</ref>
	Premier John Brumby announced that there will be a ] into the fires, which will examine "all aspects of the government's bushfire strategy",<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/09/2486489.htm?section=justin|title=Brumby announces bushfires Royal Commission|date=9 February 2009|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|accessdate=2009-02-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25029098-5001021,00.html|title=Victorian fires royal commission|date=9 February 2009|work=Daily Telegraph|publisher=Daily Telegraph|accessdate=2009-02-09}}</ref>
	including whether climate change contributed to the severity of the fires.
			===Royal commission===
	On 13 February Brumby announced that Justice ], former judge of the ], would chair the Commission, to be assisted by two other Commissioners.<ref name="age teague to chair">{{cite news
			{{Main|2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission}}
	| last = Austin
			The Premier of Victoria, John Brumby, announced in April 2009 that a royal commission into the fires would be held which would examine "all aspects of the government's bushfire strategy".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/09/2486489.htm?section=justin|title=Brumby announces bushfires Royal Commission|date=9 February 2009|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|access-date=9 February 2009|archive-date=12 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212071911/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/09/2486489.htm?section=justin|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25029098-5001021,00.html|title=Victorian fires royal commission|date=9 February 2009|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=9 February 2009|archive-date=10 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210103658/http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25029098-5001021,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
	| first = Paul
	| title = Teague to chair royal commission
	| publisher = The Age
	| date = 2009-02-13
	| url = http://www.theage.com.au/national/teague-to-chair-royal-commission-20090213-86y0.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-13 }}
	</ref> On 16 February, the assistant Commissioners were appointed: Ron McLeod, former ] and the head of an inquiry concerning the ]; and Susan Pascoe, the Commissioner of the State Services Authority.<ref name="abc wide-ranging powers">{{cite news
	| title = Wide-ranging powers for bushfire inquiry: Brumby
	| publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation
	| date = 2009-02-16
	| url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/16/2492692.htm
	| accessdate = 2009-02-17 }}
	</ref> The Commission was given very broad terms of reference, with Premier Brumby saying that the Commission would be "he most open inquiry that is possible. No stone unturned. Every bit of information on the table. And if that means calling ministers or premiers, or whoever it is, we will be happy to assist."<ref name="abc wide-ranging powers" />
			==<span id="Consequences"> Casualties</span>==
	In the ] article The Royal Commission's main testimonials are recorded.
			] left standing]]
			]
			A total of 173 people were confirmed to have died as a result of the fires. The figure was originally estimated at 14 on the night of 7 February, and steadily increased over the following two weeks to 210.<ref name="deathtoll"/> It was feared that it could rise as high as 240–280,<ref name="Death toll could be 280">{{Cite news|last=Dobbin|first=Marika|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/missing-may-lift-death-toll-to-240-20090225-8hy7.html|title=Missing may lift death toll to 240|work=The Age|access-date=26 February 2009|date=26 February 2009|location=Melbourne|archive-date=28 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228072343/http://www.theage.com.au/national/missing-may-lift-death-toll-to-240-20090225-8hy7.html|url-status=live}}</ref> but these figures were later revised down to 173 after further forensic examinations of remains, and after several missing people were located.<ref name="lowertoll">{{Cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/victorian-bushfires-death-toll-slashed-to-173-20090330-9g9s.html|title=Victorian bushfires death toll slashed to 173|date=30 March 2009|work=The Age|access-date=30 March 2009|location=Melbourne|first=Mex|last=Cooper|archive-date=17 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210717094953/https://www.theage.com.au/national/bushfires-toll-cut-to-173-police-suggest-mass-funeral-for-unidentified-20141112-9g9s.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
			A temporary morgue was established at the Coronial Services Centre at ], capable of holding up to three hundred bodies. The Victorian Coroner compared this to a similar facility established after the ].<ref name="age identity">{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Bridie|title=Identity may not be possible for all|newspaper=The Age|date=11 February 2009|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/identity-may-not-be-possible-for-all-20090210-83kb.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121230171906/http://www.theage.com.au/national/identity-may-not-be-possible-for-all-20090210-83kb.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 December 2012|access-date=11 February 2009|location=Melbourne}}</ref> By the morning of 10 February 101 bodies had been transported to the temporary morgue.<ref name="age identity" /> The Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine stated that it could be impossible to positively identify many of the remains.<ref name="australian fifty bodies">{{Cite news|title=Fifty bodies may never be identified in Victoria fires|work=The Australian|date=10 February 2009|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25037227-26103,00.html|access-date=11 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212165833/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25037227-26103,00.html|archive-date=12 February 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>
	In the preliminary hearing on 20 April, commission counsel Jack Rush delivered in his opening address that an interim report assessing the inadequately short notice warnings would be delivered by the commission to the government by August. The report would evaluate the current "stay or go policy" for bushfire evacuation, and during the commission various bureaucrats' performance and judgment was scrutinized, including Commissioner of Emergency Services Bruce Esplin, and CFA Captain Jason Lawrence but most significantly CFA Chief Officer Russel Rees.
			On 11 February, fire authorities estimated that as many as 100 of ]'s 519 residents could have perished.<ref name="marysville-one-in-five" /> By 16 February, over 150 forensic investigators were engaged in searching the ruins of Marysville.<ref name="age fire's intensity">{{Cite news|last=Murdoch|first=Lindsay|title=Fire's intensity leaves no trace of victims|work=The Age|date=16 February 2009|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/fires-intensity-leaves-no-trace-of-victims-20090215-886b.html|access-date=16 February 2009|location=Melbourne|archive-date=17 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217031118/http://www.theage.com.au/national/fires-intensity-leaves-no-trace-of-victims-20090215-886b.html|url-status=live}}</ref> A senior lecturer in fire ecology from the ] estimated that the fires may have been burning at temperatures of {{convert|1200|C|F}}, and concluded that, as a result, the remains of some people caught in the fires may have been obliterated.<ref name="age fire's intensity" /> The final death toll for Marysville was later downgraded to 34 after a large group of residents who remained unaccounted for were officially located.
	Rees's knowledge and the rapidity of his actions (mainly lack of) were questioned, and his defense included: that 7th February was the first day the Integrated Emergency Coordination Centre (IECC) had been tested and it worked well; that intelligence was unclear during the day; that the IECC were very busy; the fires were being fought from the inside and not the outside; and that he couldn't focus on one fire because it would narrow his state-wide perspective. The commission’s questioning explicitly revealed that Rees had not kept close contact with the progress of the Kilmore East fire. At 4pm, ten minutes before the Strathewen fires had consumed the area, Rees had accepted a state situation report claiming the fire remained in Mount Disappointment's forest and wouldn't reach Whittlesea for five hours, 30 minutes later the Kilmore East fire reached Kinglake West and swarmed Kinglake less than three hours later. News of deaths reached the Kangaroo Ground CFA office at 5pm and Rees said he'd first been informed of these deaths between 7 and 8pm. Rees was also unaware: of the aircraft line-scan taken after the fire erupted, chief fire behavior expert Dr Kevin Tolhurst’s presence and predictive map he and his team produced. Rees’s evidence explained that warnings weren’t issued from the centre but from the periphery, the local incident-control centers (ICCs), the IECC’s only responsibility was to place such warnings on the CFA website, but nor Rees or any IECC members saw the warnings.
			Among the dead in the ] West area were former ] and ] television personality ], and his wife Moiree.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2009/02/09/49501_news.html|title=Brian Naylor and wife die in Kinglake inferno|date=9 February 2009|work=Geelong Advertiser|access-date=9 February 2009|archive-date=11 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311061848/http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2009/02/09/49501_news.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25026070-661,00.html|title=TV legend Brian Naylor found dead|date=9 February 2009|work=Herald Sun|access-date=9 February 2009|agency=Australian Associated Press|last=And|archive-date=30 December 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121230130349/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/archives/old-news-pages/tv-legend-found-dead/story-e6frf8zo-1111118794286|url-status=live}}</ref> Veteran TV actor ] and his partner, artist Angela Brunton, residing on a small farm in the ] area, also died in the Kinglake area fire.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25038335-5013404,00.html|title=TV star dies with partner in Victorian Bushfires|date=11 February 2009|work=The Australian|access-date=11 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214191252/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25038335-5013404,00.html|archive-date=14 February 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ornithologist ] perished in the Kinglake fire, together with his wife Eileen and daughter Eva.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25042616-5006785,00.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120703165536/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25042616-5006785,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 July 2012|title=Birdsong expert was ready for Victoria bushfires but it was no use|last=Trounson|first=Andrew|date=12 February 2009|work=The Australian|access-date=12 February 2009}}</ref>
	The working bushfire ‘stay or go’ (evacuate or protect your home) policy was scrutinized and severely questioned. The policy was founded on the empirical claim, researched by Dr Katherine Haynes, that concluded that survival was more likely for people to be actively fighting the fire at home than passively shelter or evacuate to be stuck on the roads. The policy was defended by Esplin, who argued against the proposal of compulsory mass evacuation insisting that people intending to leave their homes should have been gone long before specific fires were imminent. He clarified that threat messages weren’t a signal to evacuate but exclusive prompts to assist people who planned to defend their property. Robert Manne ads “In the philosophy of Bruce Esplin … the kind of mid-afternoon warnings the citizens north of Melbourne so desperately needed on 7 February simply had no place.” The ‘stay or go’ policy implies for people to evacuate on total fire days, on which Manne contends: “Total fire ban days in Victorian summers are frequent. More than a million and a half people live in non-metropolitan Victoria. If these people evacuated every time a total fire ban was declared … life during summer, outside Melbourne, would slowly grind to a halt … under the stay-or-go policy certainly demanded of all citizens, who lived in bushfire-prone areas and who did not intend to defend their properties, that they at least should always evacuate many hours before fire arrived.”
			===Fatalities===
	Manne drew his own conclusions based on the evidence heard at the Royal Commission:
			]
	“From the evidence collected at the royal commission, the cumbersome new bureaucratic machine, the IECC, seems to have operated like an army without a general, where no one thought it their responsibility to take the lead.”
			'''General statistics'''
			*164 people died in the fires themselves, 12 died later in hospital, and 4 died from other causes including car crashes
			*Out of the 173 deaths, 100 were male, 73 were female.
			*There were 164 Australians, 9 foreign nationals,<ref name="police-toll">Victoria Police, Press conference: Bushfires death toll revised to 173, Release date: Mon 30 March 2009 http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=20350 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019173953/http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=20350 |date=19 October 2013 }}</ref> killed in the bushfires. The foreign nationals comprised citizens of:
			**] (2)<ref>{{Cite news|title=Fire in Australia Kills two Greeks|url=http://news.ert.gr/en/world/news/18807-ena-zeygari-ellinon-metaksy-ton-thymaton-tis-fotias-sti-biktoria-tis-aystralias.htm|access-date=12 February 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215190817/http://news.ert.gr/en/world/news/18807-ena-zeygari-ellinon-metaksy-ton-thymaton-tis-fotias-sti-biktoria-tis-aystralias.htm|archive-date=15 February 2009}}</ref>
			**] (2)<ref name=aust-lastcalls>{{cite web|last=Hughes|first=Gary|title=Black Saturday inquiry hears of victims' last calls|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/black-saturday-inquiry-hears-of-victims-last-calls/story-e6frg6of-1225794498802|work=]|access-date=11 February 2011|date=5 November 2009|archive-date=30 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530064738/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/black-saturday-inquiry-hears-of-victims-last-calls/story-e6frg6of-1225794498802|url-status=live}}</ref>
			**] (2)<ref>{{Cite news|title=Two Filipinos killed in bushfires in Australia|url=http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=439109&publicationSubCategoryId=200|access-date=12 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602212754/http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=439109&publicationSubCategoryId=200|archive-date=2 June 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
			**] (1)<ref>{{Cite news|title=Chilena muere en incendios de Australia|url=http://www.chilesomostodos.gov.cl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=527&Itemid=7|access-date=21 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707010413/http://www.chilesomostodos.gov.cl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=527&Itemid=7|archive-date=7 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
			**] (1)<ref name=scnz-nzvictim>{{cite web|title=Bushfires claim first NZ victim|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/1396780|publisher=Stuff|location=New Zealand|access-date=13 February 2009|date=8 February 2009|archive-date=22 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422111052/http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/1396780|url-status=live}}</ref>
			**] (1)<ref>{{Cite news|title=British Family's Grief Over Bushfire Victims|url=http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/84455/British-family-s-grief-over-bushfire-victims|access-date=13 February 2009|archive-date=28 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128102957/http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/84455/British-family-s-grief-over-bushfire-victims|url-status=live}}</ref>
			*7 of the deaths occurred in bunkers of both fire-specific and non-fire-specific design.
			*1 firefighter, David Balfour, 47, from ], was killed near ] on the night of 17 February, when a burnt-out tree fell on him as he attached a hose to a fire tanker.<ref name=age-actff>{{cite news|last=Murdoch|first=Lindsay|title=Dead firefighter professional with young family|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/dead-firefighter-professional-with-young-family-20090218-8aol.html|work=]|access-date=13 February 2011|date=18 February 2009|location=Melbourne|archive-date=28 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628183708/http://www.theage.com.au/national/dead-firefighter-professional-with-young-family-20090218-8aol.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
			'''Location of deaths:'''<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090529100226/http://www.theage.com.au/national/black-saturday-data-reveals-where-victims-died-20090528-borp.html |date=29 May 2009 }}, 28 May 2009, ''The Age''</ref>
	“Because of the false empirical assumptions of the stay-or-go policy, many of those at the IECC seem to have convinced themselves that if last-minute warnings triggered flight, this would pose a deadlier threat than staying put.”
			*Inside houses (113)
	“Far too few inside the firefighting bureaucracies were willing on 7 February to break the rules, to disobey authority or to act spontaneously at time of crisis.”<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.themonthly.com.au/node/1780|title=Why We Weren't Warned: The Victorian Bushfires and The Royal Commission |date= August 2009|work='']''|publisher= Morry Schwartz|}}</ref> The interim report was released to the public on August 17.<ref>http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25944027-5006785,00.html</ref>
			*Outside houses (27)
			*In vehicles (11)
			*In garages (6)
			*Near vehicles (5)
			*On roadways (5)
			*Attributed to or associated with the fire but not within fire location (4)
			*On reserves (1)
			*In sheds (1)
			'''Locality of deaths:'''
	==Consequences==
			; Kinglake/Whittlesea Area (120)
	]. The ] is still standing.]]
			{{col-begin}}
	].]]
			{{col-break}}
			*] (38)
			*] (27)
			*] (12)
			*] (10)
			{{col-break}}
			*] (10)
			*] (6)
			*] (4)
			*] (2)
			{{col-break}}
			*] (2)
			*] (2)
			*] (2)
			*] (1)
			{{col-break}}
			*] (1)
			*] (1)
			*Upper Plenty (1)
			*] (1)
			{{col-end}}
			; Marysville Area (39)
	].]]
			{{col-begin}}
			{{col-break}}
			*] (34)
			{{col-break}}
			*] (4)
			{{col-break}}
			*] (ACT firefighter) (1)
			{{col-break}}
			{{col-end}}
	] imagery shows smoke plumes from the fires are blown by winds over the ] and ].]]
			; Central Gippsland (11)
	===Casualties===
			{{col-begin}}
	A total of 173 people were confirmed to have been killed by the fires, including one ACT firefighter.<ref name="deathtoll"/><ref name="lowertoll">{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/victorian-bushfires-death-toll-slashed-to-173-20090330-9g9s.html|title=Victorian bushfires death toll slashed to 173|date=30 March 2009|work=The Age|accessdate=2009-03-30}}</ref> The original death toll was estimated to be as high as 210<ref name="deathtoll"/>, but Victoria Police revised the figure after extensive forensic examinations of remains, and accounting for several people believed to be missing.<ref name="lowertoll" /> The coroner had prepared to handle up to 300 people.<ref name="coroner300">{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25037917-661,00.html|title=Bushfires toll at 181, Coroner prepared for 300, says Nixon|work=]|date=11 February 2009}}</ref>
			{{col-break}}
			*] (4)
			{{col-break}}
			*Koornalla (4)
			{{col-break}}
			*] (2)
			{{col-break}}
			*Jeerralang Junction (1)
			{{col-end}}
			; Beechworth (2)
	], former ] and ] television personality and his wife Moiree, were confirmed amongst the dead in the ] West area.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2009/02/08/49411_news.html|title=Bushfire death toll reaches 84|date=8 February 2009|work=Geelong Advertiser|accessdate=2009-02-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2009/02/09/49501_news.html|title=Brian Naylor and wife die in ] inferno|date=9 February 2009|work=Geelong Advertiser|accessdate=2009-02-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25026070-661,00.html
			*] (2)
	|title=TV legend Brian Naylor found dead|date=9 February 2009|work=The Herald Sun|accessdate=2009-02-09}}</ref> Actor ] and his partner, artist Angela Brunton, residing on a small farm in the ] area, also died in the Kinglake area fire.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25031162-5012974,00.html|title=Veteran actor Reg Evans and partner feared dead|date=10 February 2009|work=Herald Sun|accessdate=2009-02-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25038335-5013404,00.html|title=
	TV star dies with partner in Victorian Bushfires|date=11 February 2009|work=The Australian|accessdate=2009-02-11}}</ref> Ornithologist ] perished in the Kinglake fire, together with his wife Eileen and daughter Eva.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25042616-5006785,00.html|title=Birdsong expert was ready for Victoria bushfires but it was no use|last=Trounson|first=Andrew|date=]|work=]|accessdate=]}}</ref>
			; Bendigo (1)
	It was reported that over 500 people were treated for burns and other injuries, with 100 people admitted to hospital with major burns.<ref name="casualties from bushfires">{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25031406-5001021,00.html|title=Hospitals stretched as 500 treated for burns|date=8 February 2009|publisher=Daily Telegraph|date=2009-02-10|accessdate=2009-02-10}}</ref>
			*] (1)
			; Total: '''173'''
	A temporary morgue was established at the Coronial Services Centre at ], capable of holding up to three hundred bodies, which the Victorian Coroner compared to a similar facility established after the ].<ref name="age identity">{{cite news
	| last = Smith
	| first = Bridie
	| title = Identity may not be possible for all
	| publisher = The Age
	| date = 2009-02-11
	| url = http://www.theage.com.au/national/identity-may-not-be-possible-for-all-20090210-83kb.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-11 }}
	</ref> Various ]s assisted with transporting bodies to ].<ref name="age identity" /> By the morning of 10&nbsp;February, 101 bodies had been transported to the temporary morgue.<ref name="age identity" /> As of that day, there were more than fifty unidentified bodies either stored in the morgue or yet to be recovered from the fire areas; the director of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine stated that it may well be impossible to identify some of the remains.<ref name="australian fifty bodies">{{cite news
	| title = Fifty bodies may never be identified in Victoria fires
	| publisher = The Australian
	| date = 2009-02-10
	| url = http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25037227-26103,00.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-11 }}
	</ref> As of 16 February, over one hundred and fifty forensic investigators were still engaged in searching the ruins of ], which was almost completely destroyed in the fires.<ref name="age fire's intensity">{{cite news
	| last = Murdoch
	| first = Lindsay
	| title = Fire's intensity leaves no trace of victims
	| publisher = The Age
	| date = 2009-02-16
	| url = http://www.theage.com.au/national/fires-intensity-leaves-no-trace-of-victims-20090215-886b.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-16 }}
	</ref> A senior lecturer in fire ecology from the ] estimated that the fires may have been burning at temperatures of {{convert|1200|C|F}}, and said that as a result, the remains of some people caught in the fires may have been obliterated.<ref name="age fire's intensity" />
			===Injuries===
	On 11&nbsp;February, Commissioner Nixon indicated that she hoped that searches for bodies would be completed by 15&nbsp;February, but that the prospect of ] being present in some of the destroyed buildings would hinder the progress of the searches.<ref name="age asbestos">{{cite news
			]]]
	| last = Silvester
			A total of 414 people were injured during the Black Saturday bushfires. Due to the intensity and speed of the fires, most casualties of the bushfires either died, or survived with minor injuries. There were significantly fewer major burns than in previous bushfires, such as ]. Of the people who presented to medical treatment centres and hospitals, there were 22 with serious burns and 390 with minor burns and other bushfire-related injuries.<ref name="Australian Medical Journal"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606125345/http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/191_01_060709/cam10194_fm.html |date=6 June 2011 }} article abstract</ref>
	| first = John
	| title = Asbestos threat hampers search for bushfire victims
	| publisher = The Age
	| date = 2009-02-11
	| url = http://www.theage.com.au/national/asbestos-threat-hampers-search-for-bushfire-victims-20090211-8424.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-11 }}
	</ref>
	The fire authorities have estimated that in Marysville, in which virtually every structure has been razed by the fires, as many as 100 of the town's 519 residents may have perished.<ref name="Marysville death toll could reach 100">{{ cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25037917-661,00.html|title=Bushfires toll at 181. Marysville toll may be one in five|work=]|date=11 February 2009}}</ref>
	On 21 February, new sets of human remains were reported found in some areas already searched. Victoria's state coroner Jennifer Coate has ordered a tightening of security and access restrictions at bushfire-ravaged sites including Marysville, Kinglake and Hazeldene until they can be searched again.<ref name="More remains found at bushfire sites ">{{ cite news
	|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/more-remains-found-at-bushfire-sites-20090221-8e1k.html
	|title=More remains found at bushfire sites
	|work=]
	|accessdate = 2009-02-21
	|date=21 February 2009}}</ref>
	On 26 February, it was reported that the death toll in the Black Saturday bushfires could rise to 240 with up to 30 people still missing. Authorities are having difficulty sorting through reports of missing people due to complications with data and that some victims' remains may never be found because the ferocity of the fires left no trace. Disaster victim identification teams have begun a second sweep of an estimated 3000 buildings in and around Kinglake and Marysville, a process that could take weeks.<ref name="Death toll could be 280">{{ cite news
	| last = Dobbin
	| first = Marika
	|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/missing-may-lift-death-toll-to-240-20090225-8hy7.html
	|title=Missing may lift death toll to 240
	|work=]
	|accessdate = 2009-02-26
	|date=26 February 2009}}</ref>
	As of the 20 March 2009, 66 of those killed in the fires were positively identified.
	Foreign nationals killed in the bushfire included citizens of:
	* Greece - 2 <ref>{{cite news
	| title = Fire in Australia Kills two Greeks
	| url = http://news.ert.gr/en/world/news/18807-ena-zeygari-ellinon-metaksy-ton-thymaton-tis-fotias-sti-biktoria-tis-aystralias.htm
	| accessdate = 2009-02-12 }}</ref>
	* Philippines - 2 <ref>{{cite news
	| title = Two Filipinos killed in bushfires in Australia
	| url = http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=439109&publicationSubCategoryId=200
	| accessdate = 2009-02-12 }}</ref>
	* Chile - 1 <ref>{{cite news
	| title = Chilena muere en incendios de Australia
	| url = http://www.chilesomostodos.gov.cl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=527&Itemid=7
	| accessdate = 2009-02-21 }}</ref>
	* New Zealand - 1 <ref>{{cite news
	| title = TBushfires claim first NZ victim
	| url = http://www.stuff.co.nz/4843794a12.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-13 }}</ref>
	* United Kingdom - 1<ref>{{cite news
	| title = BRITISH FAMILY'S GRIEF OVER BUSHFIRE VICTIMS
	| url = http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/84455/British-family-s-grief-over-bushfire-victims
	| accessdate = 2009-02-13 }}</ref>
	* Indonesia - 2
	====Fatalities====
	]
	]
	; Kinglake/Whittlesea Area (120)
	*38 – ]
	*27 – ]
	*12 – ]
	*10 – ]
	*10 - Hazeldene
	*6 – ]
	*4 – ]
	*2 – ]
	*2 – ]
	*2 – ]
	*2 - ]
	*1 - Clombinane
	*1 – ]
	*1 – ]
	*1 – Upper Plenty
	*1 – ]
	; Marysville Area (39)
	*34 – ]
	*4 – ]
	*1 – Camberville
	; West Gippsland (11)
	*4 – ]
	*4 – Koornalla
	*2 – ]
	*1 – Jerralang Junction
	; Beechworth (2)
	*2 – ]
	; Bendigo (1)
	*1 – ]
			National and statewide burns disaster plans were activated. Twenty-two patients with major burns presented to the state's burns referral centres, of which eighteen were adults. One patient admitted to the ] and two at ] died from their injuries. Adult burns patients at The Alfred spent 48.7 hours in theatre in the first 72 hours. There were a further 390 bushfire-related presentations across the state in the first 72 hours. Most patients with serious burns were ]d to, and managed at, burns referral centres. Throughout the disaster, burns referral centres continued to have substantial surge capacity.<ref name="Australian Medical Journal" />
	'''TOTAL'''
	'''173'''<ref name="deathtoll"/><ref> Victoria Police, Press conference: Bushfires death toll revised to 173, Release date: Mon 30 March 2009 http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=20350</ref>
			==Overall statistics==
	====Statistics====
			]
	*Out of the 173 deaths, 100 were male and 73 were female.
			]
	*164 people died in the fires themselves, 5 died later in hospital and 4 died from other causes including car crashes.
			]
	*'''Location:'''<ref>, May 28, 2009, ''The Age''</ref>
	*113 - inside houses
	*27 - outside houses
	*11 - in vehicles
	*6 - in garage
	*5 - near vehicle
	*5 - on roadway
	*4 - attributed to or associated with the fire but not within fire location
	*1 - on reserve
	*1 - in shed
			It was estimated that the amount of energy released during the firestorm in the Kinglake-Marysville area was equivalent to the amount of energy that would be released by 1,500 ].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://advocacy.britannica.com/blog/advocacy/2009/11/the-australian-%22black-saturday%22-bushfires-of-2009/|title=The Australian "Black Saturday" Bushfires of 2009|last=Stewart|first=Cameron|date=23 November 2009|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=3 May 2010}}{{Dead link|date=June 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/black-saturday-fires-had-power-of-1500-a-bombs/story-e6frg6nf-1225714533980|title=Black Saturday fires had power of 1500 A-bombs|last=Hughes|first=Gary|date=22 May 2009|newspaper=The Australian|access-date=3 May 2010|archive-date=11 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711232035/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/black-saturday-fires-had-power-of-1500-a-bombs/story-e6frg6nf-1225714533980|url-status=live}}</ref>
	====Firefighter fatality====
	An ] firefighter was killed near Cambarville on the night of 17 February, when a burnt-out tree collapsed onto his fire tanker.<ref></ref> He was the only working firefighter killed during the 2009 Victorian bushfires.
			Beyond the casualty list detailed above, physical damage caused by the bushfires included:
	==Overall Statistics==
			* {{Convert|450000|ha|acre|abbr=on}} burnt
	]
			* 7,562 people displaced
	* 4500&nbsp;km² {{convert|450000|ha|acre|abbr=on}} burned out
	* Over 3,500 structures destroyed, including;		* Over 3,500 structures destroyed, including:
	:2,029+ houses		**2,029+ houses
	:59 commercial properties (shops, pubs, service stations, golf clubs, etc)		**59 commercial properties (shops, pubs, service stations, golf clubs, etc.)
	:12 community buildings (including 2 police stations, 3 schools, 3 churches, 1 fire station)		**12 community buildings (including 2 police stations, 3 schools, 3 churches, 1 fire station)
	:399 machinery sheds, 729 other farm buildings, 363 hay sheds		**399 machinery sheds, 363 hay sheds, 19 dairies, 26 woolsheds, 729 other farm buildings
			*Agricultural and horticultural losses:
	:19 dairies, 26 woolsheds
			** Over 11,800 head of livestock,<ref name=age-4.4bill /> consisting of 2,150 sheep, 1,207 cattle, and an unknown number of horses, goats, alpacas, poultry, and pigs<ref>The Land, "Farmers do their bit", Peter J Austin, p.12, Rural Press, 19 February 2009</ref>
	* {{convert|25600|t|ton|abbr=on}} of stored fodder and grain
			** {{Convert|25600|t|ton}} of stored fodder and grain
	* 2&nbsp;km² {{convert|190|ha|acre|abbr=on}} of standing crops
			** {{Convert|32000|t|ton}} of hay and silage<ref name=age-4.4bill />
	* 1680&nbsp;km² {{convert|168000|ha|acre|abbr=on}} of pasture
	* 8&nbsp;km² {{convert|735|ha|acre|abbr=on}} of fruit trees, olives and vines		** {{Convert|190|ha|acre|abbr=on}} of standing crops
	* 70&nbsp;km² {{convert|7000|ha|acre|abbr=on}} of plantation timber		** {{Convert|62000|ha|acre|abbr=on}} of pasture<ref name=age-4.4bill />
	* 39&nbsp;km² {{convert|3921|ha|acre|abbr=on}} of private bushland		** {{Convert|735|ha|acre|abbr=on}} of fruit trees, olives and vines
			** Over {{convert|10000|km}} of boundary and internal fencing destroyed or damaged<ref name="Norther Daily Leader">Northern Daily Leader, 18 May 2009, "Steady progress on bushfire clean-up", p. 8</ref>
	* 2,150 sheep, 1,207 cattle, and an unknown number of horses, goats, alpacas, poultry and pigs<ref>The Land, "Farmers do their bit, Peter J Austin, p.12, Rural Press, 19-2-2009</ref>
			** {{Convert|7000|ha|acre|abbr=on}} of ]
	* Over 10,000&nbsp;km of boundary and internal fencing destroyed or damaged<ref name="Norther Daily Leader">Norther Daily Leader, 18 May 2009, "Steady progress on bushfire clean-up", p. 8</ref>
			* {{Convert|98932|ha|acre|abbr=on}} of parks damaged, 90 per cent of which was national park.<ref name=age-4.4bill /> It was claimed that 950 local parks, 70 national parks and reserves, and over 600 cultural sites and historic places were impacted or destroyed<ref name="Norther Daily Leader"/>
	* Over 55 businesses destroyed
			* {{Convert|3921|ha|acre|abbr=on}} of private bushland
	* About 211,000 tonnes of hay destroyed
			* Over 55 businesses destroyed<ref name="AR08-9">{{cite web|url=http://www.diird.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/121581/Black-Saturday.pdf|title=Black Saturday|work=Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development|publisher=Victorian Government|access-date=3 May 2010}}{{Dead link|date=January 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
	* Over 11,000 livestock killed or injured
	* The electricity supply was disrupted to 60,000 consumers		* Electricity supply was disrupted to 60,000 residents<ref name="AR08-9"/>
			* Several mobile phone base stations and telephone exchanges damaged or destroyed<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/telco-says-its-ready-for-the-next-black-saturday/story-e6frgakx-1225805505764|title=Telstra says it's ready for the next Black Saturday|last=Bingemann|first=Mitchell|date=1 December 2009|newspaper=The Australian|access-date=3 May 2010}}</ref>
	* Several mobile phone base stations and telephone exchanges
	* Three primary schools and 3 children's services destroyed
	* 950 local parks, 70 national parks and reserves, and over 600 cultural sites and historic places were destroyed<ref name="Norther Daily Leader"/>
	* The amount of energy released during the firestorm in the Kinglake-Marysville area was equivalent to the amount of energy released by 1,500 Hiroshima-sized atomic bombs.
			===Damage by locality===
	{|class="wikitable"		{|class="wikitable"
			|+Summary of damage by locality<ref name=brc-ch1>{{cite web|title=Final Report Report of 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission: Chapter 1|url=http://www.royalcommission.vic.gov.au/Documents/PF-Chapters/Chapter1_PF.pdf|publisher=]|date=31 July 2010|access-date=22 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090911235725/http://www.royalcommission.vic.gov.au/Documents/PF-Chapters/Chapter1_PF.pdf|archive-date=11 September 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>
	| '''Area'''
			|-
	| <center>'''Area (ha)'''</center>
			! Area
	| <center>'''Fatalities'''</center>
			! Area (ha)
	| <center>'''Buildings destroyed'''</center>
			! Fatalities
	| <center>'''Ignition source'''</center>
			! Buildings destroyed
	|-
			! Ignition source
			! Fire name/origin
			|-
	| Kinglake Area		| Kinglake Area
	| <center>180,000+</center>		| {{center|180,000+}}
	| <center>120</center>		| {{center|120}}
	| <center>1244 houses, many commercial buildings</center>		| 1,244 houses, many commercial buildings
	| <center>Power lines</center>		| Power lines
			| Kilmore East fire
	|-
			|-
	| Marysville Area		| Marysville Area
	| <center>150,000+</center>		| {{center|150,000+}}
	| <center>38</center>		| {{center|39}}
	| <center>590 houses, many commercial buildings</center>		| 590 houses, many commercial buildings
			| Break in an electrical conductor on a power pole near the Murrindindi Saw Mill
	| <center>Arson</center>
			| Murrindindi Mill fire
	|-
			|-
	| West Gippsland
			| Central Gippsland
	| <center>32,860+</center>
	| <center>11</center>		| {{center|32,860+}}
	| <center>247 houses</center>		| {{center|11}}
			| 247 houses
	| <center>Arson</center>
	|-		| Arson
			| Churchill-Jeeralang fire
			|-
	| Beechworth		| Beechworth
	| <center>30,000+</center>		| {{center|30,000+}}
			| {{center|2}}
			| 29 houses
	| <center>2</center>
			| Power lines
	| <center>29 houses</center>
			| Mudgegonga fire
	| <center>Unknown</center>
	|-		|-
	| Bunyip State Park		| Bunyip State Park
	| <center>24,500</center>		| {{center|24,500}}
	| <center>0</center>		| {{center|0}}
	| <center>24 houses, several other buildings</center>		| 24 houses, several other buildings
	| <center>Arson/lightning suspected</center>		| Arson/lightning suspected
			| Bunyip State Park fire
	|-
			|-
	| Wilsons Promontory		| Wilsons Promontory
	| <center>11,000+</center>		| {{center|11,000+}}
			| {{center|0}}
			| None
	| <center>0</center>
			| Lightning
	| <center>None</center>
			| –
	| <center>Lightning</center>
	|-		|-
	| Redesdale		| Redesdale
	| <center>10,000</center>		| {{center|10,000}}
	| <center>0</center>		| {{center|0}}
	| <center>12 houses, several outbuildings</center>		| 12 houses, several outbuildings
	| <center>Unknown</center>		| Unknown
	|-		| –
			|-
	| Horsham		| Horsham
	| <center>5,700</center>		| {{center|5,700}}
	| <center>0</center>		| {{center|0}}
	| <center>8 houses, several other buildings</center>		| 8 houses, several other buildings
	| <center>Power lines</center>		| Power lines
			| Remlaw fire
	|-
			|-
	| Weerite		| Weerite
	| <center>1,300</center>		| {{center|1,300}}
	| <center>0</center>		| {{center|0}}
	| <center>Several outbuildings</center>		| Several outbuildings
	| <center>Power lines</center>		| Power lines
	|-		| –
			|-
	| Coleraine		| Coleraine
	| <center>770</center>		| {{center|770}}
	| <center>0</center>		| {{center|0}}
	| <center>1 house, several outbuildings</center>		| 1 house, several outbuildings
	| <center>Power lines</center>		| Power lines
	|-		| –
			|-
			| Maroondah/Upper Yarra
			| {{center|505}}
			| {{center|0}}
			| None
			| Spotting
			| Maroondah/Yarra complex
			|-
	| Bendigo		| Bendigo
	| <center>500+</center>		| {{center|384}}
	| <center>1</center>		| {{center|1}}
			| 61 houses, 125 sheds and outbuildings
	| <center>160 Buildings (59 houses)</center>
	| <center>Arson</center>		| Arson
			| Maiden Gully/Bracewell Street fire
	|-
			|-
	| Dandenong Ranges		| Dandenong Ranges
	| <center>5+</center>		| {{center|5+}}
	| <center>0</center>		| {{center|0}}
			|
	| <center>9+ houses</center>
	| <center>Unknown, Machinery</center>		| Unknown, machinery
			| Upper Ferntree Gully fire
	|-
			|-
	| '''Totals'''		| '''Totals'''
	| <center>'''450,000+'''</center>		| {{center|'''450,000+'''}}
	| <center>'''173'''</center>		| {{center|'''173'''}}
	| <center>'''3,500+ (2,029+ houses)'''</center>		| '''3,500+ (2,029+ houses)'''
	|-		|
			|
	|colspan=4 style="font-size:80%;| <center>Source: </center>
	|} </rt>		|}
			==Responses==
	===Environmental impacts===
			{{Main|Reactions to the Black Saturday bushfire crisis}}
	Millions of animals are estimated to have been killed by the wildfires.<ref name="AP-2009Feb11-Animals">{{cite news
			Responses to the Black Saturday bushfires included immediate community response, donations, and international aid efforts. Later responses included Government inquiries including a Royal Commission, and recommendations and discussions from a wide variety of bodies, organisations, authorities and communities.
	| last = Gelineau
	| first = Kristen
	| title = Millions of animals dead in Australia fires
	| publisher = ]
	| date = 2009-02-11
	| url = http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hn9MswZT1UDQOM4JFexha4JktfeQD969HIS80
	| accessdate = 2009-02-11 }}</ref> Additionally, of the surviving ], many more have suffered from severe burns. For example, large numbers of ]s were afflicted with burned feet due to territorial instincts that drew them back to the recently-burned and smoldering homes.<ref name="AP-2009Feb11-Animals"/> The affected area, particularly around Marysville, contains the only known habitat of ], Victoria's faunal emblem.<ref>. ninemsn.com.au. April 15, 2006.</ref>
			In September 2009 it was announced that Australia's most prominent ], Kevin Tolhurst, was developing a new course for the ] on fire behaviour.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Costigan|first=Justine|title=Responding to Tragedy|work=Melbourne University Magazine|date=September 2009|pages=15–17|url=http://mag.alumni.unimelb.edu.au/major-feature/responding-tragedy|access-date=3 September 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090910093356/http://mag.alumni.unimelb.edu.au/major-feature/responding-tragedy|archive-date=10 September 2009}}</ref> Later that month the ] announced it was developing the state's first integrated fire management plan in conjunction with the interim findings of the Royal Commission.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Crowe|first=Danielle|title=Hotspots register|work=Manningham Leader|date=9 September 2009|page=5|url=http://manningham-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/pilot-project-manningham-council-is-mapping-our-fire-hotspots/|access-date=22 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914125600/http://manningham-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/pilot-project-manningham-council-is-mapping-our-fire-hotspots/|archive-date=14 September 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is expected that eventually all Victorian councils responsible for both urban and rural land will need to develop such plans, which define fire risks in ] areas, along major roads, and in parkland.
	Forested ] supplying five of Melbourne's nine major dams were affected by the fires, with the worst affected being ] and ].<ref name="age dash save water">{{cite news
	| last = Ker
	| first = Peter
	| title = Dash to save Melbourne's drinking water
	| publisher = The Age
	| date = 2009-02-17
	| url = http://www.theage.com.au/national/dash-to-save-melbournes-drinking-water-20090217-89wm.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-17 }}
	</ref> As of 17 February, over ten billion litres of water had been shifted out of affected dams into others.<ref name="age dash save water" /> A ] spokesperson said that affected dams may need to be decommissioned if the contamination from ash and other material were serious enough, and also said that forest regrowth in the burnt-out catchment areas could reduce runoff yields by up to 30% over three decades.<ref name="age dash save water" /><ref></ref>
			In September/October 2009, it was announced that a new fire hazard system would replace the previous one. The new system involves a six-tier scale to indicating such things as the level of risk and activity of the fire. This standardised '']'' (FDR) was subsequently adopted by all Australian states in late 2009. Every day during the fire season the ] forecasts an outlook of the ''Fire Danger Index'' (FDI) by considering the predicted weather including temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and dryness of vegetation.<ref name="Country Fire Authority">{{cite web|url=http://www.cfaconnect.net.au/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=873|title=New Warning System Explained|publisher=]|access-date=1 February 2010|archive-date=6 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706123231/http://www.cfaconnect.net.au/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=873|url-status=live}}</ref> On the highest risk days, residents are advised to leave the potentially affected areas.
	Recently, smoke from the fires has been found in the atmosphere at record altitudes. <ref>http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/05/28/2583676.htm</ref>
	====Climate change====
	While it is difficult to attribute an individual weather event, such as the current extended drought in southeastern Australia, to an overall climatic pattern such as global warming, it is possible to correlate patterns with other patterns. Although the current drought could be the result of natural weather pattern variability, it is embedded in a 50-year warming trend that can be attributed with confidence to human-induced increases in ].<ref name=CSIROFAQ>{{cite web
	| title = Q&A: Victorian bushfires (fact sheet)
	| publisher = CSIRO
	| date = 2009-02-12
	| url = http://www.csiro.au/resources/Victorian-Bushfires-QA.html#9
	| accessdate =2009-02-18}}</ref><ref name=BryanWalshTime /> This warming trend is, in turn, expected to continue in proportion to an increase in the intensity and frequency of Australian fires.<ref name=CSIROFAQ/><ref name=BryanWalshTime /> Following the fires, commentators such as author and scientist ],<ref name="Flannery Australian bushfires">{{cite news
	|title = Australian bushfires: when two degrees is the difference between life and death
	|publisher = Guardian
	|date = 2009-02-10
	|url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/feb/10/australia-bush-fires
	|accessdate = 2009-02-18 }}</ref> ] Senator ],<ref name=BryanWalshTime /> and the national secretary of the Australian firefighters union<ref name=firefightersunion>{{cite news
	| last = Marshall
	| first = Peter
	| title = Face global warming or lives will be at risk
	| publisher = The Age
	| date = 2009-02-12
	| url = http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/face-global-warming-or-lives-will-be-at-risk-20090211-84od.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-18}}</ref> argued that the number of extreme fire days in Australia is likely to increase substantially due to ] and that governments should therefore invest more energy ].<ref name=BryanWalshTime /><ref name="Flannery Australian bushfires" /><ref name=firefightersunion />. A 2005 report prepared by ] Marine and Atmospheric Research, Bushfire CRC and Australian Bureau of Meteorology which made a key finding that an increase in fire-weather risk is likely at most sites considered in 2020 and 2050, including the average number of days when the FFDI rating is very high or extreme was cited in support. <ref name="Fire-weather">{{cite web|url=http://www.cmar.csiro.au/e-print/open/hennessykj_2005b.pdf|title=Climate change impacts on fire-weather in south-east Australia|last=Hennessy|first=K|coauthors=C. Lucas N. Nicholls J. Bathols, R. Suppiah and J. Ricketts|date=December 2005|publisher=CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Bushfire CRC and Australian Bureau of Meteorology|accessdate=2009-02-13}}</ref>
			The ] estimated that over a million animals perished in the bushfires.<ref name=age-4.4bill /> Additionally, many of the surviving ] suffered from severe burns. For example, large numbers of ]s were afflicted with burned feet due to territorial instincts that drew them back to their recently burned and smouldering home ranges.<ref name="AP-2009Feb11-Animals">{{cite news|last=Gelineau|first=Kristen|title=Millions of animals dead in Australia fires|agency=Associated Press|date=11 February 2009|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hn9MswZT1UDQOM4JFexha4JktfeQD969HIS80|access-date=11 February 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20090215064620/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hn9MswZT1UDQOM4JFexha4JktfeQD969HIS80|archive-date=15 February 2009}}</ref> The affected area, particularly around Marysville, contains the only known habitat of ], Victoria's faunal emblem,<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405140432/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=95950 |date=5 April 2012 }}. ninemsn.com.au. 15 April 2006.</ref> putting this species under further threat.
	===Fire policy===
	In the wake of the fires, and the mounting casualty toll, there was debate about policies for dealing with bushfires.
			Forested ] supplying five of Melbourne's nine major dams were affected by the fires, with the worst affected being the ] and ].<ref name="age dash save water">{{cite news|last=Ker|first=Peter|title=Dash to save Melbourne's drinking water|newspaper=The Age|date=17 February 2009|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/dash-to-save-melbournes-drinking-water-20090217-89wm.html|access-date=17 February 2009|archive-date=21 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221000233/http://www.theage.com.au/national/dash-to-save-melbournes-drinking-water-20090217-89wm.html|url-status=live}}</ref> As of 17 February 2009, over ten billion litres of water had been shifted out of affected dams into others.<ref name="age dash save water" /><ref>{{Cite news|last=Roberts|first=Greg|title=Vic bushfires may affect water supplies|newspaper=The Age|date=17 February 2009|url=http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/vic-bushfires-may-affect-water-supplies-20090217-89zb.html|access-date=14 December 2009|location=Melbourne|archive-date=18 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218075849/http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/vic-bushfires-may-affect-water-supplies-20090217-89zb.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
	In announcing that the fires would be investigated by a ], ] ] suggested that the long-standing 'stay-and-defend-or-leave-early' policy would be reviewed, saying that while it had proven reliable during normal conditions, the conditions on 7&nbsp;February had been exceptional.<ref name="australian nsw commissioner policy">{{cite news
	| title = Stay-at-home policy best, says NSW fire commissioner
	| publisher = The Australian
	| date = 2009-02-09
	| url = http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25032778-5006784,00.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-10 }}
	</ref> Brumby said that "There were many people who had done all of the preparations, had the best fire plans in the world and tragically it didn't save them."<ref name="age strategies questioned">{{cite news
	| last = Rood
	| first = David
	| title = Forest strategies questioned
	| publisher = The Age
	| date = 2009-02-10
	| url = http://www.theage.com.au/national/forest-strategies-questioned-20090209-82d7.html?page=-1
	| accessdate = 2009-02-10 }}
	</ref> However, Commissioner Nixon defended the policy, saying that it was "well thought of and well based and has stood the test of time and we support it."<ref name="abc nixon defends policy">{{cite news
	| title = Nixon defends fire policy
	| publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation
	| date = 2009-02-09
	| url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/09/2486729.htm
	| accessdate = 2009-02-10 }}
	</ref> Similarly, Commissioner of the ] Shane Fitzsimmons said that "Decades of science, practice and history show that a well-prepared home provides the best refuge in the event of fire".<ref name="australian nsw commissioner policy" /> Nixon also dismissed potential policies involving forced evacuations, saying "There used to be policies where you could make people leave but we're talking about adults".<ref name="abc nixon defends policy" /> Former Victorian police minister ] argued that forced evacuations could have worsened the death toll, as many of the dead appeared to have been killed while attempting to evacuate the fire areas by car.<ref name="age strategies questioned" />
			In early March 2009, smoke from the fires was discovered in the atmosphere over Antarctica at record altitudes.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Bushfire aftermath: smoke trapped over Antarctica|location=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=28 May 2009|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/05/28/2583676.htm|access-date=14 December 2009|archive-date=13 December 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213104147/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/05/28/2583676.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
	Naomi Brown, chief executive of the Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Council, argued that the high number of fatalities in these fires, as opposed to earlier fires such as the ], was partly attributable to increased population densities at Melbourne's fringes.<ref name="age strategies questioned" /> David Packham, research fellow at ], argued that high fuel loads in bushland led to the destructive intensity of the fires, saying that "There has been total mismanagement of the Australian forest environment".<ref name="age strategies questioned" /> Federal member of parliament and former forestry minister ] also identified high fuel loads as a key contributor to the destruction, saying "Governments who choose to lock up these forests and... treat them with benign contempt, well, others pay the penalty".<ref name="smh tuckey finger">{{cite news
	| title = Tuckey points finger at parties
	| publisher = Sydney Morning Herald
	| date = 2009-02-10
	| url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/tuckey-points-finger-at-parties/2009/02/09/1234027956206.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-10 }}
	</ref> Tuckey put the blame for fuel loads on the two major parties &ndash; ] and the ] &ndash; asserting that they "go running around putting in more reserves to get ] preferences".<ref name="smh tuckey finger" /> ] Senator ] also argued for changes to forestry management policies, saying that "I'm not blaming anyone for this, I just think we need to look at some areas we turn into parks and then can't defend them".<ref name="abc boswell overhaul">{{cite news
	| title = Boswell calls for overhaul of forest fire management
	| publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation
	| date = 2009-02-10
	| url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/10/2487067.htm
	| accessdate = 2009-02-10 }}
	</ref>
	=== Building codes debate===
	The Victorian government intends to debate new fire related planning and building code standards. In response to the Victorian bushfires new building regulations for bushfire-prone areas have been fast tracked by Standards Australia.<ref name="StandardsUpdate">{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria-looks-at-changes-to-building-standards-20090215-887t.html?skin=text-only|title=Victoria looks at changes to building standards|date=16 Feb 2009|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=2009-02-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.standards.org.au/downloads/091002_Bushfire_Standard_Statement_FINAL.pdf| title= Media Release - Standards Australia to fast track completion of bushfire Standard | publisher=Standards Australia | accessdate=17 Feb 2009 | date=11 Feb 2009 }}</ref> Victoria has no separate building code for bushfire-prone areas. In New South Wales building laws for bushfire-prone areas are incorporated in planning legislation using a 1090 ](K) (817°C) level as the assumed temperature to which houses are subject when hit by bushfire. A draft national building code for bushfire-prone areas is proposing to use 1000K (727°C) as the standard. Fire engineers say that standards should be based on a 1090K (817°C) temperature. The temperature of fires can peak at approximately 1600K/1300°C.<ref name="BuildingCodes">{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/foolhardy-to-set-building-code-that-underestimates-heat-of-fires-20090211-84r4.html?page=-1|title='Foolhardy' to set building code that underestimates heat of fires|date=12 Feb 2009|publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=2009-02-14}}</ref>
	===Economic impact===		===Economic impact===
			]
	Insurance companies including ] and ] said on 9&nbsp;February that it was too early to tell what the costs of the fires to insurers would be.<ref name="business-spectator shares drop">{{cite news
			The Bushfires Royal Commission gave a "conservative" estimate of the total cost of the Black Saturday bushfires of $4.4 billion. This figure included a value of $645 million placed on the 173 lives lost using an accepted method the government uses to value lives, however did not include any assessment of the cost of the injuries received.<ref name=age-4.4bill>{{cite news|last=Gray|first=Darren|title=Black Saturday cost $4.4 billion|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/black-saturday-cost-44-billion-20100801-11116.html|work=]|access-date=15 February 2011|date=1 August 2010|location=Melbourne|archive-date=28 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628185757/http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/black-saturday-cost-44-billion-20100801-11116.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
	| title = IAG says too early to estimate cost of fires, shares drop 9.5%
	| publisher = Business Spectator
	| date = 2009-02-09
	| url = http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/IAG-says-too-early-to-estimate-cost-of-fires-$pd20090209-P3W3J?OpenDocument
	| accessdate = 2009-02-11 }}
	</ref> Some ]s suggested that the total insurance costs for the fires could amount to $1.5 billion.<ref name="gold-coast insurance bills">{{cite news
	| last = Nichols
	| first = Nick
	| title = Insurance bills set to rocket
	| publisher = goldcoast.com.au
	| date = 2009-02-11
	| url = http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2009/02/10/47451_gold-coast-news.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-11 }}
	</ref> Other industry analysts suggested that the fires would lead to rises in insurance premiums, so that insurers might recover some of their losses.<ref name="investor-daily premiums">{{cite news
	| last = May
	| first = Julie
	| title = Bushfires could raise premiums
	| publisher = Investor Daily
	| date = 2009-02-10
	| url = http://www.investordaily.com.au/cps/rde/xchg/id/style/5742.htm?rdeCOQ=SID-3F579BCE-3E651345
	| accessdate = 2009-02-11 }}
	</ref> At the close of trading on 9&nbsp;February, Suncorp Metway shares had dropped by more than a quarter, and IAG shares were down nearly ten per cent.<ref name="business-spectator shares drop" />
			The largest contributor to the total cost was insurance claims, which the Insurance Council of Australia reported as $1.2 billion as of August 2010. This figure was composed of 84 per cent for property or contents, and 16 per cent for vehicles. However, the report also estimated that up to 13 per cent of residential properties destroyed may have had no insurance, with many more under-insured, thus suggesting that the actual cost of asset damage in the bushfires was considerably higher than that recorded. The report from the commission said that: "...&nbsp;the level of insurance claims is likely to underestimate the true extent of property losses, but it is unable to calculate the extent of this underestimation".<ref name=age-4.4bill />
	Deputy Prime Minister ] called on insurers to respond in a sensitive fashion to claims relating to the fires, saying "I am sure that anybody from an insurance company that has looked at their TV screens today is going to see the devastation and understand it is going to trigger claims and that those claims need to be responded to sympathetically and quickly."<ref name="business-spectator shares drop" />
			Also omitted from the $4.4 billion figure were the agricultural losses sustained in the fires, and the ongoing impacts on agriculture in following seasons. The Victorian Department of Primary Industries estimated losses shortly after the fires as 11,800 head of livestock, {{convert|62000|ha|acres}} of grazing ], and {{Convert|32000|t|ton}} of ] and ].<ref name=age-4.4bill />
	An economist from ] said that an upside of the fire situation was that reconstruction efforts were likely to produce a stimulus effect on the economy of between 0.25 and 0.4 per cent of ] over 18 months, saying that "As tragic as the events of the past two days have been, the rebuilding phase will provide a catalyst for economic growth in coming months, even if the personal and environmental cost takes years to recover".<ref>{{cite news
	| last = Boreham
	| first = Tim
	| title = IAG (IAG) $3.24 Sucorp Metway (SUN) $5.31
	| publisher = The Australian
	| date = 2009-02-10
	| url = http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25031212-23634,00.html
	| accessdate = 2009-02-11 }}
	</ref>
			As of February 2011, two years after the fires, the ''Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority'' stated that based on figures from the end of 2010, permits had been issued for the rebuilding of only 731 of the 1,795, or 41 per cent of the principal places of residence destroyed in the fires.<ref name=age-slowpath>{{cite news|last=Johanson|first=Simon|title=Recovery a painfully slow path|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/recovery-a-painfully-slow-path-20110206-1aigz.html|work=]|access-date=15 February 2011|date=7 February 2011|location=Melbourne|archive-date=10 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210211234/http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/recovery-a-painfully-slow-path-20110206-1aigz.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
	===Looting===
	By the morning of 11&nbsp;February, reports of ] had been posted. Witnesses reported seeing acts of looting occurring at a property at ], shortly after the removal of the body of a victim from the property.<ref name="heathcote-looters">{{ cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25037815-661,00.html|title=Looters move in to rob the dead at Heathcote Junction|work=]|date=11 February 2009}}</ref> That evening, via a report on ], a number of residents of ] who had been allowed back into the area to inspect the damage, revealed that a "Looters Will Be Shot" sign had been posted in the town, after a number of suspicious people and vehicles were seen moving through the town.
	On 12 February, a small number of arrests were made, and charges laid against people in relation to "looting offences", as announced by ].<ref name="looting-arrests-charges">{{ cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/13/2490280.htm?section=justin|title=Alleged looters charged in bushfire aftermath|work=ABC Online|date=13 February 2009}}</ref>
	===Lawsuits===		===Lawsuits===
			A ] lawsuit was initiated in the ] on 13 February 2009 by Slidders Lawyers against electricity distribution company ], in relation to the ] fire that became part of the Kinglake complex, and the ] fires. A partner at the firm indicated that the claim would centre on alleged ] by SP AusNet in its management of electricity infrastructure. On 12 February police had taken away a section of power line as well as a power pole from near Kilmore East, part of a two-kilometre section of line that fell on the morning of 7 February and was believed to have started the fire there.<ref name="age class action">{{cite news|author1=Houston, Cameron|author-link2=Michael Bachelard|author2=Bachelard, Michael|name-list-style=amp|title=Huge fire class action launched|newspaper=The Age|date=15 February 2009|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/huge-fire-class-action-launched-20090214-87pg.html?page=-1|access-date=15 February 2009|location=Melbourne|archive-date=18 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218081252/http://www.theage.com.au/national/huge-fire-class-action-launched-20090214-87pg.html?page=-1|url-status=live}}</ref> The class action was ultimately run by law firm ]. The action alleged the power company failed to fit a $10 protective device on the power line, which contributed to it breaking and starting the devastating Kilmore East/Kinglake fire.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/1072983/hundreds-sign-for-bushfire-class-action|title=Hundreds sign for bushfire class action|date=19 June 2010|publisher=]|access-date=16 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100623001848/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/1072983/hundreds-sign-for-bushfire-class-action|archive-date=23 June 2010}}</ref> The case settled in December 2014 with a settlement of $494.67 million,<ref name=scv>{{cite web|title=Court approves distribution of almost $700M in 2009 Black Saturday bushfire class actions|website=The Supreme Court of Victoria|url=https://www.supremecourt.vic.gov.au/for-the-media/media-releases/court-approves-distribution-of-almost-700m-in-2009-black-saturday|access-date=30 September 2023}}</ref> the country's largest class action settlement,<ref name=bbc-payout>{{cite news|title=Record payout over Australia Black Saturday fires|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-28305127|access-date=6 February 2015|publisher=BBC News (Asia)|date=15 July 2014|quote=A 2009 Royal Commission found that the fire began when an electricity line failed between two poles. Contact between the live conductor and a cable stay supporting the pole caused arcing that ignited vegetation.|archive-date=16 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216082200/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-28305127|url-status=live}}</ref> approved by the ].<ref name=abc-kilmore-settle>{{cite news|title=Black Saturday class action: Judge approves $494m Kilmore East bushfire settlement|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-23/judge-approves-black-saturday-class-action-settlement/5984374|access-date=6 February 2015|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|date=23 December 2014|quote=Victoria's Supreme Court has approved a $494 million payout to victims of the deadly 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, in what is considered to be the biggest class action in Australia's legal history.|archive-date=8 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208221316/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-23/judge-approves-black-saturday-class-action-settlement/5984374|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=abc-kilmore-class-act>{{cite news|title=Black Saturday bushfire survivors secure $500 million in Australia's largest class action payout|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-15/black-saturday-bushfire-survivors-secure-record-payout/5597062|access-date=6 February 2015|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|date=15 July 2014|archive-date=16 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216101154/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-15/black-saturday-bushfire-survivors-secure-record-payout/5597062|url-status=live}}</ref> (The previous highest payout was $200 Million in ''Kirby v ] Limited (No 6)'' FCA 650 (19 June 2012).<ref name=mary-comm-record>{{cite web|title=Record settlement in Black Saturday bushfires class action|url=http://www.marysvillecommunity.net/index.php/kilmore-east-kinglake-bushfire-class-action/98-record-settlement-in-black-saturday-bushfires-class-action.html|publisher=marysvillecommunity.net|access-date=6 February 2015|date=15 July 2014|quote=At nearly $500 million, the payout is more than double the previous highest Australian ] ] of $200 million in the Centro shareholder class action|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206070754/http://www.marysvillecommunity.net/index.php/kilmore-east-kinglake-bushfire-class-action/98-record-settlement-in-black-saturday-bushfires-class-action.html|archive-date=6 February 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>)
	A ] lawsuit was initiated in the ] on 13 February by ] against electricity distribution company ], in relation to the ] fire that became part of the Kinglake complex, and the ] fires.<ref name="age class action">{{cite news
	| authors = Houston, Cameron & Bachelard, Michael
	| title = Huge fire class action launched
	| publisher = The Age
	| date = 2009-02-15
	| url = http://www.theage.com.au/national/huge-fire-class-action-launched-20090214-87pg.html?page=-1
	| accessdate = 2009-02-15 }}
	</ref> A partner at the firm indicated that the claim would centre on alleged ] by SP AusNet in its management of electricity infrastructure.<ref name="age class action" /> On 12 February police had taken away a section of power line as well as a power pole from near ], part of a two-kilometre section of line that fell on the morning of 7 February and was believed to have started the fire there.<ref name="age class action" />
			In February 2014 a class action trial against SP AusNet by victims of the Marysville blaze was begun in the Supreme Court. It was alleged that the fire was caused by a "break in an electrical conductor on a power pole near the Murrindindi Saw Mill". A$300 million ] was announced before the trial began.<ref name=abc-mary-settle>{{cite news|last1=Ferrier|first1=Steph|title=Marysville bushfire class action: Black Saturday bushfire victims to get $300 million payout|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-06/class-action-over-marysville-black-saturday-bushfire-reached/6071068|access-date=6 February 2015|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|date=6 February 2015|quote=Electricity company AusNet has announced a $300 million settlement with the Marysville victims of the Black Saturday bushfires.|archive-date=10 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210080239/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-06/class-action-over-marysville-black-saturday-bushfire-reached/6071068|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=abc-mary-class-act>{{cite news|title=Victims of Black Saturday fire launch class action|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-07/victims-of--black-saturday-fire-launch-class-action/4181682|access-date=6 February 2015|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|date=7 August 2012|quote=A class action will be launched in the Supreme Court today on behalf of victims of the Murrindindi bushfire on Black Saturday in 2009.|archive-date=16 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216095533/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-07/victims-of--black-saturday-fire-launch-class-action/4181682|url-status=live}}</ref> The class action by Murrindindi/Marysville victims was settled in February 2015 for $300 million.<ref name=scv/>
	A separate class action claim was expected to be commenced by ] some time after 16 February, and ] indicated that they were awaiting the report of the to-be-established ], expected in late 2010, before initiating any claims.<ref name="age class action" />
			A total of nearly $700 million (after legal expenses) was shared among the claimants of the two highly complex class actions, which were presided over by Justices ] and ]. Various other claimants by communities around Coleraine, Horsham, Weerite-Pomborneit, and Beechworth-Mudgegonga also had lawsuits managed by the Supreme Court.<ref name=scv/>
	Also on 13 February, five law firms from Victoria's Western Districts held a meeting to discuss a potential class action in relation to the ] fire, which was also thought to have been started by fallen power lines.<ref name="age class action" />
	==Gallery==		===Fire policy===
			]
	<gallery>
			In the wake of the fires and the mounting casualty toll, there was debate about policies for dealing with bushfires and the management practices that may have contributed to them. Naomi Brown, chief executive of the Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Council, argued that the high number of fatalities in these fires, as opposed to earlier fires such as the ], was partly attributable to increased population densities on Melbourne's fringes.<ref name="age strategies questioned" /> David Packham, bushfire expert and research fellow at ], argued that high fuel loads in bushland led to the destructive intensity of the fires, saying that "There has been total mismanagement of the Australian forest environment."<ref name="age strategies questioned">{{cite news|last=Rood|first=David|title=Forest strategies questioned|newspaper=The Age|date=10 February 2009|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/forest-strategies-questioned-20090209-82d7.html?page=-1|access-date=10 February 2009|location=Melbourne|archive-date=14 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214024137/http://www.theage.com.au/national/forest-strategies-questioned-20090209-82d7.html?page=-1|url-status=live}}</ref>
	<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: File:Leonards Rd Fire Lilydale 7 Feb.png|{{deletable image-caption}}Bushfire near Lilydale, 7 February -->
	<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: File:Chum Creek Road 8th Feb.png|{{deletable image-caption}}Chum Creek Road, 8 February -->
			In announcing that the fires would be investigated by a ], the ], ], suggested that the long-standing "stay-and-defend-or-leave-early" policy would be reviewed, saying that while it had proven reliable during normal conditions, the conditions on 7 February had been exceptional.<ref name="australian nsw commissioner policy">{{cite news|title=Stay-at-home policy best, says NSW fire commissioner|newspaper=The Australian|date=9 February 2009|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25032778-5006784,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211064832/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0%2C25197%2C25032778-5006784%2C00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 February 2009|access-date=10 February 2009}}</ref> Brumby said that "There were many people who had done all of the preparations, had the best fire plans in the world and tragically it didn't save them."<ref name="age strategies questioned" />
	<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: File:CFA in Chum Creek bushfire Feb 8.png|{{deletable image-caption}}CFA asset protection in Chum Creek, 8 February -->
	<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: File:Smoke over sun February 7 Vic bushfires.png|{{deletable image-caption}}Smoke cloud covers the sun, 7 February -->
			Commissioner Nixon, however, defended the policy, saying that it was "well thought of and well based and has stood the test of time and we support it".<ref name="abc nixon defends policy">{{Cite news|title=Nixon defends fire policy|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=9 February 2009|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/09/2486729.htm|access-date=10 February 2009|archive-date=10 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210123639/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/09/2486729.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Similarly, Commissioner of the ], Shane Fitzsimmons, said that "Decades of science, practice and history show that a well-prepared home provides the best refuge in the event of fire".<ref name="australian nsw commissioner policy" /> Nixon also dismissed potential policies involving forced evacuations, saying "There used to be policies where you could make people leave but we're talking about adults."<ref name="abc nixon defends policy" /> A former Victorian police minister, ], argued that forced evacuations could have worsened the death toll, as many of the dead appeared to have been killed while attempting to evacuate the fire areas by car.<ref name="age strategies questioned" />
	File:09 vic bushfire damage Steels Creek 02.JPG|Damage to a carport in Steels Creek, February 10
	File:09 vic bushfire damage Yarra Glen 02.JPG|Property damage in Yarra Glen, February 10
			===Building codes===
	File:2009 Victorian bushfires Acheron Way DSC 0324.JPG|Acheron Way, showing regrowth, April 10
			In response to the Black Saturday bushfires new building regulations for Victorian bushfire-prone areas were fast tracked by Standards Australia.<ref name="StandardsUpdate">{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria-looks-at-changes-to-building-standards-20090215-887t.html?skin=text-only|title=Victoria looks at changes to building standards|date=16 February 2009|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=15 February 2009|archive-date=4 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104014652/http://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria-looks-at-changes-to-building-standards-20090215-887t.html?skin=text-only|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.standards.org.au/downloads/091002_Bushfire_Standard_Statement_FINAL.pdf|title=Media Release – Standards Australia to fast track completion of bushfire Standard|publisher=Standards Australia|access-date=17 February 2009|date=11 February 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219142939/http://standards.org.au/downloads/091002_Bushfire_Standard_Statement_FINAL.pdf|archive-date=19 February 2009}}</ref> Through the ''Department of Planning and Community Development'' the Victorian government has published a range of new guidelines and standards for bushfire planning and building.<ref name=dpcd-bpb>{{cite web|title=Bushfire planning and building|url=http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/planning/planning-policy-and-projects/bushfire-planning-and-building-resource|work=Department of Planning and Community Development official website|publisher=State Government of Victoria|access-date=22 April 2011|date=1 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110328120453/http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/planning/planning-policy-and-projects/bushfire-planning-and-building-resource|archive-date=28 March 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
	File:2009 Lake Mountain after bushfire DSC 0335.JPG|] toboggan run, April </gallery>
			Based on this information, the ''Building Commission Victoria'' has released a range of publications to assist with people returning to properties, moving into temporary dwellings, ] existing dwellings, and building new dwellings in bushfire areas.<ref name=pfs-bcv>{{cite web|title=Publications and Fact Sheets|url=http://www.buildingcommission.com.au/www/html/2436-publications-and-fact-sheets.asp|work=Official website|publisher=Building Commission Victoria|access-date=22 April 2011|date=19 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405075215/http://www.buildingcommission.com.au/www/html/2436-publications-and-fact-sheets.asp|archive-date=5 April 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> The new standard states that all properties (not just those in bushfire areas) will now require a "bushfire attack assessment", and will be given a Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) rating that outlines the type of construction required. The BAL takes into consideration such factors as the ], the slope, and surrounding vegetation. BALs range from "BAL-LOW", for properties with no specific construction requirements such as suburban buildings, to "BAL-FZ" for properties in the fire zone likely to experience direct exposure to the fire front, as well as high heat flux and ember attacks.<ref name=gtbab-bcv>{{cite web|title=A guide to building in Victoria after bushfires|url=http://www.vba.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/40583/Guide-to-building-in-Victoria-after-bushfires.pdf|work=Official website|publisher=Building Commission Victoria|access-date=23 October 2017|date=19 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313112305/http://www.vba.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/40583/Guide-to-building-in-Victoria-after-bushfires.pdf|archive-date=13 March 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
			While a draft national building code for bushfire-prone areas proposed using {{convert|1000|K|C F|lk=on}} as the standard for the assumed temperature to which houses are subject when hit by bushfire, fire engineers argued that standards should be based on a {{convert|1090|K|C F}} temperature. This was in line with existing New South Wales building laws for bushfire-prone areas, although the temperature of fires can actually peak at approximately {{convert|1600|K|C F}}.<ref name="BuildingCodes">{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/foolhardy-to-set-building-code-that-underestimates-heat-of-fires-20090211-84r4.html?page=-1|title='Foolhardy' to set building code that underestimates heat of fires|date=12 February 2009|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=14 February 2009|first=Debra|last=Jopson|archive-date=21 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221034418/http://www.smh.com.au/national/foolhardy-to-set-building-code-that-underestimates-heat-of-fires-20090211-84r4.html?page=-1|url-status=live}}</ref> The '']'' incorporated the {{convert|1090|K|C F}} temperature in the standard, with the support of the CFA and ].<ref name=gtbab-bcv />
			====Banning housing in highest risk areas====
			As part of the building codes debate, an expert panel recommended in 2010 that the state government ban housing in the highest fire risk areas, which are some of the most dangerous in the world.<ref name=aust-ban-dev>{{cite web|last=Rintoul|first=Stuart|title=Ban development in fire-prone areas, experts tell royal commission|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/ban-development-in-fire-prone-areas-experts-tell-royal-commission/story-e6frg6nf-1225830521084|work=]|access-date=19 February 2011|date=15 February 2010|archive-date=4 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504034232/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/ban-development-in-fire-prone-areas-experts-tell-royal-commission/story-e6frg6nf-1225830521084|url-status=live}}</ref> Michael Buxton, a professor at ], said that after the 1983 Ash Wednesday fires the government bought back tens of thousands of lots across the ] because they were in extremely high fire risk areas; he backed another similar large-scale buyback scheme to move people away from unacceptably high risk areas.<ref name=aust-ban-dev />
			Another member of the panel, international planning expert Roz Hansen, said that she was "disappointed and alarmed" about the decision to rebuild Marysville, stating that it was unlikely that a new development would have been permitted in the area. She went on to say that in parts of Asia, people had been forcibly moved out of unacceptably high risk cyclone and flooding areas in the public interest despite the difficulties this involved.<ref name=abc-norebuild>{{cite web|last=Cowan|first=Jane|title=Marysville should never have been rebuilt, commission told|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02/15/2819672.htm|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|access-date=19 February 2011|date=15 February 2010|archive-date=21 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110121124559/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02/15/2819672.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
	==See also==		==See also==
			{{Portal bar|Australia}}
	{{portal|Fire|Large bonfire.jpg}}
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	{{portal|Victoria|Flag of Victoria (Australia).svg}}
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	==References==		==References==
			{{Reflist|refs=
	{{reflist|2}}
			<!-- THESE REFS ARE NOT USED PLEASE USE THEM <ref name=firefightersunion>Marshall, Peter (12 February 2009). "". ''The Age'': p. 25. Retrieved 18 February 2009.</ref>
			<ref name="glw firefighter">McDonald, Shaun (9 September 2009). "". ''Green Left Weekly'' (809): pp. 3, 6. Retrieved 22 September 2009.</ref>
			<ref name="Fire-weather">{{cite web|url=http://www.cmar.csiro.au/e-print/open/hennessykj_2005b.pdf|title=Climate change impacts on fire-weather in south-east Australia|last=Hennessy|first=K|coauthors=C. Lucas N. Nicholls J. Bathols, R. Suppiah and J. Ricketts|date=December 2005|publisher=CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Bushfire CRC and Australian Bureau of Meteorology|access-date=13 February 2009}}</ref>-->
			}}
	==Further reading==		== Further reading==
			*{{cite book|last=Hooper|first=Chloe|title=The Arsonist: A Mind on Fire|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4YFlDwAAQBAJ|year=2018|publisher=Penguin Random House Australia|isbn=978-1-74348-552-1}}
	*{{citation | last = McBean | first = Graham | title = Inferno | work = Contact - Air, Land & Sea | issue = 22 | pages = 50-54 | date = June 2009 }} &mdash; recount of Operation Vic Fire Assist
			*{{Cite book|last=Hyland|first=Adrian|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KZApBgAAQBAJ|title=Kinglake-350|publisher=]|year=2015|isbn=9781922182920|location=Melbourne}}
			*{{cite book|last1=Stewart|first1=Kath|last2=Hawkins|first2=Deidre|title=Living with Fire: A Brief History of Fires in the Kinglake Ranges|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ms0KwQEACAAJ|year=2018|publisher=Kinglake Historical Society|isbn=978-0-9871217-8-3}}
	==External links==		==External links==
			{{Commons category|2009 Victorian bushfires }}
	{{wikinewspar3|14 killed by bushfires in Australia|More than 100 dead in bushfires in Australia|More than 160 dead in bushfires in Australia}}
			{{Wikinews|More than 160 dead in bushfires in Australia | Class action launched by Australian bushfire survivors against SP AusNet}}
	{{Commonscat|2009 Victorian bushfires }}
			* (very large file)
	*
			* on YouTube
	*
			* on YouTube
	*
			* {{Cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/anatomy-of-a-firestorm-20090225-8hvi.html?page=-1|newspaper=]|date=26 February 2009|title=Anatomy of a Firestorm, an article on the conditions and air movements of 7&nbsp;February 2009|first=William|last=Kininmonth|access-date=26 February 2009|location=Melbourne}}
	* on YouTube
			* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090328040843/http://www.theage.com.au/photogallery/2009/02/08/1234027828219.html |date=28 March 2009 }}
	* on YouTube
	*		*
			* {{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/special_eds/20090427/fires2/|title=Eye of the Storm|work=Four Corners|access-date=27 April 2009|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}
	*
			* Guide to locating books, government reports, websites, statistics, newspaper reports and images about the Black Saturday fires.
	* {{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/anatomy-of-a-firestorm-20090225-8hvi.html?page=-1 | work=The Age | date=26 February 2009 |title=Anatomy of a Firestorm, an article on the conditions and air movements of 7 February 2009|first=William |last=Kininmonth |accessdate=26 February 2009 |publisher=Fairfax}}
			* {{citation|doi=10.1002/qj.1986|title=The meteorology of Black Saturday|journal=Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society|volume=139|issue=672|pages=585–599|year=2013|last1=Engel|first1=Chermelle B.|last2=Lane|first2=Todd P.|last3=Reeder|first3=Michael J.|last4=Rezny|first4=Michael|bibcode=2013QJRMS.139..585E|s2cid=123623810|doi-access=free}}
	*
	* {{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/special_eds/20090427/fires2/ | title=Eye of the Storm | work=Four Corners | accessdate=27 April 2009 | publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}
	* Guide to locating books, government reports, websites, statistics, newspaper reports and images about the Black Saturday fires.
	* April 2009, SlowTV
	* April 2009, SlowTV
	* , July 2009, No.47, '']''
	; Maps
	*
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	; Weather information
	* Weather charts from 7 February:
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	* Radar imagery from 7 February:
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	{{Bushfires in Australia}}		{{Bushfires in Australia}}
	{{Black days}}
	{{coord missing|Australia}}
	{{DEFAULTSORT:Black Saturday Bushfires}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Black Saturday Bushfires}}
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Revision as of 22:15, 7 January 2025

Deadly bushfires in Victoria State, Australia, in 2009

Black Saturday Bushfires
MODIS Aqua satellite image of smoke plumes and a pyrocumulus cloud northeast of Melbourne during the morning of 7 February 2009.
Date(s)	7 February – 14 March 2009
Location	Victoria, Australia
Statistics
Burned area	450,000 hectares (1,100,000 acres)
Land use	Urban/Rural Fringe Areas, Farmland, and Forest Reserves/National Parks
Impacts
Deaths	173
Non-fatal injuries	414
Structures destroyed	3,500+ (2,029 houses)
Ignition
Cause	Various confirmed sources including: Power lines Arson Lightning Machinery

The Black Saturday bushfires were a series of bushfires that either ignited or were already burning across the Australian state of Victoria on and around Saturday, 7 February 2009, and were one of Australia's all-time worst bushfire disasters. The fires occurred during extreme bushfire weather conditions and resulted in Australia's highest-ever loss of human life from a bushfire, with 173 fatalities. Many people were left homeless and family-less as a result.

As many as 400 individual fires were recorded on Saturday 7 February; the day has become widely referred to in Australia as Black Saturday.

Then Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard described Black Saturday as "a tragedy beyond belief, beyond precedent and beyond words … one of the darkest days in Australia’s peacetime history."

The 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission, headed by Justice Bernard Teague, was held in response to the bushfires.

Background

See also: Early 2009 southeastern Australia heat wave

A week before the fires, a significant heatwave affected southeastern Australia. From 28 to 30 January, Melbourne broke temperature records by experiencing three consecutive days above 43 °C (109 °F), with the temperature peaking at 45.1 °C (113.2 °F) on 30 January, the third hottest day in the city's history.

The wave of heat was caused by a slow-moving high-pressure system that settled over the Tasman Sea, with a combination of an intense tropical low located off the North West Australian coast and a monsoon trough over northern Australia, which produced ideal conditions for hot tropical air to be directed down over southeastern Australia.

The February fires commenced on a day when several localities across the state, including Melbourne, recorded their highest temperatures since records began in 1859. On 6 February 2009—the day before the fires started—the Country Fire Authority chief Russell Rees warned "We are in almost uncharted territory" in terms of bushfire conditions. The Premier of Victoria John Brumby issued a warning about the extreme weather conditions expected on 7 February: "It's just as bad a day as you can imagine and on top of that the state is just tinder-dry. People need to exercise real common sense tomorrow". The Premier went on to state that it was expected to be the "worst day in the history of the state".

Events of 7 February 2009

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Black Saturday bushfires" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (February 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

More than 19,000 firefighting personnel, mainly from the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), were deployed across the state on Friday evening (6 February) in anticipation of the extreme conditions the following day. By mid-morning Saturday, hot northwesterly winds in excess of 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph) hit the state, accompanied by extremely high temperatures and extremely low humidity; a total fire ban was declared for the entire state of Victoria.

As the day progressed, the highest-ever temperatures recorded to date were reached. Melbourne hit 46.4 °C (115.5 °F), the hottest temperature ever recorded for the city and humidity levels dropped to as low as two percent. The McArthur Forest Fire Danger Index reached unprecedented levels, ranging from 160 to over 200. This was higher than the fire weather conditions experienced on Black Friday in 1939 and Ash Wednesday in 1983.

Around midday, as wind speeds were reaching their peak, an incorrectly rigged 'SWER' (single-wire earth return) mains power cable was ripped down at Kilmore East. This sparked a bushfire that became the deadliest and most intense firestorm ever recorded in Australia. The overwhelming majority of fire activity occurred between the afternoon of 7 February and 7:00 pm, a period when wind speed and temperature were at their highest, and humidity at its lowest.

Chronology

Wednesday, 28 January 2009

• Delburn fire commenced in Central Gippsland; arson suspected.

Wednesday, 4 February

• Bunyip State Park blaze commenced.

Saturday, 7 February (Black Saturday)

• 05:00 am – Bunyip State Park fire jumped containment lines; no other major fire activity.
• Late morning – Many fires sprang up as temperatures rose and wind speeds increased.
• 11:50 am – Power lines fell in high winds igniting the Kilmore East fire (Kinglake/Whittlesea area). The fire was fanned by 125 km/h (78 mph) winds, entered a pine plantation, grew in intensity, and rapidly headed southeast through the Wandong area.
• 12:30 pm – Horsham fire commenced.
• 12:30 pm – ABC Local Radio abandoned regular programming to cover the fire situation.
• 12:45 pm – Hume Freeway was closed after fire crews were unable to contain Kilmore East fire.
• Early afternoon – ABC Local Radio received calls from residents of affected areas supplying immediate up-to-date information on fire activity.
• 2:55 pm – Murrindindi Mill fire (Marysville area) first spotted from Mt Despair fire tower.
• 3:04 pm – temperature in Melbourne peaked at 46.4 °C (115.5 °F).
• 4:20 pm – Kilmore East fire front arrived at Strathewen.
• 4:20 pm – Murrindindi Mill fire impacted Narbethong.
• Mid-afternoon – smoke from Kilmore East firestorm prevented planes from mapping the fire edge.
• 4:30 pm – number of individual fires across the state increased into the hundreds.
• 4:30 pm – fire commenced at Eaglehawk, near Bendigo.
• 4:45 pm – Kilmore East fire front arrived at Kinglake.
• 5:00 pm – wind direction changed from northwesterly to southwesterly in Melbourne (see Fawkner Beacon Wind chart for 7 February 2009).
• 5:10 pm – air temperature in Melbourne dropped from over 45 °C (113 °F) to around 30 °C (86 °F) in fifteen minutes.
• 5:30 pm – wind change arrived at Kilmore East and Murrindindi Mill (Kinglake/Marysville) fire fronts.
• 5:45 pm – Kilmore East fire front arrived in Flowerdale.
• 6:00 pm – Beechworth fire commenced.
• 6:00 pm – Kilmore East fire smoke plume and pyrocumulus cloud reached 15 km (9.3 mi) high.
• 6:45 pm – Murrindindi Mill fire front arrived at Marysville.
• 8:30 pm – Victorian Health Emergency Co-ordination Centre notified Melbourne hospitals to prepare for burn victims.
• 8:57 pm – CFA chief officer first notified that casualties had been confirmed.
• 10:00 pm – Victoria Police announced an initial estimate of 14 fatalities.

Sunday, 8 February

• Kilmore East and Murrindindi Mill fires merged to form the Kinglake fire complex.
• Wilsons Promontory fire ignited by lightning.
• Victoria Police increased estimate to 25 fatalities.

Tuesday, 10 February

• Spot fires from Kinglake complex fires merged to form the Maroondah/Yarra complex.

Tuesday, 17 February

• Six fires still burned out of control, with another nineteen contained.
• Containment lines surrounded 85 per cent of the Kinglake–Murrindindi complex.
• The Kilmore East – Murrindindi complex south fire burned in Melbourne's O'Shannassy and Armstrong Creek water catchments.
• Bunyip and Beechworth fires almost contained.

Thursday, 19 February

• Victoria Police increased estimate to 208 fatalities.

Monday, 23 February

• Temperatures in the mid-30 degrees Celsius (mid-90 degrees Fahrenheit), northerly winds, and a cool change precipitated a flare-up of many of the fires, and ignited several new fires.
• The most significant new fires were in the southern Dandenong Ranges near Upwey, south of Daylesford (near Hogans Lane, Musk, Victoria), and in the Otway Ranges.
• Weather conditions directed previously burning fires in the Yarra Ranges towards settlements in the upper Yarra Valley, but the fires were of a low intensity and were quickly contained.

Friday, 27 February

• Bunyip fire still burnt within control lines in the Bunyip State Park and State Forest areas.
• The Kilmore East – Murrindindi complex north fire burned within containment lines on the southeastern flank.
• The Kilmore East – Murrindindi complex south fire activity continued in areas close to several towns in the Yarra Valley near both Yarra Glen and Warburton.
• The Wilsons Promontory Cathedral fire had burnt 24,150 ha (59,700 acres) and was still burning.
• The French Island fire slowly burnt in uninhabited grass and scrub bushland on the northeast end of the island.

Tuesday, 3 March 2009

• Extreme bushfire conditions predicted for Monday night and early Tuesday morning, involving very strong northerlies, with a change forecast to arrive by Tuesday morning. Mobile phone companies trialled technology by sending Victorians and Tasmanians three million SMS messages on behalf of Victoria Police.

Wednesday, 4 March

• Cooler conditions and rain from 4–6 March enabled firefighters to control and contain several fires, with the Kilmore East – Murrindindi complex south fire being completely contained.
• Predictions for favourable weather signalled the easing of the threat to settlements from the major fires that had been burning since 7 February.

Mid-March

• Favourable conditions aided containment efforts and extinguished many of the fires.

Major fires

Kinglake–Marysville fires

The Kinglake fire complex was named after two earlier fires, the Kilmore East fire and the Murrindindi Mill fire, merged following the wind change on the evening of 7 February. The complex was the largest of the many fires burning on Black Saturday, ultimately destroying over 330,000 ha (820,000 acres). It was also the most destructive, with over 1,800 houses destroyed and 159 lives lost in the region.

Kinglake area (Kilmore East fire)

Just before midday on 7 February, high winds felled a 2 km (1.2 mi) section of power lines owned by SP AusNet in Kilmore East, sparking a fire at approximately 11:45 am in open grasslands that adjoined pine plantations. The fire was fanned by extreme northwesterly winds, and travelled 50 km (31 mi) southeast in a narrow fire front through Wandong and Clonbinane, into Kinglake National Park, and then onto the towns of Humevale, Kinglake West, Strathewen and St Andrews.

The cool change passed through the area around 5:30 pm, bringing strong southwesterly winds. The wind change turned the initial long and narrow fire band into a wide firefront that moved in a northeast direction through Kinglake, Steels Creek, Dixons Creek, Chum Creek, Toolangi, Hazeldene, Broadford and Flowerdale.

The area became the worst-impacted in the state, with a total of 120 deaths and more than 1,200 homes destroyed.

The cause of the Kilmore East-Kinglake bushfire was found by the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission to be an ageing SP AusNet power line.

Marysville area (Murrindindi Mill fire)

According to eyewitnesses, the Murrindindi Mill fire started at 2:55 pm, while Victoria Police twice told the Royal Commission that it commenced at "about 2.30 pm". It burned southeast across the Black Range, parallel to the Kilmore fire, towards Narbethong. Experienced Air Attack Coordinator Shaun Lawlor reported flame heights of "at least 100 metres" as the fire traversed the Black Range. At Narbethong, it destroyed 95 per cent of the town's houses. When the southerly change struck, it swept towards the town of Marysville.

Late in the afternoon of 7 February, residents had anticipated that the fire front would bypass Marysville. At about 5:00 pm, power was lost to the town. Around 5:30 pm, the wind died away, however, minutes later it returned from a different direction, bringing the fire up the valley with it.

Afterwards, a police sergeant said that the main street in Marysville had been destroyed: "The motel at one end of it partially exists. The bakery has survived. Don't ask me how. Everything else is just nuked." Reports on 11 February estimated that around 100 of the town's population of approximately 500 were believed to have perished, and that only "a dozen" buildings were left. Premier Brumby described the situation: "There's no activity, there's no people, there's no buildings, there's no birds, there's no animals, everything's just gone. So the fatality rate will be very high."

Eventually 34 fatalities were confirmed in the Marysville area, with all but 14 of over 400 buildings destroyed. Other localities severely affected included Buxton and Taggerty.

To the south of the fire complex, visitors and residents were stranded at Yarra Glen when fire surrounded the town on three sides. Houses just to the north of Yarra Glen were destroyed and large areas of grassy paddocks burnt.

Investigators initially believed that the cause of the fire that originated near the Murrundindi Mill and swept through Narbethong and Marysville was arson, with several suspects investigated. Later investigations prompted a 2011 declaration that arson had not been responsible.

Beechworth fire

In Beechworth, a fire burnt over 30,000 hectares (74,000 acres) and threatened the towns of Yackandandah, Stanley, Bruarong, Dederang, Kancoona, Kancoona South, Coralbank, Glen Creek, and Running Creek. The fire ignited from a felled power line at around 6:00 pm on 7 February, 3 km (1.9 mi) south of Beechworth, before being driven south through pine plantations by hot northerly winds.

The fire destroyed an unknown number of buildings at Mudgegonga, southeast of Beechworth, with two residents confirmed dead. Dense smoke and cloud cover had hindered assessment of the Beechworth fire, but as conditions cleared late on 8 February, aerial crews were able to commence surveys of the situation.

Strong winds fuelled the fire on the night of 8 February, and lightning ignited a new fire near Kergunyah around midday on 9 February. More than 440 personnel worked to contain a separate front that threatened Gundowring and Eskdale, having jumped the Kiewa River. Late on the night of 9 February the greatest threat was to Eskdale, and fires also burnt in pine plantations 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from the large town of Myrtleford, at the western end of the fire area. While smaller towns to the east, including Gundowring and Kergunyah, remained under threat, the CFA said that there was no immediate danger to the larger towns of Beechworth and Yackandandah on the northern fringe of the fire area.

By 10 February, firefighters had completed a 115 km (71 mi) containment line around the Beechworth fire, and sought to construct 15 km (9.3 mi) more, though the fire continued to burn out of control. By that afternoon, threat messages for the area had been downgraded, though firefighters were tackling a separate fire near Koetong, to the east of the main Beechworth fire, of between 50 and 80 ha (120 and 200 acres). Residents of Beechworth and surrounding towns were advised on the evening of 10 February to expect increased smoke cover as 250 firefighters would be undertaking backburning to eliminate fuel within the control lines.

The Beechworth Correctional Centre minimum-security prison offered up to thirty of its inmates to provide assistance to firefighters; a local DSE manager said that though untrained personnel would not be allowed at the fire front, the prisoners would be welcome in support roles.

Bendigo fire

A fire to the west of the city of Bendigo burned out 500 hectares (1,200 acres). The fire broke out at about 4:30 pm on the afternoon of 7 February, and burned through Long Gully and Eaglehawk, coming within 2 km (1.2 mi) of central Bendigo, before it was brought under control late on 7 February. It destroyed around 61 houses in Bendigo's western suburbs, and damaged an electricity distribution line, resulting in blackouts to substantial parts of the city. One Long Gully resident, ill and confined to his house, was killed in the fire despite the efforts of his neighbours to rescue him. The fire changed direction late on 7 February with the cool change, and headed back towards Eaglehawk; it was contained at 9:52 pm, though it was still burning within containment lines well into the next day.

A relief centre was set up at Kangaroo Flat Senior Citizens Centre. During the fire, residents from Long Gully, Eaglehawk, Maiden Gully, California Gully, and West Bendigo were evacuated and advised to assemble at the centre. A town meeting was held for the affected residents on 8 February. On the same day, Victoria Police indicated that they were investigating whether arson was the cause of the fire.

The CFA initially suspected that the most likely cause was a cigarette butt discarded from a car or truck along Bracewell Street in Maiden Gully. However, the arson squad and local Bendigo detectives spent 9 February investigating the fire scene, and while they could not determine exactly what had caused the fire as of 10 February, they suspected arson. On 10 June 2009, Victoria Police announced that they were 'completely satisfied' that the fire had been deliberately lit.

On 2 February 2010, police announced that the taskforce investigating the arson had arrested two youths in relation to the Bendigo fires. The youths, aged 14 and 15, were each charged with arson causing death, deliberately lighting a bushfire, lighting of a fire on a day of total fire ban and lighting of a fire in a country area during extreme weather conditions. They were also charged with multiple counts of using telecommunications systems to menace, harass and offend as well as 135 counts each of arson.

On 7 November 2011, the Victorian Supreme Court Justice, Paul Coghlan, on advice from the prosecutor, Steven Milesi, found that the two youths were unfit to stand trial before a jury due to their intellectual disabilities.

Redesdale fire

In Redesdale, southeast of Bendigo, a fire starting 9 km (5.6 mi) west of the town burnt 10,000 ha (25,000 acres) and destroyed twelve houses and various outbuildings. The fire threatened the towns of Baynton and Glenhope. Glenhope was threatened again on 9 February from a smaller fire that broke away from the main front, resulting in extra fire crews being brought in from Bendigo and Kyneton. The fire was contained by 10 February.

Bunyip State Park fire

A fire started at Bunyip Ridge in the Bunyip State Park on 4 February, originating near walking tracks; it was thought to have been deliberately lit. By 6 February, the fire had burned out 123 hectares (300 acres), and emergency services personnel engaged in fighting the fire feared, despite efforts to establish containment lines in the park, that once the extreme weather conditions of 7 February arrived the fire would escape the confines of the park and threaten surrounding towns.

By the morning of 7 February, the fire had broken through containment lines. According to the DSE incident controller for the fire, the weather conditions deteriorated much more quickly than predicted, stating that "conditions overnight and in the early hours are usually mild, but our firefighters are reporting strong winds and flame heights of five to 10 metres". Ground-based fire crews had to retreat from the fire front as the escalating conditions made firefighting in the bushland terrain impossible. The fire broke out of the park around 4:00 pm, and by 6:00 pm had burnt out 2,400 hectares (5,900 acres) of forest and farmland, threatening the towns of Labertouche, Tonimbuk, Jindivick, Drouin, Warragul and Longwarry, and embers were starting spot fires up to 20 km (12 mi) to the south.

The fire destroyed approximately a dozen houses at Labertouche, Tonimbuk, and Drouin West, in addition to various outbuildings and a factory. The progress of the fire had been stopped by the afternoon of 9 February, though it had burned through 24,500 hectares (61,000 acres). DSE crews conducted backburning operations to ensure containment of the fire on 9 February, warning residents of areas between Pakenham and Warragul about smoke from those fires.

The fire was controlled and co-ordinated at the Pakenham ICC in the Combined Emergency Services building, with CFA and DSE personnel running the operation depending on where the fire was at the time. Pakenham VICSES, who shared the building, also provided assistance during the fire operation.

Central Gippsland fires

The Central Gippsland bushfires began in a pine plantation 1 km (0.62 miles) southeast of Churchill at about 1:30 pm on the afternoon of 7 February. Within 30 minutes it had spread to the southeast, threatening Hazelwood South, Jeeralang, and Budgeree East, and by late afternoon the fire was approaching Yarram and Woodside on the south Gippsland coast. The cool change came through the area about 6:00 pm, but the southwesterly winds it brought pushed the fire northeast through Callignee, destroying 57 of its 61 homes. The fire continued on to Koornalla and Traralgon South, and towards Gormandale and Willung South on the Hyland Highway. About 500 evacuees from the area sheltered at an emergency centre established in a theatre in Traralgon.

The fire threatened the Loy Yang Power Station, particularly the station's open-cut coal mine. On the night of 7 February, the fire approached the mine's overburden dump, but did not damage any infrastructure, nor did it affect the station's operations. Several small fires broke out in the bunker storing raw coal from the mine, but were contained with no damage. The threat eased by the evening of 8 February as temperatures cooled and some light rain fell. One small spot fire broke out to the south of the power station, but it was contained by water bombing aircraft.

By 9 February, the Churchill fire complex was still burning out of control, with fronts through the Latrobe Valley and the Strzelecki Ranges. By late that afternoon, the complex had burnt out 32,860 hectares (81,200 acres) and had killed eleven people. Wind changes that evening exacerbated parts of the Churchill complex, causing the CFA to issue further warnings to residents at Won Wron and surrounding areas.

Investigators revealed that they strongly believed arson was the most likely cause of the Churchill fire. A man from Churchill, Brendan Sokaluk of Chuchill, was arrested by police on 12 February and charged with one count each of arson causing death and intentionally lighting a bushfire. He was convicted of 10 counts of arson causing death and sentenced to 17 years 9 months' imprisonment in April 2012.

To also be noted: Mirboo North, known as the Delburn bushfire was lit 7 February 2009. This fire stretch out toward Morwell, devastating the beautiful towns of Mirboo North, Darlimurla, Boolarra and Boolarra South.

Dandenong Ranges fire

In Upper Ferntree Gully a fire damaged the rail track and caused the closure of the Belgrave railway line, as well as all major roads. The fire, which was contained by CFA crews within three hours, burned at least 2 ha (4.9 acres) along the railway.

In the southern Dandenong Ranges, bushfires ignited around Narre Warren, one of which was caused by sparks from a power tool. Six homes were destroyed in Narre Warren South and three in Narre Warren North.

In the weeks following Black Saturday, fires were started in bushland along Terrys Avenue in Belgrave (which was quickly contained and extinguished by the CFA), and Lysterfield State Forest in Upwey. Amongst the damage was the almost new Upper Ferntree Gully CFA Tanker 1.

Wilsons Promontory fire

On 8 February lightning sparked a fire in Wilsons Promontory which burned more than 11,000 ha (27,000 acres). This fire posed no immediate threat to campers, but due to excessive fuel and inaccessibility authorities chose to evacuate the park, with some campers being evacuated by boat.

At a community meeting on 11 February, DSE and Parks Victoria authorities revealed a plan to back-burn across the entrance to the promontory, in order to prevent any possibility of the fire burning out of the park and into farmland and towards the towns of Yanakie and Sandy Point. Crikey reported that locals were divided on the merits of the plan, some concerned as to why the back-burning had not been carried out earlier, and some worried at the large scale of the proposed burns, which were reported to be larger than both the existing fire as well as the April 2005 fires that affected the park Strong easterly winds on 12 February forced authorities to postpone the proposed burns lest they themselves pose a danger to surrounding communities, though they did proceed with preparatory work.

Maroondah/Yarra fires

The Maroondah/Yarra complex was a combination of several fires that had earlier been burning to the east of Healesville and Toolangi on 10 February, as part of the greater Kilmore East – Murrindindi complex south. By late that morning, the complex had burned out 505 hectares (1,250 acres), with 184 personnel and 56 tankers responding to the fires. A CFA spokesperson said that while temperatures had cooled, strong winds were proving problematic, with towns in the area being threatened by embers blown from the fires. Around midday, the immediate threat to property in the areas around Healesville was downgraded, though a DSE spokesperson said that residents should be mindful of localised changes in the weather.

Horsham fire

The Horsham fire burnt 5,700 ha (14,000 acres), including the golf club and eight homes. Two firefighters from the Dimboola brigade narrowly escaped when their ute was engulfed by fire.

The fire was ignited at 12:30 pm on 7 February when strong winds initiated the failure of a 40-year-old tie wire, felling a power line at Remlaw, west of the city. The fire spread southwest and then southeast, across the Wimmera Highway and Wimmera River, to the Horsham Golf Course, and then to Haven, south of the city. Firefighters managed to save the general store, town hall and school at Haven, though flames came within metres of those buildings. Winds of up to 90 km/h (56 mph) changed direction three times throughout the day, producing conditions described by the local CFA incident controller as the worst he had ever seen. To the southwest of Horsham an 82-year-old woman in a wheelchair and her daughter were collected from her house by a taxi when the fire was no more than 100 m (110 yd) away; the house was alight as the taxi drove off, and burned down within minutes.

At 3:00 pm more than 400 personnel were engaged in fighting the fire, as well as two water-bombing aircraft, 54 CFA tankers, and 35 DSE units. By 6:00 pm the front had moved east, and a wind change then pushed it northeast across the Western Highway to Drung, east of Horsham.

Coleraine fire

Shortly before 12:30 pm on 7 February 2009 a fire started on farmland, 5 km (3.1 mi) northwest of Coleraine in western Victoria. In gusting winds, a corroded tie wire holding a 48-year-old single wire earth return (SWER) conductor to an insulator failed due to metal fatigue. The insulator was atop Pole 3 37°34′51.7″S 141°38′28.8″E / 37.581028°S 141.641333°E / -37.581028; 141.641333 on the 12,700-volt Colfitz North spur line. The galvanised steel conductor swung free in the wind, suspended by poles 2 and 4, a span of 540 m (1,770 ft). It is not believed to have touched the ground, but was pushed into a nearby eucalyptus tree by the strong prevailing wind.

Burning gumleaves fell to the ground and ignited grass, from which the fire grew extremely rapidly in the hot, dry and windy conditions. Over 230 firefighters, with 43 appliances and two water bombing aircraft, worked to contain the fire which burnt 770 ha (1,900 acres). The fire destroyed one house, two haysheds, three tractors, the Coleraine Avenue of Honour, and 200 km (120 mi) of fences, as well as injuring livestock, but firefighters were able to save six other homes, including that of the parents of Victorian Premier John Brumby.

The fire threatened to burn through the township, but a wind change around 2:00 pm pushed the fire to the northeast instead. The regional CFA operations officer said of the wind change that "ll that happened within about an hour and we were lucky; we thought it would go through Coleraine, but it headed off at the last minute." At about 6:00 pm the fire was controlled.

A local man was badly burned while helping a farmer move livestock out of harm's way; the man was caught when the same wind change that saved the town pushed the fire in his direction, and he suffered burns to 50% of his body, but recovered.

Weerite fire

At Weerite, east of Camperdown, a fire burnt 1,300 ha (3,200 acres), and damaged the rail line between Geelong and Warrnambool. Approximately 3,000 sleepers were burnt across a 4 km (2.5 mi) section of track. The rail line was re-opened by 16 February.

The fire caused unquantified losses of stock, and destroyed several outbuildings, but all houses under threat were saved by CFA firefighters. The fire is thought to have been started by sparking from felled power lines along the Princes Highway, which carried restricted speeds for a short time due to the heavy smoke in the area.

Investigations

Investigations began almost immediately following the fires to determine a wide variety of things, including identification of victims, cause of ignition sources, and assessments of authority responses. A Royal Commission into the Black Saturday bushfires was conducted, a process that was intended to determine the true nature of the background causes, preparation of responsible agencies, circumstances on the day, chronology, and impacts of the events in question.

Forensic

Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police, Christine Nixon, formed a taskforce to assist in identifying victims, coordinated by Inspector Greg Hough. Around forty police from interstate and overseas assisted with Disaster Victim Identification (DVI). The police were sourced from the Australian Federal Police, Tasmania, New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia, New Zealand, and Indonesia. New Zealand police also provided four victim identification dogs and handlers.

Criminal

Arson

Some of the fires were suspected to have been deliberately lit by arsonists. Chief Commissioner Nixon stated on 9 February 2009 that all fire sites would be treated as crime scenes.

On 9 February a man was arrested in connection with the fires at Narre Warren; it was alleged by police that he had been operating a power tool, sparks from which ignited a grass fire, destroying two houses. On 12 February, two people were arrested in connection with the fires, having been observed by members of the public acting suspiciously in areas between Yea and Seymour; however, they were subsequently released without charges being laid.

A man from Churchill, Brendan Sokaluk, was arrested by police on 12 February, in relation to the Churchill fires, and was questioned at the Morwell police station, before being charged on 13 February with one count each of arson causing death, intentionally lighting a bushfire, and possession of child pornography. At a file hearing in the Magistrates' Court in Melbourne on 16 February the man was remanded in custody ahead of a committal hearing scheduled for 26 May. Following the hearing, a suppression order on the 42-year-old man's identity was lifted, though the order remained in force with respect to publishing his address or any images of him. Despite the order, several members of the public obtained his photograph from his MySpace profile and published it on the social networking website Facebook along with his home address, and others made threats of violence against him. The man's lawyer said that, as a consequence of that information being published, threats were made against the man's family. The man's ex-girlfriend and her family were also harassed after the Herald Sun newspaper published a photograph and a story about her. On 17 February, after requests from Victoria Police, the man's MySpace profile was removed; Facebook commenced deleting postings containing threats, and deleted a photo from one group.

Looting

By the morning of 11 February 2009, reports of looting had been posted. Witnesses reported seeing acts of looting occurring at a property at Heathcote Junction, shortly after the removal of the body of a victim from the property. That evening, via a report on ABC Local Radio, a number of residents of Kinglake who had been allowed back into the area to inspect the damage, revealed that a "Looters Will Be Shot" sign had been posted in the town, after a number of suspicious people and vehicles were seen moving through the town. On 12 February, a small number of arrests were made, and charges laid against people in relation to "looting offences", as announced by the Victoria Police chief commissioner, Christine Nixon.

Royal commission

Main article: 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission

The Premier of Victoria, John Brumby, announced in April 2009 that a royal commission into the fires would be held which would examine "all aspects of the government's bushfire strategy".

Casualties

A total of 173 people were confirmed to have died as a result of the fires. The figure was originally estimated at 14 on the night of 7 February, and steadily increased over the following two weeks to 210. It was feared that it could rise as high as 240–280, but these figures were later revised down to 173 after further forensic examinations of remains, and after several missing people were located.

A temporary morgue was established at the Coronial Services Centre at Southbank, capable of holding up to three hundred bodies. The Victorian Coroner compared this to a similar facility established after the July 2005 London bombings. By the morning of 10 February 101 bodies had been transported to the temporary morgue. The Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine stated that it could be impossible to positively identify many of the remains.

On 11 February, fire authorities estimated that as many as 100 of Marysville's 519 residents could have perished. By 16 February, over 150 forensic investigators were engaged in searching the ruins of Marysville. A senior lecturer in fire ecology from the University of Melbourne estimated that the fires may have been burning at temperatures of 1,200 °C (2,190 °F), and concluded that, as a result, the remains of some people caught in the fires may have been obliterated. The final death toll for Marysville was later downgraded to 34 after a large group of residents who remained unaccounted for were officially located.

Among the dead in the Kinglake West area were former Seven Network and Nine Network television personality Brian Naylor, and his wife Moiree. Veteran TV actor Reg Evans and his partner, artist Angela Brunton, residing on a small farm in the St Andrews area, also died in the Kinglake area fire. Ornithologist Richard Zann perished in the Kinglake fire, together with his wife Eileen and daughter Eva.

Fatalities

General statistics

• 164 people died in the fires themselves, 12 died later in hospital, and 4 died from other causes including car crashes
• Out of the 173 deaths, 100 were male, 73 were female.
• There were 164 Australians, 9 foreign nationals, killed in the bushfires. The foreign nationals comprised citizens of:
  • Greece (2)
  • Indonesia (2)
  • Philippines (2)
  • Chile (1)
  • New Zealand (1)
  • United Kingdom (1)
• 7 of the deaths occurred in bunkers of both fire-specific and non-fire-specific design.
• 1 firefighter, David Balfour, 47, from Gilmore, ACT, was killed near Cambarville on the night of 17 February, when a burnt-out tree fell on him as he attached a hose to a fire tanker.

Location of deaths:

• Inside houses (113)
• Outside houses (27)
• In vehicles (11)
• In garages (6)
• Near vehicles (5)
• On roadways (5)
• Attributed to or associated with the fire but not within fire location (4)
• On reserves (1)
• In sheds (1)

Locality of deaths:

Kinglake/Whittlesea Area (120)

Kinglake (38) Strathewen (27) St Andrews (12) Steels Creek (10)

Hazeldene (10) Humevale (6) Kinglake West (4) Flowerdale (2)

Whittlesea (2) Toolangi (2) Arthurs Creek (2) Clonbinane (1)

Heathcote Junction (1) Strath Creek (1) Upper Plenty (1) Yarra Glen (1)

Marysville Area (39)

Marysville (34)

Narbethong (4)

Cambarville (ACT firefighter) (1)

Central Gippsland (11)

Callignee (4)

Koornalla (4)

Churchill (2)

Jeerralang Junction (1)

Beechworth (2)

• Mudgegonga (2)

Bendigo (1)

• Eaglehawk (1)

Total

173

Injuries

A total of 414 people were injured during the Black Saturday bushfires. Due to the intensity and speed of the fires, most casualties of the bushfires either died, or survived with minor injuries. There were significantly fewer major burns than in previous bushfires, such as Ash Wednesday. Of the people who presented to medical treatment centres and hospitals, there were 22 with serious burns and 390 with minor burns and other bushfire-related injuries.

National and statewide burns disaster plans were activated. Twenty-two patients with major burns presented to the state's burns referral centres, of which eighteen were adults. One patient admitted to the Royal Children's Hospital and two at The Alfred Hospital died from their injuries. Adult burns patients at The Alfred spent 48.7 hours in theatre in the first 72 hours. There were a further 390 bushfire-related presentations across the state in the first 72 hours. Most patients with serious burns were triaged to, and managed at, burns referral centres. Throughout the disaster, burns referral centres continued to have substantial surge capacity.

Overall statistics

It was estimated that the amount of energy released during the firestorm in the Kinglake-Marysville area was equivalent to the amount of energy that would be released by 1,500 Hiroshima-sized atomic bombs.

Beyond the casualty list detailed above, physical damage caused by the bushfires included:

• 450,000 ha (1,100,000 acres) burnt
• 7,562 people displaced
• Over 3,500 structures destroyed, including:
  • 2,029+ houses
  • 59 commercial properties (shops, pubs, service stations, golf clubs, etc.)
  • 12 community buildings (including 2 police stations, 3 schools, 3 churches, 1 fire station)
  • 399 machinery sheds, 363 hay sheds, 19 dairies, 26 woolsheds, 729 other farm buildings
• Agricultural and horticultural losses:
  • Over 11,800 head of livestock, consisting of 2,150 sheep, 1,207 cattle, and an unknown number of horses, goats, alpacas, poultry, and pigs
  • 25,600 tonnes (25,200 long tons; 28,200 short tons) of stored fodder and grain
  • 32,000 tonnes (31,000 long tons; 35,000 short tons) of hay and silage
  • 190 ha (470 acres) of standing crops
  • 62,000 ha (150,000 acres) of pasture
  • 735 ha (1,820 acres) of fruit trees, olives and vines
  • Over 10,000 kilometres (6,200 mi) of boundary and internal fencing destroyed or damaged
  • 7,000 ha (17,000 acres) of plantation timber
• 98,932 ha (244,470 acres) of parks damaged, 90 per cent of which was national park. It was claimed that 950 local parks, 70 national parks and reserves, and over 600 cultural sites and historic places were impacted or destroyed
• 3,921 ha (9,690 acres) of private bushland
• Over 55 businesses destroyed
• Electricity supply was disrupted to 60,000 residents
• Several mobile phone base stations and telephone exchanges damaged or destroyed

Damage by locality

Summary of damage by locality

Area	Area (ha)	Fatalities	Buildings destroyed	Ignition source	Fire name/origin
Kinglake Area	180,000+	120	1,244 houses, many commercial buildings	Power lines	Kilmore East fire
Marysville Area	150,000+	39	590 houses, many commercial buildings	Break in an electrical conductor on a power pole near the Murrindindi Saw Mill	Murrindindi Mill fire
Central Gippsland	32,860+	11	247 houses	Arson	Churchill-Jeeralang fire
Beechworth	30,000+	2	29 houses	Power lines	Mudgegonga fire
Bunyip State Park	24,500	0	24 houses, several other buildings	Arson/lightning suspected	Bunyip State Park fire
Wilsons Promontory	11,000+	0	None	Lightning	–
Redesdale	10,000	0	12 houses, several outbuildings	Unknown	–
Horsham	5,700	0	8 houses, several other buildings	Power lines	Remlaw fire
Weerite	1,300	0	Several outbuildings	Power lines	–
Coleraine	770	0	1 house, several outbuildings	Power lines	–
Maroondah/Upper Yarra	505	0	None	Spotting	Maroondah/Yarra complex
Bendigo	384	1	61 houses, 125 sheds and outbuildings	Arson	Maiden Gully/Bracewell Street fire
Dandenong Ranges	5+	0		Unknown, machinery	Upper Ferntree Gully fire
Totals	450,000+	173	3,500+ (2,029+ houses)

Responses

Main article: Reactions to the Black Saturday bushfire crisis

Responses to the Black Saturday bushfires included immediate community response, donations, and international aid efforts. Later responses included Government inquiries including a Royal Commission, and recommendations and discussions from a wide variety of bodies, organisations, authorities and communities.

In September 2009 it was announced that Australia's most prominent fire ecologist, Kevin Tolhurst, was developing a new course for the University of Melbourne on fire behaviour. Later that month the City of Manningham announced it was developing the state's first integrated fire management plan in conjunction with the interim findings of the Royal Commission. It is expected that eventually all Victorian councils responsible for both urban and rural land will need to develop such plans, which define fire risks in open space areas, along major roads, and in parkland.

In September/October 2009, it was announced that a new fire hazard system would replace the previous one. The new system involves a six-tier scale to indicating such things as the level of risk and activity of the fire. This standardised Fire Danger Rating (FDR) was subsequently adopted by all Australian states in late 2009. Every day during the fire season the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) forecasts an outlook of the Fire Danger Index (FDI) by considering the predicted weather including temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and dryness of vegetation. On the highest risk days, residents are advised to leave the potentially affected areas.

The RSPCA estimated that over a million animals perished in the bushfires. Additionally, many of the surviving wildlife suffered from severe burns. For example, large numbers of kangaroos were afflicted with burned feet due to territorial instincts that drew them back to their recently burned and smouldering home ranges. The affected area, particularly around Marysville, contains the only known habitat of Leadbeater's possum, Victoria's faunal emblem, putting this species under further threat.

Forested catchment areas supplying five of Melbourne's nine major dams were affected by the fires, with the worst affected being the Maroondah Reservoir and O'Shannassy Reservoir. As of 17 February 2009, over ten billion litres of water had been shifted out of affected dams into others.

In early March 2009, smoke from the fires was discovered in the atmosphere over Antarctica at record altitudes.

Economic impact

The Bushfires Royal Commission gave a "conservative" estimate of the total cost of the Black Saturday bushfires of $4.4 billion. This figure included a value of $645 million placed on the 173 lives lost using an accepted method the government uses to value lives, however did not include any assessment of the cost of the injuries received.

The largest contributor to the total cost was insurance claims, which the Insurance Council of Australia reported as $1.2 billion as of August 2010. This figure was composed of 84 per cent for property or contents, and 16 per cent for vehicles. However, the report also estimated that up to 13 per cent of residential properties destroyed may have had no insurance, with many more under-insured, thus suggesting that the actual cost of asset damage in the bushfires was considerably higher than that recorded. The report from the commission said that: "... the level of insurance claims is likely to underestimate the true extent of property losses, but it is unable to calculate the extent of this underestimation".

Also omitted from the $4.4 billion figure were the agricultural losses sustained in the fires, and the ongoing impacts on agriculture in following seasons. The Victorian Department of Primary Industries estimated losses shortly after the fires as 11,800 head of livestock, 62,000 hectares (150,000 acres) of grazing pasture, and 32,000 tonnes (31,000 long tons; 35,000 short tons) of hay and silage.

As of February 2011, two years after the fires, the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority stated that based on figures from the end of 2010, permits had been issued for the rebuilding of only 731 of the 1,795, or 41 per cent of the principal places of residence destroyed in the fires.

Lawsuits

A class action lawsuit was initiated in the Supreme Court of Victoria on 13 February 2009 by Slidders Lawyers against electricity distribution company SP AusNet, in relation to the Kilmore East fire that became part of the Kinglake complex, and the Beechworth fires. A partner at the firm indicated that the claim would centre on alleged negligence by SP AusNet in its management of electricity infrastructure. On 12 February police had taken away a section of power line as well as a power pole from near Kilmore East, part of a two-kilometre section of line that fell on the morning of 7 February and was believed to have started the fire there. The class action was ultimately run by law firm Maurice Blackburn. The action alleged the power company failed to fit a $10 protective device on the power line, which contributed to it breaking and starting the devastating Kilmore East/Kinglake fire. The case settled in December 2014 with a settlement of $494.67 million, the country's largest class action settlement, approved by the Supreme Court of Victoria. (The previous highest payout was $200 Million in Kirby v Centro Properties Limited (No 6) FCA 650 (19 June 2012).)

In February 2014 a class action trial against SP AusNet by victims of the Marysville blaze was begun in the Supreme Court. It was alleged that the fire was caused by a "break in an electrical conductor on a power pole near the Murrindindi Saw Mill". A$300 million settlement was announced before the trial began. The class action by Murrindindi/Marysville victims was settled in February 2015 for $300 million.

A total of nearly $700 million (after legal expenses) was shared among the claimants of the two highly complex class actions, which were presided over by Justices Jack Forrest and John Dixon. Various other claimants by communities around Coleraine, Horsham, Weerite-Pomborneit, and Beechworth-Mudgegonga also had lawsuits managed by the Supreme Court.

Fire policy

In the wake of the fires and the mounting casualty toll, there was debate about policies for dealing with bushfires and the management practices that may have contributed to them. Naomi Brown, chief executive of the Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Council, argued that the high number of fatalities in these fires, as opposed to earlier fires such as the Ash Wednesday fires, was partly attributable to increased population densities on Melbourne's fringes. David Packham, bushfire expert and research fellow at Monash University, argued that high fuel loads in bushland led to the destructive intensity of the fires, saying that "There has been total mismanagement of the Australian forest environment."

In announcing that the fires would be investigated by a Royal Commission, the Premier of Victoria, John Brumby, suggested that the long-standing "stay-and-defend-or-leave-early" policy would be reviewed, saying that while it had proven reliable during normal conditions, the conditions on 7 February had been exceptional. Brumby said that "There were many people who had done all of the preparations, had the best fire plans in the world and tragically it didn't save them."

Commissioner Nixon, however, defended the policy, saying that it was "well thought of and well based and has stood the test of time and we support it". Similarly, Commissioner of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, Shane Fitzsimmons, said that "Decades of science, practice and history show that a well-prepared home provides the best refuge in the event of fire". Nixon also dismissed potential policies involving forced evacuations, saying "There used to be policies where you could make people leave but we're talking about adults." A former Victorian police minister, Pat McNamara, argued that forced evacuations could have worsened the death toll, as many of the dead appeared to have been killed while attempting to evacuate the fire areas by car.

Building codes

In response to the Black Saturday bushfires new building regulations for Victorian bushfire-prone areas were fast tracked by Standards Australia. Through the Department of Planning and Community Development the Victorian government has published a range of new guidelines and standards for bushfire planning and building.

Based on this information, the Building Commission Victoria has released a range of publications to assist with people returning to properties, moving into temporary dwellings, retrofitting existing dwellings, and building new dwellings in bushfire areas. The new standard states that all properties (not just those in bushfire areas) will now require a "bushfire attack assessment", and will be given a Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) rating that outlines the type of construction required. The BAL takes into consideration such factors as the Fire Danger Index, the slope, and surrounding vegetation. BALs range from "BAL-LOW", for properties with no specific construction requirements such as suburban buildings, to "BAL-FZ" for properties in the fire zone likely to experience direct exposure to the fire front, as well as high heat flux and ember attacks.

While a draft national building code for bushfire-prone areas proposed using 1,000 K (730 °C; 1,340 °F) as the standard for the assumed temperature to which houses are subject when hit by bushfire, fire engineers argued that standards should be based on a 1,090 K (820 °C; 1,500 °F) temperature. This was in line with existing New South Wales building laws for bushfire-prone areas, although the temperature of fires can actually peak at approximately 1,600 K (1,330 °C; 2,420 °F). The Australian Building Codes Board incorporated the 1,090 K (820 °C; 1,500 °F) temperature in the standard, with the support of the CFA and Australasian Fire Authorities Council.

Banning housing in highest risk areas

As part of the building codes debate, an expert panel recommended in 2010 that the state government ban housing in the highest fire risk areas, which are some of the most dangerous in the world. Michael Buxton, a professor at RMIT University, said that after the 1983 Ash Wednesday fires the government bought back tens of thousands of lots across the Dandenong Ranges because they were in extremely high fire risk areas; he backed another similar large-scale buyback scheme to move people away from unacceptably high risk areas.

Another member of the panel, international planning expert Roz Hansen, said that she was "disappointed and alarmed" about the decision to rebuild Marysville, stating that it was unlikely that a new development would have been permitted in the area. She went on to say that in parts of Asia, people had been forcibly moved out of unacceptably high risk cyclone and flooding areas in the public interest despite the difficulties this involved.

See also

Portal:

• Australia

• Ash Wednesday bushfires
• Black Friday (1939)
• Black Saturday firestorm (Wildfire case study)
• Utility-caused wildfires
• List of disasters in Australia by death toll
• List of major bushfires in Australia
• List of wildfires
• Recloser
• Sam the Koala
• 1967 Tasmanian fires
• 2008–09 Australian bushfire season
• 2019–20 Australian bushfire season

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184. "Victims of Black Saturday fire launch class action". Australia: ABC News. 7 August 2012. Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015. A class action will be launched in the Supreme Court today on behalf of victims of the Murrindindi bushfire on Black Saturday in 2009.
185. ^ Rood, David (10 February 2009). "Forest strategies questioned". The Age. Melbourne. Archived from the original on 14 February 2009. Retrieved 10 February 2009.
186. ^ "Stay-at-home policy best, says NSW fire commissioner". The Australian. 9 February 2009. Archived from the original on 11 February 2009. Retrieved 10 February 2009.
187. ^ "Nixon defends fire policy". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 9 February 2009. Archived from the original on 10 February 2009. Retrieved 10 February 2009.
188. "Victoria looks at changes to building standards". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 February 2009. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2009.
189. "Media Release – Standards Australia to fast track completion of bushfire Standard" (PDF). Standards Australia. 11 February 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 February 2009. Retrieved 17 February 2009.
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Further reading

• Hooper, Chloe (2018). The Arsonist: A Mind on Fire. Penguin Random House Australia. ISBN 978-1-74348-552-1.
• Hyland, Adrian (2015). Kinglake-350. Melbourne: Text Publishing. ISBN 9781922182920.
• Stewart, Kath; Hawkins, Deidre (2018). Living with Fire: A Brief History of Fires in the Kinglake Ranges. Kinglake Historical Society. ISBN 978-0-9871217-8-3.

External links

• 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission website with transcripts exhibits submissions etc (very large file)
• Black Saturday bushfires on YouTube
• CFA Black Saturday video footage on YouTube
• Kininmonth, William (26 February 2009). "Anatomy of a Firestorm, an article on the conditions and air movements of 7 February 2009". The Age. Melbourne. Retrieved 26 February 2009.
• The Age's image gallery Archived 28 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
• The Herald Sun's interactive fire map
• "Eye of the Storm". Four Corners. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
• State Library of Victoria's Bushfires in Victoria Research Guide Guide to locating books, government reports, websites, statistics, newspaper reports and images about the Black Saturday fires.
• Engel, Chermelle B.; Lane, Todd P.; Reeder, Michael J.; Rezny, Michael (2013), "The meteorology of Black Saturday", Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 139 (672): 585–599, Bibcode:2013QJRMS.139..585E, doi:10.1002/qj.1986, S2CID 123623810

v t e Bushfires in Australia
Australian Capital Territory	Canberra (2003)
New South Wales	Seaham (1939) Chatsbury (1965) Eastern seaboard (1994) Black Christmas (2001) / Warragamba (2001) Junee (2006) Pulletop (2006) New South Wales (2013) Tathra (2018)
South Australia	Adelaide Hills (1939) Black Sunday (1955) Wandilo (1958) Ash Wednesday I (1980) Ash Wednesday II (1983) Black Tuesday (2005) Kangaroo Island (2007) Cherryville (2013) Sampson Flat (2015) Pinery (2015)
Tasmania	Black Tuesday (1967) Tasmania (2013) Tasmania (2016)
Victoria	Black Thursday (1851) Heytesbury (1886) Red Tuesday (1898) Black Sunday (1926) Black Friday (1939) WWII (1943–44) Lara (1969) Ash Wednesday (1983) Linton (1998) Eastern Victorian alpine (2003) Mount Lubra (2006) Eastern Victoria Great Divide (2006–07) Black Saturday (2009) Great Ocean Road (2015–16)
Western Australia	Western Australia (1961) Perth Hills (2014) Western Australia (2015) Esperance (2015) Waroona (2016) Wooroloo (2021) Beechina (2021) Wanneroo (2023)
By national season	1925–26 1943–44 1954–55 1964–65 1974–75 1982–83 1993–94 1996–97 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
List of Australian bushfire seasons

Categories:

• 2009 disasters in Australia
• Arson in Australia
• 2009 wildfires
• Bushfires in Victoria (state)
• Forests of Victoria (state)
• 2000s in Victoria (state)
• February 2009 events in Australia
• 2009 murders in Australia
• Arson in 2009
• February 2009 crimes in Oceania
• Wildfires caused by arson
• Mass murder in 2009
• 21st-century mass murder in Australia
• 2000s fires in Oceania
• Industrial fires and explosions in Australia
• 2009 industrial disasters