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Over the four days leading up to these fires, a period of extreme temperature and low humiidty was experienced. The fire index of 96 on the day of the fire was one of the highest readings on record. There were winds of up to 65 knots (BoM).
There were 62 deaths, 900 injuries and over 7000 people made homeless. The fires killed 500 horses, 1,350 cattle, 60,000 sheep, 24,000 chickens, 600 pigs, and other animals.
A total of over 3,000 buildings (including 1,293 homes and 128 major buildings (eg factories, churches, schools & POs) were destroyed, about 80 bridges and thousands of power poles, 1,500 vehicles, 5,400km of farm fences and 265,000 ha burnt (including orchards [20% of State fruit crop] other crops, pasture and forest). Original total estimated cost was approx $45M and insurance loss was $14M, both in 1967 values.
The fires reached 2km from central Hobart, fanned by 80km/h (average) winds. A Royal Commission after the fires found there were 110 fires burning within a 56km radius of Hobart on February 7. |
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