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Note: Costs and some other impact figures are provisional, pending final insurance reports etc.
The longest official continuous bushfire emergency in NSW occurred between 21 December 2001 and 13 January 2002 when widespread severe bushfires burned throughout much of NSW including the NE, Central Coast, Greater Sydney Region, Blue Mountains, Central West and South Coast and hinterland and ACT (see separate related event) during mainly extreme weather conditions across eastern NSW. Unusual fire behaviour was observed in many areas due to variable winds and extreme dryness of fuel.
The first serious damage occurred on 21 December at Eugowra (west of Orange) where fire swept through 19 rural properties destroying four farm houses and much equipment. Up to 100 large (out of control) bushfires burnt simultaneously in different areas at the height of the crisis. It was the first time that large bushfires had travelled from the mountains to the coast (as they did in the Shoalhaven region for example). Ultimately over 650,000 ha were burnt. Initially, serious, destructive fires in the Blue Mountains and outer Western Sydney regions (incl Hawkesbury and Warragamba) prompted a disaster declaration by the State Government.
A total of 121 homes were destroyed and 36 were seriously damaged and 304 with less serious damage (Figures courtesy of NSW Dept of Community Services). Additionally,15 businesses and 255 other structures were destroyed (incl sheds, carports, urban fences etc). The worst affected regions, in terms of homes destroyed, were Hawkesbury, Silverdale - Warragamba, Helensburgh and the Shoalhaven. Approximately 10,000 people evacuated (5000 alone in the Jervis Bay area) - 15,000 firefighters deployed from across Australia and New Zealand to fight up to 100 large fires for over three weeks as hot, mainly north-westerly winds and very dry conditions persisted. Over 200 km of fencing was destroyed, while well over 5000 livestock died along with large numbers of native animals (incl in many national parks). Most rural/agricultural damage happened on properties bordering the Goobang National Park south of Dubbo where about 16,000ha of farmland were burnt out killing 4000 sheep, 50 cattle and ruining 180 km of fencing.
The majority of property damage happened in the final 10 days of 2001 and was particularly concentrated between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day. Most of the fires were started either by lightning or arsonists.
The provisional insurance loss figure ($80m) comprised mainly houses and commercial claims (incl a $10m for a plant nursery and $4.6m for a Christian Centre and several other large ones). Also thousands of small insurance claims were lodged for minor damage (eg smoke damage to soft furnishings) or food spoilage due to lack of refrigeration caused by widespread blackouts (particularly on the South Coast) which were a result of burnt power poles and a damaged sub-station. Other costs included: approx $70m for the NSW Government to combat the fires (incl $32m for private helicopters and planes for water-bombing etc); $7m for aircraft fuel and fire retardant; $1m for meals, accommodation, equipment and transport; vastly increased operating and salary costs of all authorities involved including urban and rural fire units, SES, ambulance, police, National Parks, State Forests and Department of Community Services; and damaged government/public property and infrastructure. Further costs included multi-millions in lost income for the tourist industry (incl Hunter Valley, South Coast and Blue Mountains) and agricultural losses involving livestock, crops, pastures, fences etc; and forestry timber. Additionally, the NSW Chamber of Commerce said that employers faced a bill of at least $10m in wages for empolyees who were volunteer firefighters, SES, etc who were absent from work fighting the fires.
Apart from the cost of all uninsured private (up to 20% of total) and public property loss or damage, there was also the value of all interstate firefighting assistance plus the Federal Government's costs for the four military helicopters and a large fuel tanker used, and the cost of transporting two additional large *Aircrane helitankers from the USA which were leased for waterbombing the fires.
Note: NSW had already been lent one such *aircraft, normally leased by Victoria and it had been very successful in saving homes around Sydney, particulary in the West Pymble area, and later, on the South Coast where the largest evacuations of 5000 took place at Sussex Inlet near Jervis Bay. |
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