INTERNATIONAL WILDFIRES (21ST CENTURY)

2011

ECOCIDE
noun
destruction of the natural environment,
especially when deliberate.

INTERNATIONAL WILDFIRES

(Largest Fires of the 21st Century)

Australian Bushfire
Season (2011-12)

(Western Australia, Satellite Imagery)

#10

LARGEST FIRE OF THE 21ST CENTURY

The Official Story

2011–12 AUSTRALIAN BUSHFIRE SEASON
(10th Largest Fire of the 21st Century)

Bushfires were mostly active between September 2011 to March 2012 and caused most damage in the state of Western Australia, particularly in the South West. The state had been prepared and had expected an increased risk of bushfire following heavy spring rains as a result of a La Nina weather pattern.

Western Australia

September

During the Kimberley Ultramarathon on 2 September, a bushfire raced through the course, engulfing a group of five participants at El Questro Station. Two men escaped the flames, suffering severe burns but the two females were trapped, each suffering critical injuries. Thirty grass fires were burning in Kimberley at the same time. Several other fires were burning through the Kimberley, resulting in the loss of 60,000 hectares (150,000 acres) of grassland. It has since been discovered that Kimberley locals were lighting fires before and on the day of the race.

November

A fire broke out near Margaret River in the South West region on 23 November. Temperatures in excess of 30 °C (86 °F) and strong winds fanned what began as a controlled burn in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. The fire soon swept over the town causing hundreds of people from Prevelly, Gnarabup and the town outskirts to be evacuated to the beach. By the following day dozens of homes had been lost to the fire, including historic Wallcliffe House. The premier, Colin Barnett, declared Margaret River a Natural Disaster Zone and promised a full inquiry as to how the fire started. The fire was controlled by 26 November after burning through 3,400 hectares (8,400 acres) of land and leaving a total of 39 homes destroyed and another 14 damaged, but there were no deaths.

Other bushfires were recorded at the same time about 30 kilometres (19 mi) south west of Nannup, another near Three Springs, a third near Peron and a fourth north of Denmark.

In the Pilbara region a large bushfire burnt through an area of 650 square kilometres (251 sq mi) of bushland in the Nimingarra area close to the Yarrie minesite.

December

The Denmark fire was contained but warnings remained by 1 December, a total of 5,600 hectares (14,000 acres) were lost. The Nannup fire continued to burn and was not contained until 3 December, by 2 December it had claimed some 30,000 hectares (74,000 acres), it had started as a prescribed burn but had raged out of control. Once finally extinguished it had burnt out about 55,100 hectares (136,000 acres) of land.

A large fire in the Pilbara region had burned out over 1,500 square kilometres (579 sq mi) of bushland and rangeland by 26 December. A large portion of Giralia Station was burnt out with the fire coming close to the homestead before being extinguished. Yanrey and Koordarrie Stations were also threatened by the blaze.

Source: Wikipedia

2011–12 Australian Bushfire Season Statistics

Dates(s):	Winter (June) 2011 – Autumn (May) 2012
Burned Area:	>14,076 square kilometres (5,435 sq mi)
Buildings Destroyed:	39 lost, at least 20 damaged
Deaths:	0
Non-fatal injuries:	4