What was the worst bushfire in Australia?
1974–75 bushfire In the summer of 1974-1975 (southern hemisphere), Australia suffered its worst recorded bushfire, when 15% of Australia’s land mass suffered “extensive fire damage”. Fires that summer burnt an estimated 117 million hectares (290 million acres; 1,170,000 square kilometres; 450,000 square miles).
Where was the 1967 Tasmania bushfire?
The fires came within two kilometres of the central business district of Hobart. The economic impact of Black Tuesday was also significant. The fires destroyed 1,293 homes, burning through 264 270 hectares in the state’s south within five hours.
Do they use ocean water to fight fires?
Fire can be put out with seawater, though it is not usually used to do so. Saltwater can effectively extinguish fire, but it may damage firefighting equipment and hurt plant life if used. Saltwater use creates problems for both the water distributing equipment and the surrounding environment.
What was the largest bushfire ever recorded?
The Chinchaga Fire started in logging slash in British Columbia, Canada, on 1 June 1950 that grew out of control and ended five months later on 31 October in Alberta; in that time, it burned approximately 1.2 million hectares (3 million acres) of boreal forest.
How did the 2013 Tasmanian bushfires start?
In early January 2013, hot, windy conditions fanned up to 40 fires throughout Tasmania. The main fire started near Forcett and caused significant damage to local townships, particularly Dunalley, east of Hobart, where more than half of the town’s buildings and a primary school were destroyed.
Why does salt stop fires?
Salt smothers the fire so it can no longer get oxygen. The bigger the fire the more salt so you might want a home approved fire extinguisher. Remember no water on an oil fire unless you want a horrible splattering of oil/water.
Why can’t you use salt water to fight fires?
Finally, saltwater corrodes the almost entirely metal-made fire fighting equipment that we use. That corrosion will lead to damage, constant repair, and could end up being the reason why fire isn’t extinguished fast enough. Using salt water to fight fires just isn’t worth all of the extra work that it would take.
What started the Dixie fire?
The Dixie Fire, which has burned more than 900,000 acres, began in mid-July after a Douglas fir fell onto a PG&E line in the Feather River Canyon.
How far did Ash Wednesday spread?
The total land area burnt was approximately 2,100 km2 (520,000 acres; 210,000 hectares) in Victoria and 2,080 km2 (510,000 acres; 208,000 hectares) in South Australia. The summer bushfires of 1982/1983 razed approximately 5,200 km2 (1.3 million acres; 520,000 hectares).