Cause and Effect- Winmalee, Yellow Rock and Springwood Bushfires
It is time for you to be a forensic investigator and find out how the fire started.
Activity
- Divide a page in half and write the headings 'cause and 'effect'
- Look at the poster below. What is cause and effect? Discuss
- Read the questions below the poster
- Go to the timeline and list all the causes and effects of the fire.
Questions:
- How many causes of the fire can you find in this timeline?
- List the effects of the bushfires (What was the result of the bushfire?)
- Discuss some ways the fire may have been prevented.
Bushfire timeline- How it happened
Click on the image of the timeline to go to the website
Winmalee Bushfire gallery- click on the image to go to the gallery
In pictures: NSW bushfiresUpdated 25 Oct 2013, 11:28am
View photographs of the bushfires that have ravaged NSW and darkened the skies with smoke and ash.
Topics: bushfire, nsw
View photographs of the bushfires that have ravaged NSW and darkened the skies with smoke and ash.
Topics: bushfire, nsw
Newspaper Articles
Questions:
- How many causes of the fire can you find in this article?
- List the effects of the bushfires.
- What was the result of the bushfire?
- Discuss some ways the fire may have been prevented.
Blue Mountains bushfires that destroyed 200 homes probably caused by falling trees
Jennie Curtin (SMH)
Two bushfires that destroyed more than 200 homes in the Blue Mountains in October 2013 were probably caused by trees falling onto power lines, an inquiry heard on Monday.
The fires – one in Mt Victoria in the Upper Mountains, and one that started in Springwood – were fanned by wind gusts of up to 100km/h and took hold within minutes.
"Fortunately, and remarkably, neither fire led to any loss of human life," counsel assisting, Ian Bourke SC, told the inquiry in his opening address.
"This appears to have been due in part to good luck and in part to the fact that both fires commenced during daylight hours, which assisted the efforts of police, firefighters and other emergency personnel in evacuating people from homes, hospitals, schools and other places."
The inquiry, being held before coroner Fiona Toose at Katoomba court, will investigate the cause and origins of the fires.
She will also consider the feasibility of reducing fuel loads near overhead power lines, whether they should be insulated or the possibility of putting them underground in bushfire prone areas.
"Thursday, October 17, 2013, dawned hot, very hot," Mr Bourke said.
At 6am, the NSW Rural Fire Service predicted a severe bushfire risk for the greater Sydney region.
About 12.15pm, Mt Victoria resident Roland Clarke was driving in Mt York Road when he saw a small fire.
He called 000 and firefighters were there in less than 10 minutes.
"Although [they] had some initial success in controlling this fire ... it eventually jumped into bushland ... where it became a fast-moving inferno which that day destroyed," Mr Bourke said.
It would eventually destroy nine houses in Mt Victoria.
A little more than an hour later, a resident of Linksview Road, Springwood, heard a "twang" and a "crackling" sound as a tree fell on overhead powerlines.
There was also a small fire nearby that was reported to 000.
Again, emergency personnel arrived quickly but were "helpless" in the face of the flames, Mr Bourke said.
Detective Brendan Bayliss, who was trying to evacuate people, described driving into one road in Winmalee.
"I saw a number of RFS and FRNSW trucks parked fighting fires to premises on the southern side of the street. The sky then became black, reducing my visibility to almost nil. Due to the danger I made a decision to proceed no further ... turning into a driveway to turn the police vehicles around.
"[Colleague] Detective Clancy got out ... to direct me, as I could not see due to the smoke. Day had turned to night."
The fire destroyed 194 homes in Winmalee and Yellow Rock, costing an estimated $170 million.
Springwood Hospital was evacuated, as were a number of nursing homes and several hundred children from at least five schools.
Mr Bourke said, given the extent of the damage, it was important to consider the effect on the wide Mountains community: "Those who fought the fires, those who took in friends and family who were suddenly homeless, the people who donated time and services to relief efforts, and those who donated to the appeals in the days and weeks after the fires."
Both fires burnt for weeks, destroying vast swaths of bushland.
The Mt Victoria fire was officially declared out on November 11 and the Springwood fire on November 13.
The inquiry continues all week.
Jennie Curtin (SMH)
Two bushfires that destroyed more than 200 homes in the Blue Mountains in October 2013 were probably caused by trees falling onto power lines, an inquiry heard on Monday.
The fires – one in Mt Victoria in the Upper Mountains, and one that started in Springwood – were fanned by wind gusts of up to 100km/h and took hold within minutes.
"Fortunately, and remarkably, neither fire led to any loss of human life," counsel assisting, Ian Bourke SC, told the inquiry in his opening address.
"This appears to have been due in part to good luck and in part to the fact that both fires commenced during daylight hours, which assisted the efforts of police, firefighters and other emergency personnel in evacuating people from homes, hospitals, schools and other places."
The inquiry, being held before coroner Fiona Toose at Katoomba court, will investigate the cause and origins of the fires.
She will also consider the feasibility of reducing fuel loads near overhead power lines, whether they should be insulated or the possibility of putting them underground in bushfire prone areas.
"Thursday, October 17, 2013, dawned hot, very hot," Mr Bourke said.
At 6am, the NSW Rural Fire Service predicted a severe bushfire risk for the greater Sydney region.
About 12.15pm, Mt Victoria resident Roland Clarke was driving in Mt York Road when he saw a small fire.
He called 000 and firefighters were there in less than 10 minutes.
"Although [they] had some initial success in controlling this fire ... it eventually jumped into bushland ... where it became a fast-moving inferno which that day destroyed," Mr Bourke said.
It would eventually destroy nine houses in Mt Victoria.
A little more than an hour later, a resident of Linksview Road, Springwood, heard a "twang" and a "crackling" sound as a tree fell on overhead powerlines.
There was also a small fire nearby that was reported to 000.
Again, emergency personnel arrived quickly but were "helpless" in the face of the flames, Mr Bourke said.
Detective Brendan Bayliss, who was trying to evacuate people, described driving into one road in Winmalee.
"I saw a number of RFS and FRNSW trucks parked fighting fires to premises on the southern side of the street. The sky then became black, reducing my visibility to almost nil. Due to the danger I made a decision to proceed no further ... turning into a driveway to turn the police vehicles around.
"[Colleague] Detective Clancy got out ... to direct me, as I could not see due to the smoke. Day had turned to night."
The fire destroyed 194 homes in Winmalee and Yellow Rock, costing an estimated $170 million.
Springwood Hospital was evacuated, as were a number of nursing homes and several hundred children from at least five schools.
Mr Bourke said, given the extent of the damage, it was important to consider the effect on the wide Mountains community: "Those who fought the fires, those who took in friends and family who were suddenly homeless, the people who donated time and services to relief efforts, and those who donated to the appeals in the days and weeks after the fires."
Both fires burnt for weeks, destroying vast swaths of bushland.
The Mt Victoria fire was officially declared out on November 11 and the Springwood fire on November 13.
The inquiry continues all week.
Article 2
2013 Blue Mountains bushfires: Remembering the disaster one year on
Army exercises ignited a new front
ABC Radio Sydney
By John DoneganUpdated 17 Oct 2014, 11:06am
The Mount York fire destroyed nine homes in Mount Victoria, while the State Mine fire threatened the communities of Mount Wilson and Mount Irvine and burned two homes.
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has claimed responsibility for starting the State Mine fire.
The fire was ignited by a demolition training activity at an army base west of the Blue Mountains.
David Honer, a founding member of Zig Zag Railway near Lithgow, is still rebuilding after the tourist facility was devastated by the State Mine fire.
Burnt out carriage at Zig Zag Railway
PHOTO: One of the carriages damaged in bushfires affecting Zig Zag Railway at Lithgow, taken on October 19, 2013. (Supplied: Zig Zag Railway)
"We can't say that we've progressed to the level of being able to operate again," Mr Honer told 702 ABC Sydney.
Mr Honer is attempting to rebuild while still negotiating a compensation settlement with the ADF.
"There are donations rolling from all quarters. From across the world right down to locally," he said.
Mr Honer has been inspired by the generosity of the public, particularly by people who have been moved to donate because of childhood memories of riding the railway.
"People who have travelled on [the railway] as children want to come back and bring their children, so they stump up some money - it's not much but it all helps," he said.
Officials at the RAAF base at Glenbrook have also volunteered personnel to help Mr Honer rebuild the Zig Zag railway.
"Some of [the RAAF personnel] were badly affected by the fires in the Springwood area but they still understood the impact to tourism and they gave up their time," a grateful Mr Honer said.
The ADF have appointed a claims officer and preliminary discussions have taken place but there is no guarantee of compensation.
"Within our own resources we cannot restore the railway," Mr Honer said.
Army exercises ignited a new front
ABC Radio Sydney
By John DoneganUpdated 17 Oct 2014, 11:06am
The Mount York fire destroyed nine homes in Mount Victoria, while the State Mine fire threatened the communities of Mount Wilson and Mount Irvine and burned two homes.
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has claimed responsibility for starting the State Mine fire.
The fire was ignited by a demolition training activity at an army base west of the Blue Mountains.
David Honer, a founding member of Zig Zag Railway near Lithgow, is still rebuilding after the tourist facility was devastated by the State Mine fire.
Burnt out carriage at Zig Zag Railway
PHOTO: One of the carriages damaged in bushfires affecting Zig Zag Railway at Lithgow, taken on October 19, 2013. (Supplied: Zig Zag Railway)
"We can't say that we've progressed to the level of being able to operate again," Mr Honer told 702 ABC Sydney.
Mr Honer is attempting to rebuild while still negotiating a compensation settlement with the ADF.
"There are donations rolling from all quarters. From across the world right down to locally," he said.
Mr Honer has been inspired by the generosity of the public, particularly by people who have been moved to donate because of childhood memories of riding the railway.
"People who have travelled on [the railway] as children want to come back and bring their children, so they stump up some money - it's not much but it all helps," he said.
Officials at the RAAF base at Glenbrook have also volunteered personnel to help Mr Honer rebuild the Zig Zag railway.
"Some of [the RAAF personnel] were badly affected by the fires in the Springwood area but they still understood the impact to tourism and they gave up their time," a grateful Mr Honer said.
The ADF have appointed a claims officer and preliminary discussions have taken place but there is no guarantee of compensation.
"Within our own resources we cannot restore the railway," Mr Honer said.