2011–12 Australian bushfire season
| 2011-12 Australian bushfire season | |
|---|---|
| Location | Australia |
| Statistics | |
| Date(s) | Winter (June) 2011 – Autumn (May) 2012 |
| Burned area | >14,076 square kilometres (5,435 sq mi) |
| Buildings destroyed |
39 lost 20 damaged (at least) |
| Injuries | 4 (at least) |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Season | |
The 2011–12 Australian bushfire season was 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.
Large fires swept through the Barkly Tableland and Victoria River districts, destroying large tracts of grazing land. Fire fronts estimated at 50 kilometres (31 mi) were reported; the Barkly fire resulted in 7,000 square kilometres (2,700 sq mi) of country being burnt with another 2,000 square kilometres (770 sq mi) being lost in the Victoria River district.
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
A bushfire at Katoomba and the Blue Mountains on 24 October caused some houses and a school to be evacuated, over 100 fire-fighters and three aircraft responding to contain the blaze. Some minor property damage occurred but no homes were lost in the blaze.
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 no lives were lost.
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