The 2019–20 Australian bushfire season, also called the Black Summer, was one of the most severe and damaging fire seasons in Australia’s history. Extremely dry weather, low soil moisture, and early fires in Central Queensland caused the bushfire season to begin earlier than usual in June 2019. Over 10,000 fires burned, mostly in the southeast of the country, until March 2020. The worst fires happened between December 2019 and January 2020.
These fires burned more than 24 million hectares (59 million acres; 240,000 square kilometers; 93,000 square miles), destroyed over 3,000 buildings, and directly killed 33 people. Smoke from the fires caused an additional 417 deaths. It is estimated that 3 billion land animals, mostly reptiles, were killed or forced to leave their homes. Some species may have gone extinct. Air quality in all affected areas became very dangerous, and smoke traveled across the Southern Ocean, affecting weather in other parts of the world. The fires released more than 700 million tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere.
Rescue and recovery efforts were very large. Emergency states were declared in many areas of New South Wales (NSW) and the northeast to east of Victoria, which were the most affected regions. NSW alone had 11,774 fires, and 6% of the state burned. To control the damage, total fire bans and strict evacuation orders were used. The Australian Defence Force helped by providing workers and supplies, and crews from New Zealand, Singapore, Canada, and the United States also arrived to assist. During rescue efforts, an air tanker, helicopters, and fire trucks crashed, killing several crew members. The last major fire in Victoria was stopped on February 27, 2020, and all fires in NSW were extinguished by March 2, 2020.
The total economic loss was estimated to be at least $100 billion, making it the costliest natural disaster in Australian history. Tourism revenue dropped by $2.8 billion.
There was much discussion about the reasons for the fires’ size and intensity, including how fires are managed and the effects of climate change. The fires received a lot of attention from people around the world. About $500 million was donated by the public, international groups, and famous people to help victims and recover wildlife. Donated food, clothing, and animal feed were sent to affected areas.
Overview
In September 2019, fires heavily affected many areas in New South Wales, including the North Coast, Mid North Coast, Hunter Region, Hawkesbury, Wollondilly, Blue Mountains, Illawarra, South Coast, Riverina, and Snowy Mountains. Over 100 fires burned across the state. In eastern and northeastern Victoria, large forest areas burned out of control for four weeks before the fires moved out of the forests in late December. These fires caused deaths, threatened towns, and isolated Corryong and Mallacoota. A state of disaster was declared for East Gippsland. Significant fires also occurred in the Adelaide Hills and Kangaroo Island in South Australia. Areas in southeastern Queensland and parts of southwestern Western Australia were moderately affected, while some areas in Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory had mild impacts.
On 12 November 2019, extremely dangerous fire conditions were declared for the first time in the Greater Sydney region since 2009. A total fire ban was in place for seven regions in New South Wales, including Greater Sydney. The Illawarra and Greater Hunter areas also faced extremely dangerous fire conditions, as did other parts of the state, including areas already damaged by earlier fires. The fire season had significant political effects. A decision by the New South Wales Government to reduce funding for fire services based on budget estimates, combined with the Australian Prime Minister’s holiday during a time when two volunteer firefighters died, and his perceived lack of concern, caused controversy.
As of 14 January 2020, about 18.6 million hectares (46 million acres) of land was burned or was burning across all Australian states and territories. Ecologists from the University of Sydney estimated that about 480 million mammals, birds, and reptiles were lost since September. Concerns arose that entire species of plants and animals may have been wiped out by bushfires, with estimates later increasing to over a billion.
Since the start of the fire season, bushfires destroyed 2,176 homes, 48 facilities, and more than 2,000 outbuildings in New South Wales alone. Twenty-five people were confirmed dead in New South Wales since October. The last fatality was reported on 23 January 2020, following the death of a man near Moruya.
In New South Wales, the fires burned through more land than any other fires in the past 25 years, making it the state’s worst bushfire season on record. The state also experienced the longest continuously burning bushfire complex in Australia’s history, which burned over 4 million hectares (9.9 million acres). Flames as high as 70 meters (230 feet) were reported. In comparison, the 2018 California wildfires burned 800,000 hectares (2 million acres), and the 2019 Amazon rainforest wildfires burned 900,000 hectares (2.2 million acres).
The NSW Rural Fire Service described the 2019-2020 bushfires as the worst in the state’s memory. However, the 1974 bushfires were much larger, burning 117 million hectares (290 million acres; 1.17 million square kilometers; 450,000 square miles). Due to their lower intensity and remote location, the 1974 fires caused about A$5 million in damages (equivalent to about A$36.5 million in 2020). In December 2019, the New South Wales Government declared a state of emergency after record-breaking temperatures and a long drought worsened the bushfires.
Due to safety concerns and public pressure, New Year’s Eve fireworks displays were canceled across New South Wales, including popular events in Campbelltown, Liverpool, Parramatta, Sydney’s Northern Beaches, and the capital, Canberra. As temperatures reached 49°C (120°F), the New South Wales Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, declared a new seven-day state of emergency starting at 9 a.m. on 3 January 2020.
On 23 January, a Lockheed C-130 Hercules air tanker crashed near Cooma while fighting a fire, killing three American crew members. This was one of eleven large air tankers brought to Australia from Canada and the United States for the fire season. An investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau is underway to determine the cause of the crash. Reaching the crash site was difficult due to active bushfires in the area. The crash site was in dense bushland and covered about one kilometer.
Fire potential
The Garnaut Climate Change Review of 2008 reported:
To describe changing fire patterns, a study by Lucas and others introduced two new fire weather categories: "very extreme" and "catastrophic."
An analysis by the Bushfire CRC, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, and CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research showed that the number of "very high" fire danger days is expected to increase by 2 to 13% by 2020 under low global warming scenarios (a 0.4 °C (0.72 °F) temperature rise) and by 10 to 30% under high global warming scenarios (a 1.0 °C (1.8 °F) temperature rise). The number of "extreme" fire danger days is expected to increase by 5 to 25% under low scenarios and by 15 to 65% under high scenarios.
In April 2019, a group of former Australian fire services leaders warned that Australia was not ready for the upcoming fire season. They urged the next prime minister to meet with former emergency service leaders, who would explain how climate change risks are growing quickly without being limited by their previous jobs.
In August 2019, the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, a federally funded organization, released a seasonal outlook report that noted a higher than usual risk of fires in southern and southeast Queensland, the east coast areas of New South Wales and Victoria, parts of Western Australia, and South Australia. In December 2019, the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC updated their report to again warn of "above normal fire potential."
Regions affected
Australian National University reported that the area burned in 2019–2020 was "much lower than usual," noting that 30 million hectares less than the usual amount burned in Australia each year. Specifically, the early part of the season (2019) had "close to average" burn area, while the later part of the season (2020) had "unusually low" burn area.
The NSW official Bush Fire Danger Period typically starts on 1 October and ends on 31 March. In 2019–20, the fire season began early due to drought affecting 95 percent of the state and long-lasting dry and warm weather. Twelve local government areas started the Bush Fire Danger Period two months early, on 1 August 2019, and nine more began on 17 August 2019.
On 6 September, extreme fire dangers were reported in northern parts of the state. Fires included the Long Gully Road fire near Drake, which burned until the end of October, killing two people and destroying 43 homes; the Mount McKenzie Road fire, which burned across the southern outskirts of Tenterfield, hurt one person, destroyed one home, and badly damaged four homes; and the Bees Nest fire near Ebor, which burned until 12 November and destroyed seven homes.
At the Port Macquarie suburb of Crestwood, a fire started on 26 October due to a dry electrical storm. Water planes were delayed the next day in efforts to control the fire burning in swampland south-west of Port Macquarie. A back burn on 28 October escaped control by NSW Rural Fire Service (NSWRFS) volunteers after a sudden wind change pushed the fire south towards Lake Cathie and west over Lake Innes. Thick smoke covered Port Macquarie and surrounding areas on 29 October, and ongoing fire activity over the following week caused the sky to glow orange. During this time, the Lindfield Park fire burning in dry peat swamp flared up, threatening homes at Sovereign Hills and crossing the Pacific Highway at Sancrox. These fires burned 4,500 hectares (11,120 acres).
On the Carrai Plateau west of Kempsey, a fire burned in wilderness areas where locked and not well-maintained fire paths made fighting it difficult. This fire combined with the Stockyard Creek fire and, along with the Coombes Gap fire, moved east towards Willawarrin, Temagog, Birdwood, Yarras, Bellangary, Kindee, and Upper Rollands Plains. Land around Nowendoc and Yarrowich was also burned. This fire burned more than 40,000 hectares (98,842 acres), destroying numerous homes and killing three people.
North-west of Harrington near the Cattai Wetlands, a fire started on 28 October. This fire threatened the towns of Harrington, Crowdy Head, and Johns River as it burned north towards Dunbogan. The fire killed one person at Johns River, where it also destroyed homes, and burned more than 12,000 hectares (29,653 acres).
At Hillville, a fire grew large due to hot and windy conditions, causing disorder in the nearby town of Taree to the north. Buses were called in early to take students home before the fire threat became too dangerous. On 9 November, the fire reached Old Bar and Wallabi Point, threatening many properties. The following two days saw the fire reach Tinonee and Taree South, threatening the Taree Service Centre. Water planes dropped water on the facility to protect it. The fire briefly turned toward Nabiac before wind pushed it toward Failford. Other communities affected included Rainbow Flat, Khappinghat, Kooringhat, and Purfleet. A spot fire jumped into Ericsson Lane, threatening businesses. It ultimately burned 31,268 hectares (77,260 acres).
At Dingo Tops National Park, a small fire turned into a major bushfire emergency, impacting the small village of Bobin. Numerous homes and the Bobin Public School were destroyed in the fire. Fourteen homes were lost on one street in Bobin. The NSWRFS sent alerts to people in Killabakh, Upper Lansdowne, Kippaxs, Elands, and Marlee to monitor conditions.
The 2019 Rally Australia, planned to be the final round of the 2019 World Rally Championship, was a motor racing event scheduled to be held in Coffs Harbour from 14–17 November. A week before the rally began, bushfires started affecting the region around Coffs Harbour. Event organizers shortened the event due to worsening conditions. As the situation worsened, repeated requests from competitors (mostly from Europe) to cancel the event led to its cancellation on 12 November.
In late December 2019, fires started on both sides of the Pacific Highway around the Coopernook region. They burned 278 hectares (687 acres) before being controlled.
A large fire in November at Gospers Mountain in the Wollemi National Park burned over 496,976 hectares (1,228,050 acres) and threatened homes in the Hawkesbury and Lithgow areas. The fire was expected to move toward the Central Coast and potentially threaten properties in Wisemans Ferry and other townships.
To protect the Blue Mountains from the Gospers Mountain bushfire, firefighters started a large back burn on 14 December from the corner of Mt Wilson and Bells Line of Road. The back burn quickly escaped control, jumping across Mt Wilson Road and threatening houses in Mount Wilson. On 15 December, the escaped back burn impacted Mount Tomah, Berambing, and Bilpin. The fire destroyed numerous homes and buildings in this area and spread into the Grose Valley.
On 19 December, the RFS Mt Wilson Backburn escape reached the Darling Causeway between Mount Victoria and Bell. It later jumped the Darling Causeway and impacted the Grose Valley, splitting the fire into two parts: the Grose Valley fire and the Gospers Mountain fire. On 21 December, a catastrophic day, the Mt Wilson Backburn (the southern part of which was now called the "Grose Valley fire") impacted Mount Victoria, Blackheath, Bell, Clarence, Dargan, and Bilpin, destroying dozens of homes. On the same day, the escaped RFS Mt Wilson Backburn fire moved toward Kurrajong. Further buildings were destroyed due to
Precedents
The full size of the current bushfires has not yet been fully measured, but Australia has experienced many large bushfires in the past. In 1938-1939, major fires burned across Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory. These fires received international attention when they reached Sydney's suburbs, as did the 1994 fires along Australia's eastern coast. In 1851, the Black Thursday bushfires shocked people in colonial Australia. These fires burned about one-quarter of what is now Victoria, covering around five million hectares. Fewer people know that in the summer of 1974–1975, about 117 million hectares, or 15% of Australia’s land, was affected by fire. New South Wales was heavily impacted, with three deaths, though most fires occurred in less populated inland areas. The five most deadly bushfires in Australia were: Black Saturday in 2009 in Victoria (173 people killed, 2000 homes destroyed); Ash Wednesday in 1983 in Victoria and South Australia (75 people killed, nearly 1900 homes lost); Black Friday in 1939 in Victoria (71 people killed, 650 homes destroyed); Black Tuesday in 1967 in Tasmania (62 people killed, almost 1300 homes lost); and the Gippsland fires and Black Sunday in 1926 in Victoria (60 people killed over two months).
Environmental effects
In mid-December 2019, a NASA study showed that since August 1, the bushfires in New South Wales and Queensland had released 250 million metric tons (280 million short tons) of carbon dioxide (CO₂). By January 2, 2020, NASA estimated that 306 million metric tons (337 million short tons) of CO₂ had been released. For comparison, Australia’s total carbon emissions in 2018 were equal to 535 million metric tons (590 million short tons) of CO₂. Normally, forests would absorb the carbon released by fires over time, but this process could take many years. If long-term drought has weakened the forests, regrowth might not happen at all.
In December 2019, the air quality index (AQI) in Rozelle, a western suburb of Sydney, reached 2,552. This level is more than 12 times the hazardous threshold of 200. Levels of PM2.5, tiny particles in the air, were measured at 734 micrograms (0.01133 grams) near Sydney. This amount is equal to the smoke from 37 cigarettes. On January 1, 2020, the AQI in Monash, a suburb of Canberra, was 4,650, or more than 23 times the hazardous level. It peaked at 7,700.
On New Year’s Day 2020 in New Zealand, smoke from the Australian fires covered the entire South Island, turning the sky an orange-yellow color. People in Dunedin reported smelling smoke in the air. The MetService said the smoke would not harm weather or temperatures in the country. The smoke moved over the North Island the next day but became less intense than it had been over the South Island. South Pacific winds helped clear the smoke from the South Island. The smoke also affected glaciers, giving the snow a brown color. On January 5, 2020, more smoke drifted over the North Island, turning the sky in Auckland orange. By January 7, the smoke had traveled about 11,000 kilometers (6,800 miles) across the South Pacific Ocean to Chile, Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay.
The fires caused agricultural losses of more than 5 billion Australian dollars. They damaged livestock, crops, wildlife, and farming equipment over large areas.
Ecological effects
On January 8, 2020, Professor Chris Dickman, a scientist from the Australian Academy of Science at the University of Sydney, reported that more than one billion animals were killed by bushfires in Australia. In New South Wales alone, more than 800 million animals died. This estimate was based on a 2007 report by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) that studied how land clearing affects wildlife in New South Wales. The report provided information about the number of mammals, birds, and reptiles living in the area. Professor Dickman used very low estimates in his calculation, meaning the actual number of animals that died was likely higher. His numbers included mammals (except bats), birds, and reptiles but did not include frogs, insects, or other small animals. Other estimates that included bats, frogs, and insects also suggested that more than one billion animals were killed.
Scientists were worried that some endangered species might have gone extinct because of the fires. While bushfires are common in Australia, they are usually smaller and less intense, affecting only small areas of where animals live. Animals that survived a fire often had nearby places to find food and shelter. However, when fires destroy large areas completely, animals may not have safe places to go. In addition to deaths caused directly by the fires, many animals died later from hunger, lack of shelter, and attacks by animals like foxes and cats that came to areas affected by fires to hunt.
Kangaroo Island, Australia’s third-largest island and sometimes called Australia’s “Galapagos Island,” had one-third of its land burned. The island has protected areas where animals like sea lions, penguins, kangaroos, koalas, pygmy possums, southern brown bandicoots, Ligurian bees, Kangaroo Island dunnarts, and various birds, including glossy black cockatoos, live. NASA estimated that up to 25,000 koalas may have died in the fires, which could be about half of the koala population on the island. About a quarter of the Ligurian honey bee hives on the island were destroyed. The Kangaroo Island dunnart and the Kangaroo Island subspecies of the glossy black cockatoo are both endangered and only live on Kangaroo Island. Before the fires, there were fewer than 500 Kangaroo Island dunnarts and about 380 Kangaroo Island glossy black cockatoos.
Australian magpies, which can copy the sounds of other birds and animals, were often near fire trucks and ambulances during the bushfires. Because of this, a magpie in Newcastle was recorded copying the sound of emergency sirens.
Domestic response
The two main firefighting groups in New South Wales, Fire and Rescue NSW and the NSW Rural Fire Service, were the largest groups helping to fight the fires. They sent thousands of firefighters and hundreds of fire vehicles to the affected areas. These groups were supported by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Forestry Corporation of NSW, which are responsible for protecting national parks and forests in the state. Other local firefighting groups, such as Air Services Australia and Sydney Trains, also helped by providing resources.
Firefighting teams from other states also sent help to New South Wales. This included hundreds of firefighters from the Victorian Country Fire Authority, crews from the Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade, and teams from the South Australian Country Fire Service, the South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service, the South Australian Department of Environment and Water, and the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service.
Even though many homes and lives were lost, firefighters saved over 16,000 buildings from direct fire damage and helped save many lives.
Other emergency services in New South Wales also helped during the response. NSW Ambulance provided medical care to people injured in the fires, including firefighters. NSW Police ensured public safety by closing roads and organizing evacuations. The NSW State Emergency Service helped with supplies and support. Because many animals, including brush-tailed rock-wallabies, had no food or water, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service dropped about 1,800 kilograms of vegetables into their habitats. A joint effort by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and the NSW Rural Fire Service protected critically endangered Wollemia pines in Wollemi National Park. Firefighters used air tankers to drop fire retardant and installed an irrigation system on the ground.
On 24 December 2019, the Morrison Government said volunteer firefighters working in the Commonwealth public service would get at least 20 days of paid leave. On 29 December 2019, it announced that volunteer firefighters called out for more than 10 days would receive financial help. On 4 January 2020, the government said it would rent four waterbombing planes, including two large DC-10s and two smaller planes, for use by state and territory governments.
On 5 January 2020, the Prime Minister announced the creation of the National Bushfire Recovery Agency, which would be funded with A$2 billion and led by Andrew Colvin, a former Australian Federal Police Commissioner.
On 5 December 2019, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) started Operation Bushfire Assist to help state fire services with logistics, planning, and support. ADF activities included using Air Force planes to transport firefighters and equipment, Army and Navy helicopters to move firefighters, and conducting night fire mapping, search and rescue flights, and assessments. Defence facilities were used as coordination centers and for food and lodging. The ADF also helped reload waterbombing planes and provided humanitarian supplies.
On 31 December 2019, the Defence Minister said the ADF would help East Gippsland, especially the town of Mallacoota, by sending helicopters and naval ships. On 1 January 2020, the ADF deployed more military staff to create joint task forces in Victoria and New South Wales. On 3 January 2020, naval ships evacuated civilians from Mallacoota to Westernport.
On 4 January 2020, the Morrison Government ordered Army Reserve brigades to be called out to help with the operation, sending up to 3,000 reserve personnel to work full-time. The Defence Force also sent more ships and planes to help with evacuations and relief efforts.
Volunteer groups and charities also helped during the crisis. WIRES Wildlife Rescue rescued and treated injured animals. Rapid Relief Team Australia raised money for victims and provided meals and water for firefighters. Team Rubicon Australia helped clean up fire-affected areas. The Animal Welfare League raised funds and cared for injured animals. St John Ambulance Australia and the Australian Red Cross supported evacuation centers.
On 1 December 2019, WWF-Australia launched the "Towards Two Billion Trees" plan to help koalas recover from the bushfires. The plan aims to stop harmful tree-clearing, protect existing forests, and restore habitats. Over the next ten years, the plan includes growing 1.56 billion new trees and saving 780 million existing trees.
International response
Political leaders from other countries, including Donald Trump, Cory Booker, Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, Bernie Sanders, Greta Thunberg, and Elizabeth Warren, spoke publicly about the fires in Australia. People in the entertainment industry, such as Tina Arena, Patricia Arquette, Cate Blanchett, Russell Crowe, Ellen DeGeneres, Selena Gomez, Halsey, Nicole Kidman, Lizzo, Bette Midler, Pink, Margot Robbie, Paul Stanley, Jay Park, Jonathan Van Ness, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, also shared statements about the fires. Some of these individuals donated money or helped raise funds for those affected.
On January 4, 2020, Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh sent a message of sympathy to Governor-General David Hurley, expressing their "thoughts and prayers" to Australians during this difficult time. The Queen said she was "deeply saddened" by the fires and thanked emergency workers for their efforts. On January 8, 2020, Prince Charles shared a video message, describing the fires as an "appalling horror." The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and Princess Mary of Denmark also sent messages of support. Princess Mary, who was born in Tasmania, wrote an open letter with her husband, Crown Prince Frederik, offering condolences to victims and respect to firefighters.
Four groups of 87 Canadian firefighters were sent to Australia through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. This was the first time since 2009 that Canadian personnel helped with bushfires in Australia. The Canadian government also sent a CC-17 plane with 15 personnel on January 27 to assist with transport and provide airlift support.
The government of Fiji sent the Fiji Military Forces and engineers to help with bushfire recovery efforts.
On January 6, French President Emmanuel Macron said France could help with the bushfires. Five French firefighting experts arrived in Australia on January 9 to discuss possible support from France and Europe.
On January 15, Japan sent two C-130 aircraft and 70 personnel from the Japanese Self-Defense Forces to help with transport and firefighting efforts. The planes traveled from Komaki Air Base in Japan to RAAF Base Richmond in New South Wales.
On January 5, Malaysia offered help through a statement by Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. On January 13, Malaysia sent over 40 firefighters to assist with the fires, and 20 others from government agencies joined the mission.
More than 50 New Zealanders helped in Australia, both by fighting fires and providing support. In January 2020, New Zealand also sent three NH90 helicopters, two Army combat engineer sections, and a command team. A group of six animal rescuers from Animal Evac New Zealand arrived in New South Wales on January 8 to help save wildlife. They worked with local centers to rescue injured animals and advised people on how to protect their pets during fires. A second team of four arrived on January 13.
The Government of Papua New Guinea offered to send 1,000 military and other personnel to help with the fires. Australia accepted 100 Papua New Guinea Defence Force members.
The Philippine Red Cross donated $100,000 to Australia. Filipino celebrities also supported victims of the fires. The Teduray people of Maguindanao, a group led by women, performed a sacred ritual to ask the fire goddess Frayag Sarif to bring rain to Australia.
Singapore sent two Chinook helicopters and 42 soldiers from the Singapore Armed Forces to help with firefighting efforts.
The United Arab Emirates sent 200 volunteers, including Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi, to assist with fighting the fires. A Twitter campaign with the hashtag #mateshelpmates was started by the Dubai Expo 2020 to raise money for Australians affected by the fires. The Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the world's tallest building, was lit up in solidarity with Australia.
Twenty firefighters from the United States Department of the Interior were sent to Australia to help fight the fires. Other U.S. firefighters also assisted. On January 23, three U.S. firefighters died in a plane crash involving a C-130 firefighting aircraft.
Other countries offered help:
– On January 7, Denmark offered 50 firefighters through its emergency management agency, but Australia said it had enough resources and did not need them.
– On January 6, 2020, Romania prepared 70 firefighters to help through the European Union, but Australia refused the offer.
– Turkey’s foreign minister said Turkey was ready to help, and the Turkish consulate in Melbourne donated $14,500 to Queensland Fire and Emergency Services.
– Ukraine’s government said it was ready to send 200 experienced firefighters to help.
– Some Pacific nations also said they could send aid.
Causes
Australia is one of the continents most likely to experience bushfires, and these fires are part of the natural cycle of its landscapes. However, factors like long-term weather changes, specific weather conditions, and how humans manage plants can affect how severe bushfire seasons become. The most damaging bushfires in Australia’s history usually happen after extremely high temperatures, very low humidity, and strong winds, which create conditions that allow fires to spread quickly. Scientists and land management groups agree that extremely low moisture in plants, caused by record-high temperatures and drought, combined with severe weather, were the main reasons for the 2019–20 bushfire season. These conditions were likely made worse by long-term trends of warmer and drier weather across Australia. However, political discussions about the crisis have led to the spread of false information about the causes of the fires, which has ignored scientific research, expert opinions, and past government studies.
The main cause of fires during the 2019–20 crisis in New South Wales and Victoria was lightning strikes. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, arson was not a major factor, causing about 1% of fires in New South Wales and 0.3% in Victoria by January 18, 2020.
A major factor contributing to the bushfire crisis was a long-lasting drought in eastern Australia, which was the worst recorded in some areas. This drought was worsened by a 36-month period of above-average monthly temperatures ending in October 2019. The combination of heat and drought caused very low moisture in plants, with a fire authority official stating that the dryness of the bush led to extremely high fire danger. While Australia has always had natural variations in rainfall and hot summers, the country has seen an increase of nearly 1.0°C in average annual temperatures since 1900, and less rainfall in southeastern Australia since 1990. The worst droughts in Australia’s history have occurred in the 21st century. Scientists predict that future climate changes will make hot days more frequent and longer droughts more common in southern Australia. In October 2019, Australia’s Minister for Water Resources stated he fully accepts the link between climate change and drought, based on his own experiences.
Experts agree that climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of bushfires in southeastern Australia. While it is not the only cause of the 2019–20 fires, climate change is considered a major factor in the extreme scale and severity of the fires. The crisis has led to calls for stronger action to reduce climate change. In December 2019, Australia was ranked worst in terms of climate policy and sixth worst overall out of 57 countries in the Climate Change Performance Index. The government was criticized for not taking strong enough action on climate change. Initially, Prime Minister Morrison downplayed the role of climate change in the fires but later said it was one of "many factors" involved and claimed Australia was "playing its part" in global efforts to address climate change. However, the government has faced criticism for its 2030 emission reduction targets. Some members of the ruling Liberal Party were criticized internationally for denying the link between climate change and the fires. A government official stated that bushfire preparedness efforts were hindered by some government members who deny climate change or believe humans have no impact on it.
During the crisis, some conservative politicians and media blamed the lack of controlled fires and firebreaks for the fires, but experts later criticized these claims as false. Others claimed environmental groups were responsible for the crisis by limiting controlled fires, even though these groups have little political influence compared to the Liberal and National parties. In recent years, the amount of controlled fires in southeastern Australia has increased, following recommendations from a 2009 government report. Experts say that controlled fires have become harder to conduct due to warmer and drier conditions. Some experts question the effectiveness of controlled fires, noting that research suggests they have little impact on stopping bushfires or protecting property in southeastern Australia, with weather and climate conditions being the main factors.
It is unclear whether previous controlled fires helped slow the 2019–20 fires or aided firefighting efforts. In many cases, fires burned through cleared agricultural land and forests recently affected by both planned and unplanned fires, due to extreme weather and dry vegetation. A notable example was the Currowan fire, which burned through a large area of Morton National Park that had been the site of one of the largest controlled fires in New South Wales in 2017. A professor of fire science said claims about controlled fires are "old and tired conspiracy theories" used to avoid discussing climate change. Another expert said that after many studies on bushfires, there is no simple solution, and spending more money on controlled fires alone will not solve the problem. Despite evidence that fuel levels played a small role in the 2019–20 fires, some people have called for opening protected areas to industries like logging and grazing to reduce fire fuel. These calls have mainly come from individuals and businesses in those industries and have led to the spread of false information.
The New South Wales Rural Fire Service referred several individuals to the New South Wales Police.
Political response
Many people have discussed different parts of the 2019–20 Australian fire crisis, especially the reasons for the fires, how to prevent them in the future, and how climate change may have played a role. At the time, Australia had a government that was criticized for not taking action on climate change and for supporting oil and gas companies. However, more people in politics and society began to recognize the importance of addressing climate change, which made the crisis a major political topic. The government, along with some news organizations that questioned climate change, avoided talking about the record-breaking drought and its connection to climate change. Scientists, on the other hand, explained that climate change, drought, and long periods of hot, dry weather had a major influence on the fires. They also said that controlled fires and arson had only a small effect on the crisis. The way people in politics and society responded to the fires was marked by shifting blame, spreading false information, and not paying attention to scientific research, expert opinions, or past government reports.
More controversy happened when Prime Minister Scott Morrison took a vacation to Hawaii during the bushfires. Similar criticism was also directed at New South Wales Minister for Emergency Services David Elliot, who went on a trip to Europe. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk faced criticism for taking a cruise while fires were active in her state.
While visiting fire-affected towns in New South Wales, Morrison was recorded trying to shake hands with two residents in Cobargo who refused to shake his hand. Morrison was criticized for grabbing their hands and shaking them despite their refusal. In an interview, Andrew Constance, a New South Wales Liberal Party member, said, "the locals probably gave him the welcome he probably deserved." Morrison did not seem worried about the criticism and later said, "people are angry, and if people want to direct that at me, that is up to them."
On January 4, volunteer firefighter Paul Parker from Nelligen became famous after stopping his fire truck next to a Channel 7 news crew and using strong language to criticize what he saw as an inadequate response by Morrison. The video quickly became popular online.
Soon after, Morrison released a video from the Liberal Party about using military help to respond to the bushfires. This video was widely criticized as being inappropriate and poorly timed. A former broadcaster called it "absolutely obscene," a journalist said it was "beyond inappropriate," and a British commentator called it "one of the most tone-deaf things I've ever seen a country's leader put out during a crisis." A group that monitors defense issues said the video was "using military support to promote the Liberal Party" and broke a rule about keeping military and political matters separate. A fire service official said it was disappointing that the government did not announce the military help directly. Morrison was also criticized for a "donate" button on a Liberal Party website that incorrectly led to a page for the party itself instead of bushfire relief. The button was later removed.
Donations
Philanthropists, corporate organizations, celebrities, and sportspeople donated to various fundraising efforts for bushfire victims and firefighters. As of 19 January 2020, these donations were estimated to total A$500 million. A report by the Fundraising Institute of Australia found that about 53 percent of all adult Australians gave money to a bushfire appeal.
Andrew Forrest and his wife, Nicola, gave A$70 million. The Paul Ramsay Foundation donated A$30 million. In November, James Packer promised A$1 million to support the NSWRFS. As the bushfire season continued, the Crown Resorts Foundation and the Packer Family Foundation added A$4 million to help volunteer fire services in New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia—states where Crown has resorts. The Murdoch family donated A$5 million. The Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation gave A$1.5 million. Other donors included the Pratt Foundation, John and Pauline Gandel, Mike Cannon-Brookes, Scott Farquhar, and the Haines and Perich families, each giving A$1 million. Justin Hemmes donated A$500,000.
Corporate organizations that gave money or made pledges included the Seven Group and Kerry Stokes’ private investment firm, ACE Capital Equity, together giving A$10 million. Tim Cook from Apple gave an unspecified amount. NAB and News Corp Australia each donated A$5 million. Coles Group gave A$4 million, including A$3 million in gift cards. The Australian Football League donated A$2.5 million. BHP gave A$2 million. Westpac and Woolworths each gave A$1.5 million. Facebook donated A$1.25 million. Amazon, ANZ Bank, Atlassian Foundation, Commonwealth Bank, Orica, Qantas, and Rio Tinto each gave A$1 million. Canva and the San Diego Zoo each gave A$500,000.
Leonardo DiCaprio donated US$3 million (about A$3.4 million) through Earth Alliance. Kylie Jenner gave US$1 million. Ellen DeGeneres donated A$1.5 million. Sir Elton John and Chris Hemsworth and their family each gave A$1 million. Pink donated US$500,000 (about A$720,000) and shared her sadness about the bushfires on social media. Metallica gave A$750,000. Nicole Kidman and her husband, Keith Urban, Kylie and Danii Minogue and their family, and Bette Midler each gave A$500,000. The Wiggles performed a concert on 17 and 18 January. A concert called Fire Fight Australia took place on 16 February at Stadium Australia in Sydney, featuring local and international performers.
Tennis players, led by Nick Kyrgios, promised to donate money for every ace served during the Australian summer of tennis. Many cricket players, including Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, D’Arcy Short, Matthew Renshaw, and Fawad Ahmed, pledged to donate money for every wicket or six scored during the rest of the cricket season. Retired cricketers Shane Warne and Jeff Thomson donated their baggy green Test cricket caps and a playing vest for auction. Warne’s cap was bought by the Commonwealth Bank for A$1,007,500. Russell Crowe’s Rabbitohs cap was sold for more than A$500,000. Footballer Mathew Ryan, a goalkeeper for Brighton & Hove Albion and the Australian national team, promised to donate A$500 for every save made by Premier League goalkeepers on 11–12 January 2020. Australian stars playing in the 2019–20 NBA season raised more than A$1 million together. Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton donated US$500,000.
Comedian Celeste Barber started a fundraising campaign aiming to raise A$15,000, but it collected over A$50 million, becoming the largest Facebook fundraiser ever. A telethon held with the Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks raised more than A$2 million.
Many news outlets reported that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) received 86 reports of bushfire-related scams. These included requests for cash donations using crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe and fake links shared on Twitter. This led some organizations to create lists of approved charities online to help prevent fraud.