In January 2005, Eyre Peninsula

Eyre Peninsula

Eyre Peninsula is a triangular peninsula in South Australia. It is bounded on the east by Spencer Gulf, the west by the Great Australian Bight, and the north by the Gawler Ranges. It is named after explorer Edward John Eyre who explored some of it in 1839-1841. The coastline was first explored by...

, South Australia

South Australia

South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...

, was the scene of a devastating bushfire in which nine people were killed and at least 113 injured. It was one of Australia’s worst bushfires since the Ash Wednesday fires

Ash Wednesday fires

The Ash Wednesday bushfires, known in South Australia as Ash Wednesday II, were a series of bushfires that occurred in south-eastern Australia on 16 February 1983. Within twelve hours, more than 180 fires fanned by winds of up to 110 km per hour caused widespread destruction across the states...

 of 1983.
The fire began in farmland north of the town of Wangary and spread to the east. It burnt more than 145,000 hectares of farm and scrubland in and around the small townships of Wangary, Wanilla, North Shields, Poonindie, Louth Bay, Greenpatch, and Yallunda Flat

Yallunda Flat

Yallunda Flat is a small rural centre located approximately 21 km west of Tumby Bay on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula. The local sports ground is host to an annual country show, and was used as a set in the 1981 movie Gallipoli, probably because it is largely unchanged from a bygone era...

 near Port Lincoln. Around 93 homes, 50 other buildings and 100 vehicles were destroyed in the fires An estimated 30,000 livestock, mostly sheep, were killed.

The Eyre Peninsula Bushfire of January 2005 were later called the "Black Tuesday" fires, they resulted in much damage to property and even more damage to local's lives. The fire began on 10 January, and were initially contained by emergency services. However, severe weather conditions on 11 January, with wind speeds of 70 km/h and temperatures exceeding 40 degrees, then caused the fire to break through containment lines and spread to the east.

More than 400 South Australian Country Fire Service

Country Fire Service

The SA Country Fire Service is a volunteer based fire service in the state of South Australia in Australia. Many parts of Australia are sparsely populated whilst at the same time they are under significant risk of bushfire. Due to economics, it is prohibitively expensive for each Australian town...

 fire fighters and 80 fire appliances combated the fire, with assistance from local property owners. The Port Lincoln airport was temporarily closed, preventing additional fire fighters from being flown in from Adelaide

Adelaide

Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...

. A major emergency was declared for the Eyre Peninsula

Eyre Peninsula

Eyre Peninsula is a triangular peninsula in South Australia. It is bounded on the east by Spencer Gulf, the west by the Great Australian Bight, and the north by the Gawler Ranges. It is named after explorer Edward John Eyre who explored some of it in 1839-1841. The coastline was first explored by...

 from noon on 12 January until 16 January.

As the fire tore through North Shields, a small settlement north of Port Lincoln, residents were ordered to leave their homes and head to the beaches to the east. The blaze raged through the caravan park at North Shields, destroying cabins and caravans. Residents at Louth Bay were forced to evacuate and seek refuge on nearby beaches. Some residents had to be rescued from the sea by emergency services after taking refuge in the water.

Eight people, including four children, died in their cars as they tried to flee the firestorm. A local schoolteacher also died when flames engulfed the Shell Museum at North Shields, near Port Lincoln. Approximately 110 were reported injured, including five who suffered serious burns and were flown to Adelaide

Adelaide

Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...

 for treatment. Several people were treated at Port Lincoln Hospital for burns and smoke inhalation. The fire was contained on 12 January after burning for two days.

Property damage included 93 homes, dozens of cars, 15 caravans, two buses, three cabins, one shop, three vans and four boats. There was also extensive damage to rural infrastructure, including water mains, power lines and telephone infrastructure. Approximately 47,000 livestock, mainly sheep, were killed by the fire or later destroyed by property owners. All fencing within the burnt area was destroyed, and about 95% of pastures destroyed.

Recovery effort

Eyre Peninsula

Eyre Peninsula

Eyre Peninsula is a triangular peninsula in South Australia. It is bounded on the east by Spencer Gulf, the west by the Great Australian Bight, and the north by the Gawler Ranges. It is named after explorer Edward John Eyre who explored some of it in 1839-1841. The coastline was first explored by...

 residents came together to provide emergency accommodation and assistance for fire victims at several assembly points. Recovery centres were established at Port Lincoln High School and Cummins

Cummins, South Australia

Cummins is a town on Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, 67 km north of Port Lincoln and 68 m above sea level. At the 2006 census, the town had a population of 705....

 Bowling Club.

Within days of the bushfire, the South Australian Government established the West Coast Recovery Committee to oversee all aspects of the recovery effort. Vince Monterola, a former CEO of the Country Fire Service

Country Fire Service

The SA Country Fire Service is a volunteer based fire service in the state of South Australia in Australia. Many parts of Australia are sparsely populated whilst at the same time they are under significant risk of bushfire. Due to economics, it is prohibitively expensive for each Australian town...

, was appointed chairman. He was supported by a leadership team of 10 people assigned different areas including accommodation, counselling and infrastructure. Amongst other benefits and support provided by the government, a grant of $10,000 was provided to all farmers affected by the fire to assist with immediate needs.