Mount Lubra bushfire
Encyclopedia
The Mount Lubra bushfire was started by a lightning
strike in January 2006 near The Grampians
in Australia. The fire began late on the 19th of January, 2006. By the time it was extinguished it had burned for approximately two weeks and covered approximately 130,000 hectares of land.
The fire burned in difficult terrain, throughout 20–21 January without any serious impact. On the 22nd of January, hot and dry conditions that had persisted for several days worsened. The fire spread rapidly in a southerly direction towards Dunkeld
, south of Grampians National Park. The fire front reached the outskirts of Willaura
(south-west of Ararat
), before a strong but dry wind change took the fire back in the opposite direction. Winds of up to 120 km/h sent the fire northward extremely quickly, impacting a number of small communities along the eastern side of The Grampians, including Mafeking, Moyston
, Barton, Jallukar and Pomonal
. A man and his son died between Moyston and Pomonal when they were caught up in the fire. The fire was eventually controlled approximately two weeks later, having burned nearly 47% of the Grampians National Park
, as well as a significant amount of private property, a total of 184,000 hectares. Approximately 25 homes were destroyed, mostly to the west of Moyston and around Pomonal. Over 50 sheds and outbuildings, 1500 kilometres of fencing, as well as 62,000 head of sheep and 500 head of cattle were lost to the blaze. (p26)
Dry lightning
__notoc__Dry lightning is a term which is used to refer to lightning strikes occurring without significant precipitation. The term is a technical misnomer since lightning is obviously not wet in any instance, and also because the thunderstorms which sometimes cause it actually do produce...
strike in January 2006 near The Grampians
Grampians National Park
The Grampians National Park is a national park in Victoria, Australia, 235 kilometres west of Melbourne. The Park was listed on the Australian National Heritage List on 15 December 2006 for its outstanding natural beauty and being one of the richest indigenous rock art sites in south-eastern...
in Australia. The fire began late on the 19th of January, 2006. By the time it was extinguished it had burned for approximately two weeks and covered approximately 130,000 hectares of land.
The fire burned in difficult terrain, throughout 20–21 January without any serious impact. On the 22nd of January, hot and dry conditions that had persisted for several days worsened. The fire spread rapidly in a southerly direction towards Dunkeld
Dunkeld, Victoria
Dunkeld is a town in Victoria, Australia at the southern end of the Grampians National Park, in the Shire of Southern Grampians. It is approx 283 km west of Melbourne on the Glenelg Highway. The town's population is holding steady but ageing...
, south of Grampians National Park. The fire front reached the outskirts of Willaura
Willaura, Victoria
Willaura is a small town in the Rural City of Ararat Local Government Area in western Victoria, Australia. At the 2006 census, Willaura and surrounding area had a population of 467.-History:...
(south-west of Ararat
Ararat, Victoria
Ararat is a city in south-west Victoria, Australia, about west of Melbourne, on the Western Highway on the eastern slopes of the Ararat Hills and Cemetery Creek valley between Victoria's Western District and the Wimmera...
), before a strong but dry wind change took the fire back in the opposite direction. Winds of up to 120 km/h sent the fire northward extremely quickly, impacting a number of small communities along the eastern side of The Grampians, including Mafeking, Moyston
Moyston, Victoria
Moyston is a town in the Western District region of Victoria, Australia, near the Grampians mountain range. The town is located in the Rural City of Ararat Local Government Area, north west of the state capital, Melbourne...
, Barton, Jallukar and Pomonal
Pomonal, Victoria
Pomonal is a town in western Victoria, Australia. The town is located in the Rural City of Ararat Local Government Area, north west of the state capital, Melbourne. At the 2006 census, Pomonal had a population of 350.- History :...
. A man and his son died between Moyston and Pomonal when they were caught up in the fire. The fire was eventually controlled approximately two weeks later, having burned nearly 47% of the Grampians National Park
Grampians National Park
The Grampians National Park is a national park in Victoria, Australia, 235 kilometres west of Melbourne. The Park was listed on the Australian National Heritage List on 15 December 2006 for its outstanding natural beauty and being one of the richest indigenous rock art sites in south-eastern...
, as well as a significant amount of private property, a total of 184,000 hectares. Approximately 25 homes were destroyed, mostly to the west of Moyston and around Pomonal. Over 50 sheds and outbuildings, 1500 kilometres of fencing, as well as 62,000 head of sheep and 500 head of cattle were lost to the blaze. (p26)