Introduction

The southern states of Australia have long been troubled by bushfires. Seventy nine people died in the Black Friday fires of 1939, 62 in Hobart in 1967, and 72 on Ash Wednesday in 1983. Early firefighting efforts largely relied on manpower, with teams of men, often untrained civilian volunteers, using wet sacks, knapsacks and branches to beat out the flames. Present day efforts are largely mechanised, with 4 wheel drive tankers, bulldozers and aerial firebombers the tools of choice, but bushfire fighting remains a dangerous occupation. At least 52 Australian bushfirefighters have died on active duty since 1980, 10 in South Australia (CFS 1999), 19 in Victoria (CFA 1999) and 23 in New South Wales (RFS 1999).

Excluding natural deaths, the majority of deaths have occurred when fire tankers have been overun by fire, and this continues to happen. Five firefighters died at Waterfall in 1980, 16 on Ash Wednesday in 1983, 3 at Grays Point in 1983, 1 at Wingello in 1998 and 5 at Linton in 1998.