Canberra Bushfire 2003

Quick Statistics

4 Fatalities
435 Injured
$350 Million Insurance Costs
488 Homes Destroyed
On 18 January 2003, a combination of extreme weather conditions (high temperatures of above 37 ºC, low humidity, lightning strikes and strong gusty winds) caused multiple bushfires to break out in the Kosciuszko and Namadgi National parks surrounding Canberra.

On 18 January, two fire fronts combined to create a 25 km fire front and wind gusts of up to 65 km per hour propelled the fire towards Canberra. The Chief Minister declared a state of emergency at 2.45 pm and the firestorm hit the outer streets of Duffy at approximately 3 pm, and soon reached the suburbs of Rivett, Chapman, Kambah, Higgins, Hawker and Cook.

Four people were killed by the fires, more than 435 people were injured and there were 5000 evacuations. Approximately 160,000 hectares were burnt which equated to almost 70 per cent of the ACT's pasture, forests and nature parks including Namadgi National Park, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and all government pine forest west of the Murrumbidgee River Stromlo pine plantation. There were approximately 488 houses destroyed and many more were damaged.

The Chief Minister and Cabinet Inquiry into the Operational Response to the January 2003 bushfires made 61 recommendations.

The Insurance Council of Australia estimated the 2003 damage at $350 million, with the 2011 estimated normalised cost of $660 million.

Documents

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10 Years on from the 2003 Canberra Bushfires: Vigilance & Co-Operation is Key On 18 January 2013, over 400 residents, emergency services personnel and officials gathered at the Mount Stromlo Bushfire Memorial to remember the 2003 bushfires that ripped through Canberra's outer suburbs. The simple memorial service captured the spirit of recovery for those affected by the disaster and recognised the continuing efforts of emergency services personnel and volunteers in the ACT and beyond. Australian Journal of Emergency Management (AJEM), Vol 28 No 2, April 2013 Download
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From Ashes to Arboretum: Protecting the ACT's natural land assets In January 2003 the ACT was hit by disastrous fires that devastated 60 per cent of the Territory's forestry plantations in a single day. Over 10 000 hectares of natural forests and pine plantation were raised to the ground destroying natural habitats for wildlife, and commercial and residential property. The fires of 2003 were a significant fire event and they have played a significant role in keeping fire hazard awareness and fire mitigation tactics at the forefront of the government's planning considerations. Christine Belcher interviews Neil Cooper, Manager Fire, Forests and Roads, ACT Government. Australian Journal of Emergency Management (AJEM), Vol 28 No 2, April 2013 Download
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A Report to the ACT Government on the recovery process for Canberra's bushfire emergency This document reports on the management of the recovery process undertaken in response to the ACT bushfire emergency of 18-28 January 2003 Download
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Canberra Bushfires Fieldwork Report The weeks following the firestorms that struck Canberra on 18 January provided the former Cities Project with a unique opportunity to collect crucial data concerning building damage and fire behaviour. The data provides information about the impact of this disaster and will assist with accurate modelling of future events and their consequences. Download
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Recovering from the 2003 Canberra Bushfire: A work in progress This report details a research project that looked at aspects of the recovery process following the January 2003 bushfire. The research was funded by Emergency Management Australia and undertaken by a multidisciplinary research team drawn from the Australian Catholic University, the University of Canberra and the ACT Government. Download

Information Sources

ABC Catalyst, Canberra firestorm, 27 February 2003, website viewed 10 May 2012
ACT Chief Minister and Cabinet, Inquiry into the operational response to the January 2003 bushfires, 1 August 2003, pp iii, 15-16, 44-47, website viewed 10 May 2012
ACT Coroner's Court, Inquests and inquiry into the four deaths and four fires between 8 and 18 January 2003, vol.1, December 2006, p 3, website viewed 10 May 2012
ACT Government Bushfire Recovery Taskforce, The report of the bushfire recovery taskforce - Australian Capital Territory October 2003, 2003, pp ix, website viewed 10 May 2012
Aon Re Australia Limited, The January 2003 Canberra Bushfires, 30 January 2003, website viewed 10 May 2012
Bureau of Meteorology, Significant weather January 2003, website viewed 10 May 2012
Insurance Council of Australia, Historical disaster statistics, March 2012, website viewed 23 May 2012
Pearson Australia, Australian natural hazards case study – The Canberra bushfires 2003, website viewed 10 May 2012