On 16 October 1991, a number of fires erupted on the coast of New South Wales many of which were believed to have been deliberately lit. Major towns affected included Kenthurst, Hunter, Shoalhaven, Baulkham Hills, Gosford, Wyong Shire, Lake Macquarie and Cooma. Approximately 2500 firefighters were activated to control around thirty separate incidents across the state. A total of fourteen homes were completely destroyed and two people died in the fires at Kenthurst.