NATHAN BAZLEY:
Australia has been shocked by the worst natural disaster in the nation's history. The massive bushfires that ripped through Victoria killed at least 180 people, but that number is expected to increase as hundreds of burnt buildings and cars are searched. Thousands of people have also been left without anywhere to live and have lost all of their clothes and possessions. The size of the tragedy has shocked people around the world and many are now asking how a bushfire could have caused so much devastation. A fire - it's one of our most useful tools and a part of daily life. But out of control it can instantly become one of the deadliest forces on the planet.
KEVIN RUDD:
You have been to hell and back and we intend to help you rebuild.
JULIA GILLARD:
7th February, 2009 will now be remembered as one of the darkest days in Australia's peacetime history.
NATHAN BAZLEY:
The weekend from hell started with dire warnings from firefighters and the weather bureau. They were expecting high winds, dry air and record temperatures. All in all, they feared if any fires started, they would be impossible to fight. And they were. 31 fires ripped through the state, destroying whole towns in minutes. People who live there say they were given little or no warning of how bad it would be. Scientists say it was like 500 atomic bombs worth of heat being released on these small communities. This was all that was left of the town of Marysville. And this, their school. Town after town, area after area were destroyed. More than 450,000 hectares were burnt, including around 2,000 houses. But worse than that was the number of lives lost. 189 people have been confirmed dead and maybe a million animals also lost their lives. It was easily Australia's worst natural disaster in history. But why was it so deadly? Well, to answer that, we need to know how a bushfire can go from a tiny spark to a massive inferno. There are a few factors which can make a small fire turn into something like Saturday's destructive blaze. The weather is one. On the day of the fires, there was 47-degree heat in Victoria, along with very dry, but very powerful winds. The heat made fuel - like wood and leaves - burn much easier. The wind pushed flames through the bush at more than 120km/h and blew burning embers up to 15km from the fire itself. This created all new fire fronts with frightening speed. They were the worst conditions ever recorded. Another factor that made this fire so devastating is the areas that it hit. Much of the parts of Victoria that were burnt are hilly and covered in eucalyptus trees. This also helped the fire move so quickly. Fires travel much faster uphill and eucalypts are highly flammable because of the oil in their leaves. This is Marysville before the fires. Most of the people living in these areas are nestled right in amongst those trees and hills. For many, there wasn't anything they could do. Some sheltered in their houses, others decided to evacuate. Some found themselves in cars or in the middle of nowhere. But all said the heat that came off this fire was like nothing they had ever experienced. The most dangerous part of a bushfire is the radiant heat, or energy, that's released. Think about this heater. You don't have to put your hand in any flames to get burnt. It's the same with a bushfire, but the heat energy that is released from a fire that big can burn any uncovered skin from a long way away. Hospitals in Victoria have been flooded with patients suffering terrible burns. Some were injured while fighting the blaze, others were burnt very badly when they were caught without protection. The doctors are doing everything they can to help the injured. But many will take years to get back to full health. How long it will take their communities to recover is far less certain. For most of us it would be hard to imagine what it would be like to lose everything you own, let alone your loved ones. But right now there are thousands of people in Victoria who are having to deal with just that. But one thing we've seen in the past couple of weeks is that when things are worst you often see people at their best.
REPORTER:
On a local sportsground in the fire zone, life goes on. There's kids playing, mates having coffee, friends, neighbours and strangers doing normal, everyday things in a situation that's far from normal.
MAN:
What do you do when you've lost everything? This is home to these people.
REPORTER:
In the first few days after the fires, people who had lost their homes or couldn't get back to them had to find somewhere to live. 13-year old Robin and her family are living in one of these big tents provided by the army. They've also brought in toilets and portable bathrooms. Volunteers have set up shop in public buildings giving out free meals, clothes, toiletries, blankets and anything else people need. And if they need to talk, there are professional counsellors on hand.
NURSE:
That's alright. No worries at all. Pleasure.
REPORTER:
Sometimes it's kids helping the adults, like Jacob, who's watching out for his dad.
JACOB:
You alright, Dad?
DAD:
Yeah, I'm alright.
JACOB:
You're shaking.
DAD:
No, I'm just cold. Just nerves.
REPORTER:
No-one is being left to go through this alone and all over Australia people are trying to help in whatever way they can. Australians have now donated more than $100 million for bushfire relief funds. Even schools have got involved. These guys had a casual day to raise money and also donated clothes and groceries.
BOY:
When people donate other things they help them a lot because they don't have any money, they've lost everything.
REPORTER:
And people are even giving blood. Centres around the country have been full of people donating the precious red stuff. People with burns will need a lot of that over the next few weeks.
WOMAN:
Everyone, everyone is doing something. And it's wonderful.
REPORTER:
At the camps you can already see what a difference it makes. These kids have lost everything in the fire, but they've already been given toys to play with. And there have been some welcome distractions, like some famous visitors who gave out autographs and hugs. But it's not just people who need looking after. Lots of people escaped with their pets, which means there are dogs and cats, even ponies. There are injured native animals and farm animals that all need special care.
MAN:
We really need some more of these ointments and aloe vera creams.
REPORTER:
And farm animals will need feed. Farmers have been sending trucks to help. So what happens next? Well, for many, the priority will be finding somewhere more permanent to live. People who had insurance will get money to rebuild. For others there'll be help from the government and charities. But there are some things that can't be replaced.
BOY:
It definitely won't be the same, not with... ..six students who have passed away, a teacher passed away. It never will be the same.
REPORTER:
There have been church services for the victims. The PM has vowed to rebuild these towns brick by brick.
MAN:
People who want to stay up here will make this the community that it was.
DAD:
We're going to build it bigger and better and my wife is going to get the new kitchen that she's been wanting.
REPORTER:
The horror of Black Saturday will never be forgotten, but with friendship, courage and hard work, these communities will get through, together.