Black Saturday Bushfires

The Black Saturday Bushfires occurred in Victoria, Australia, on February 7, 2009. Fueled by extreme heat, strong winds, and prolonged drought, a series of wildfires rapidly spread across the landscape, destroying homes, wildlife, and resulting in 173 deaths—making it the deadliest wildfire event in Australian history. The fires devastated communities and prompted widespread emergency response and firefighting efforts. The event highlighted the devastating impact of climate and weather conditions on bushfire behavior and led to significant changes in fire management policies in Australia.