Bushfires began impacting in Australia as early as June 2019. Major impacts occurred during “Black Summer”, between December 2019 and January 2020.  During this time some communities have had to cope with drought, flood, and hail as well as bushfires!
For the whole of Australia, 33 lives were lost as a direct result of bushfires (some reports say 34). In addition there were 445 excess deaths from exposure to bushfire smoke. There were also 3340 admissions to hospitals with heart and lung problems and 1373 attendances at emergency departments due to complications with asthma. The cost of health impacts is estimated to be in excess of $2m.
 
More than 3500 homes and 5852 outbuildings were destroyed. At 28 May the value of insurance claims lodged as a result of property loss was $2.26 billion. 18 Million hectares of land has been scorched and 119 animal species left in need of "urgent management intervention".
 
Rotary District 9710 includes the south eastern part of NSW plus Canberra and the ACT. It is believed that within District 9710’s boundaries of nearly 1200 houses were destroyed, nearly half of the total of homes destroyed in the State of NSW.  Breaking that down further:
  • 501 houses were destroyed in Eurobodalla Shire and 274 damaged; 1716 houses in the line of fire were saved.
  • 448 houses were destroyed in Bega Valley Shire that adjoins Eurobodalla and 126 damaged; 1344 houses in the line of fire were saved.
  • Fires burnt 365,000 hectares in Bega Valley Shire, 58% of the Shire’s land mass.
  • Fires burnt 270,000 hectares in Eurobodalla Shire, 79% of the Shire’s land mass.
The source of this information includes media reports – especially coverage of The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements – and the local knowledge of some Rotarians from District 9710.
 
 
GENERAL – IMPACTS OF 2019-2020 BUSHFIRES ON AUSTRALIA
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Extended fire season: “The fire season in parts of eastern Australia has lengthened by almost four months since the 1950s, with climate change a prominent driver in the trend” (Bureau of Meteorology)
 
Bureau of Meteorology at the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, reported in the Sydney Morning Herald, https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/fire-season-extends-by-almost-four-months-in-parts-of-australia-20200525-p54w28.html, 25 May 2020, accessed 29 May 2020
Some impacted areas were also impacted by flash flooding when heavy rains began fell in February 2020.
Lives lost through direct impact of bushfires: 33 (34 reported in The Saturday Paper)
 
The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, reported in The Guardian Australia, https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/may/25/australias-severe-bushfire-season-was-predicted-and-will-be-repeated-inquiry-told?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other, 25 May 2020, accessed 28 May 2020
Houses lost through bushfires: “more than 3500 homes lost and another 5852 outbuildings destroyed” (The Saturday Paper)
Bushland burnt out: “Some 18 million hectares were scorched”
Lives lost because of exposure to bushfire smoke: 445 excess deaths (estimate)
The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, reported in the Sydney Morning Herald,   https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/bushfires-left-estimated-445-dead-from-smoke-and-a-nation-traumatised-20200526-p54wha.html, 26 May 2020, accessed 29 May 2020
 
The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, reported in the Saturday paper,   https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2020/05/30/bushfire-hearings-spotlight-climate-change/15907608009902 30 May 2020 accessed 30 May 2020
Admitted to hospital due to heart and lung problems from smoke exposure: 3340
Attended emergency departments due to complications with asthma: 1373
Cost of health impacts: $2 billion
“ --about 80 per cent of Australians were affected by bushfire smoke at some point during last year’s fire season” (Associate Professor Fay Johnston, the Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, reported in the Saturday Paper
Value of insurance claims lodged: $2.26 billion as a result of property loss.
Impact on ecology: 119 animal species left in need of "urgent management intervention", work which also carries a financial cost.
LOCAL – IMPACTS ON AREAS WITHIN THE REMIT OF DISTRICT 9710
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“Bushfire activity started in August 2019, ramped up especially through December 2019 and January/February 2020, and only around March began to significantly decline” (Armstrong)
 
As reported orally by Chair of the Rotary District 9705 Bushfire Recovery Committee Phil Armstrong, supported by:
 
Bureau of Meteorology at the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, reported in the Sydney Morning Herald, https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/fire-season-extends-by-almost-four-months-in-parts-of-australia-20200525-p54w28.html, 25 May 2020, accessed 29 May 2020
Some impacted areas were also impacted by flash flooding when heavy rains began fell in February 2020.
South Coast lives lost through direct impact: 8
Bega Valley Shire
Houses destroyed: 448
Houses damaged: 126
(plus outbuildings and fencing)
Houses in the line of fire and saved: 1344
Area burnt: 365,000 hectares which equates to 58% of the Shires land mass.
Eurobodalla Shire
Houses destroyed: 501
Houses damaged: 274
(plus outbuildings and fencing)
Houses in the line of fire and saved: 1716
Area burnt: 270,000 hectares which equates to 79% of the Shires land mass.