Ash Wednesday bushfires
Disaster
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The Ash Wednesday bushfires, known in South Australia as Ash Wednesday II, were a series of bushfires that occurred in south-eastern Australia in 1983 on 16 February, the Christian holy day Ash Wednesday. Wikipedia
Date: February 16, 1983
Deaths: 75; (47 – Victoria); (28 – South Australia)
Cause: Faulty powerlines, arson, and negligence after years of extreme drought 3,700 homes and buildings lost
Land use: Urban/rural fringe areas, farmland and forest reserve
Non-fatal injuries: 2,676