Australia’s climate has a hot dry season in Summer and this season’s bush fires started in Sep 2019, after sporadic fires as early as Jul 2019, made worse by coming after a period of prolonged drought.
The previous worse fires were in 2009 on Black Saturday when $4.4Bn economic damage was caused and devastated 450,000 hectares, to the north of Melborne. This season has destroyed at least 8.4M hectares all along the south east coast, including serious damage to Cobargo and Mogo on the NSW south coast, and Mallacoota in the far south-east of Victoria. Parts of South Australia and Tasmania have also been affected.
As well as the consequences of the fires on Australia, smoke and ash plumes from the fires have passed New Zealand in the general easterly circulation and in a report from NASA in early Jan 2020, forecast that they could join up to encircle the southern hemisphere, reducing air quality everywhere.
The federal government in Canberra had committed at least $AUS 20M by Jan 2020, to lease scores of firefighting aircraft (helicopter and fixed wing) to attack the fires, but the government has been slow to declare a State of Emergency. The Australian Defence Force has partially mobilised to assist and overseas governments have sent troops and equipment to help, in particular New Zealand and Singapore.
Lives, wildlife and property has been destroyed and in rural areas roads are having to close and food and fuel supplies are being topped up by emergency deliveries by the defence forces. The Australian Red Cross is coordinating international donations of money ( https://fundraise.redcross.org.au/drr ) to fight more than 200 individual blazes.
The previous worse fires were in 2009 on Black Saturday when $4.4Bn economic damage was caused and devastated 450,000 hectares, to the north of Melborne. This season has destroyed at least 8.4M hectares all along the south east coast, including serious damage to Cobargo and Mogo on the NSW south coast, and Mallacoota in the far south-east of Victoria. Parts of South Australia and Tasmania have also been affected.
As well as the consequences of the fires on Australia, smoke and ash plumes from the fires have passed New Zealand in the general easterly circulation and in a report from NASA in early Jan 2020, forecast that they could join up to encircle the southern hemisphere, reducing air quality everywhere.
The federal government in Canberra had committed at least $AUS 20M by Jan 2020, to lease scores of firefighting aircraft (helicopter and fixed wing) to attack the fires, but the government has been slow to declare a State of Emergency. The Australian Defence Force has partially mobilised to assist and overseas governments have sent troops and equipment to help, in particular New Zealand and Singapore.
Lives, wildlife and property has been destroyed and in rural areas roads are having to close and food and fuel supplies are being topped up by emergency deliveries by the defence forces. The Australian Red Cross is coordinating international donations of money ( https://fundraise.redcross.org.au/drr ) to fight more than 200 individual blazes.
In a 27 Jan 2020 ceremony near Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island, SA, a unit of New Zealand engineers departed after specialist support during Operation Bushfire Assist.
News |
Singapore Chinooks Ended Bushfires Mission
07-Feb-20 - The two Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) CH-47D Chinook ended their 1-month deployment for Operation Bushfires Assist flying over 30 sorties #AustraliaBushfiresBristow Supports Singapore Chinooks in Australia
15-Jan-20 - Bristow Defence Industries (BDI) supported the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) training detachment based in Oakey, Queensland to deployed the two CH-47D Chinook to RAAF East Sale against the Australian Bushfires #AustraliaBushfireOperation Bushfire Assist 2019-2020
10-Jan-20 - Summary of Australian Defence Force (ADF) humanitarian aid response for Operation Bushfire Assist 2019-2020. The ADF has been working with Emergency Management in firefighting efforts in NSW, QLD, WA, VIC and SA since November 8 #bushfiresSingapore Chinooks Joins Australia Bushfires Fight
08-Jan-20 - Two Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) CH-47D Chinook helicopters from the training detachment based at Australian Army Aviation Centre Oakey were deployed to RAAF East Sale in Victoria to join the Australian bushfires firefighting campaign #AustraliaBushfiresKiwi NH90 Deployed Against Australia Bushfires
08-Jan-20 - Kiwi contingent to take flight for cousins. RAAF C-17 cargo aircraft delivering three Royal New Zealand Air Force NH90 helicopters to Australia for firefighting as part of Operation Bushfire Assist #BushfiresSix Erickson S-64 Fighting Australia Bushfires
07-Jan-20 - Australia in state of emergency as deadly bushfires rage. Erickson continues deployment with local partner Kestrel Aviation of six S-64 air cranes firefighters helicopters #AustraliaBushfires List of aircraft at OPS Australian Bushfires 2019-2020 |
Sikorsky S-70C N2FHBrainerd Helicopters Inc12Jan20 East Sale, VIC, Australia; fighting fires in Victoria during the 2019/2020 Australian Bushfire Season | Sikorsky S-70C N2FHBrainerd Helicopters Inc12Jan20 East Sale, VIC, Australia; fighting fires in Victoria during the 2019/2020 Australian Bushfire Season |
NH Industries MRH90 Taipan A40-022Fleet Air Arm (RAN)06Feb20 pictured departing Canberra Airport for bushfire tasking. | NH Industries MRH90 Taipan A40-022Fleet Air Arm (RAN)06Feb20 pictured departing Canberra Airport for bushfire tasking. |
Aerospatiale AS350B2 Ecureuil VH-ZHM07Feb20 pictured departing Canberra Airport as Firebird 260 | Aerospatiale AS350B2 Ecureuil VH-ZHM07Feb20 pictured departing Canberra Airport as Firebird 260 |
Bell 212 VH-UECEPS helicopter services23Jan20 pictured (pic2) in NRMA Insurance livery at Wagga Wagga Airport as Helitak 296. | Bell 212 VH-UECEPS helicopter services23Jan20 pictured (pic2) in NRMA Insurance livery at Wagga Wagga Airport as Helitak 296. |
Boeing CH-47F Chinook A15-302Australian Army Aviation17Jan20 Spotted arriving at RAAF Base Wagga | Boeing CH-47F Chinook A15-302Australian Army Aviation17Jan20 Spotted arriving at RAAF Base Wagga |
Bell UH-1D Iroquois VH-UEE10Jan20 pictured at Wagga Wagga Airport as Helitak 422 | Bell UH-1D Iroquois VH-UEE10Jan20 pictured at Wagga Wagga Airport as Helitak 422 |
Sikorsky S-70A-9 Black Hawk A25-210Australian Army AviationJan-20 jan20 pictured (pic2) during Operation Bushfire Assist | Sikorsky S-70A-9 Black Hawk A25-210Australian Army AviationJan-20 jan20 pictured (pic2) during Operation Bushfire Assist |
NH Industries MRH90 Taipan A40-045Fleet Air Arm (RAN)06Jan20 pictured in south east Australia operating from HMAS Choules during Operation Bushfire Assist. | NH Industries MRH90 Taipan A40-045Fleet Air Arm (RAN)06Jan20 pictured in south east Australia operating from HMAS Choules during Operation Bushfire Assist. |
Bell UH-1D Iroquois VH-ONZ09Jan20 w/o ditched into Ben Boyd Reservoir, near Eden, New South Wales | Bell UH-1D Iroquois VH-ONZ09Jan20 w/o ditched into Ben Boyd Reservoir, near Eden, New South Wales |
Eurocopter AS350B3 Ecureuil VH-ZBQpictured at Wagga Wagga Airport, Frontier Helicopters, operated by Pays Helicopters as Firebird 707. | Eurocopter AS350B3 Ecureuil VH-ZBQpictured at Wagga Wagga Airport, Frontier Helicopters, operated by Pays Helicopters as Firebird 707. |
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Ships |
Classes | Ships | |
---|---|---|
Assault Carrier | Canberra class | LHD 01 HMAS Adelaide, |
Landing Ship/Platform Dock | Bay class | L100 HMAS Choules, |
Support Ship | Sycamore class | mv Sycamore, |