About a week after the deadly fires that changed Canberra forever, firefighter Vivien Thomson saw the whole picture of devastation for the first time. 9News
forever, firefighter Vivien Thomson saw the whole picture of devastation for the first time.
But it was one more painful step to recovery after a natural disaster that changed her life, the nation's capital and ideas about bushfires across Australia. "It's quite stunning to look — it's almost mesmerising but there's so much chaos going on at the same time with the traffic and noise, everyone's trying to run and get to safety," she told 9news.com.au.
"The fire behaviour and what was happening was like nothing, absolutely nothing, any of us had seen before," she said.The system developed Australia's first documented fire tornado, decades before fire-generated thunderstorms worsened the 2019–2020 bushfire season. The aftermath ushered in sweeping changes to the ACT's emergency services and, according to Natural Hazards Research Australia CEO Andrew Gissing, changed bushfire science forever.
An independent report released this month by the ACT's independent Multi Hazard Advisory Council noted the government had implemented most of the recommendations from a string of inquiries into the 2003 disaster, but faulted its efforts to account for climate change.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
The bushfire that changed Canberra foreverIt has been 20 years since a bushfire tore through the suburbs of the capital. The event changed the way fires are responded to in the ACT, but the question still lingers — could it happen again? Warning: this story contains content that may be disressing to some readers.
Read more »
Vast fires razed Canberra’s suburbs 20 years ago – and changed bushfire science for ever | Andrew Gissing for the ConversationOur national research on bushfires since 2003 means we know much more about how they behave – and Australians are safer for it
Read more »
Ukraine Ambassador pleads with Australia to 'step up' military assistanceUkraine’s Ambassador in Canberra has outlined a list of demands for the Australian Government, as he pleaded for more assistance to defend his home country from Russia's ongoing brutal invasion.
Read more »
Canberrans to gather to mark 20 years since devastating bushfiresCanberrans will gather today to mark the 20th anniversary of the devastating bushfires, which claimed the lives of four people and injured more than 400. The bushfire began after an electrical storm ignited a series of spot fires in drought-stricken national parks. By January 18, thousands of locals fled Canberra as firefighters struggled to contain the huge fire tornado. A vigil will be held tonight at the Stromlo Forest Bushfire Memorial as locals gather to pay tribute to bushfire victims.
Read more »
‘No response’ from govt on whether Jim Molan’s family will be offered a state funeralCommentator Steve Price says he’s “very puzzled” as to why neither the New South Wales government nor the Albanese government have announced that Senator Jim Molan’s family will be offered a state funeral. Mr Molan died at the age of 72 after a “sudden and rapid” decline in health, according to the family. “Today we put in calls … to the New South Wales Premier's office, they've deferred us to the Prime Minister's office in Canberra as yet we’ve had no response. “We’ll keep asking some questions until we get some answers. “Like I said, there could be no more worthy person.”
Read more »