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Bush Fire Disaster, 1994

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Collection SummaryIn January 1994 some of the worst bushfires seen in the Sutherland Shire burned in the Royal National Park and the Western end of the Shire. DescriptionAt 7pm on Wednesday, 5 January a fire started burning near Parklands Ave, East Heathcote. Increasing heat and strong NW winds meant that by 12noon the next day (Thursday January 6) the bushfire was burning out of control through the Royal National Park, threatening Bundeena and Maianbar. Homes were evacuated and up to 40 boats assemble off the beaches at Bundeena to evacuate up to 3000 people.

Meanwhile, at 5pm on Thursday, January 6 a separate fire breaks out in bushland opposite the Menai police station. This fire is contained in Menai that night but at 4:30pm the following Friday the fire re-ignites and burns eastward. Over the next 48 hours this fire would threaten homes and lives in Menai, Bangor, Illawong, Bonnet Bay, Como and Jannali.

Then, at 4pm on Saturday, 8 January another fire is reported on the S-bends at Sandy Point. 60km/h Westerley winds fan the flames, which travel 5km in 15 minutes. Over the course of the evening further homes would be threatened in Alfords Point, Illawong and Lugarno. By 8pm that night the situation was under control, however, on Sunday, 9 January at 6pm the southern edge of the fires escapes and crosses Heathcote Road, closing it to all traffic.

By Monday morning the weather had turned and all fires were under control but a terrbile toll had been taken. One person had died and many were hospitalised. Over 100 homes and buildings, including Como West Public School and the Presbytrian church, had been destroyed – the damage estimated at $27 million. Thousands of people were evacuated and 25 square kilometres of bushland in the Shire, and 120 square kilometres of the National Park, had been burnt in one of the worst disasters in the history of the Sutherland Shire.

Oral History

Neil and Gloria de Nett Oral History

Don Carter Oral History

Barbara Moore Oral History

Val and Doug Nicholson Oral History

Susan Huurdeman Oral History

Details

LocationComoMenaiBonnet BayAlfords PointIllawongBundeenaRoyal National ParkDate6-9 January 1994

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SubjectsBush Fire Disaster, 1994Bush FiresWildfires