2015 Pinery bushfire

Bushfire in the 2015–16 Australian bushfire season November 2015 October 2026 2015 Pinery bushfire File:Pinery Fire Memorial 2.jpg Pinery Fire Memorial, Grace Plains Lower Mid North, Light River and west Barossa, South Australia, Australia http://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/site/warnings_and_incidents.jsp? Warnings and Incidents SA Country Fire Service Government of South Australia 26 November 2015 25 November 2015 PORT LORNE ROAD, PINERY Grass Fire; First Reported: Wednesday, 25 Nov 2015 12:05:00; Status: GOING; Region: 2http://www.sa.gov.au/topics/emergencies-and-safety/pinery-fire 15 January 2016 4 January 2016 Pinery fire – Nov 2015 Government of South Australia https://web.archive.org/web/20151231124841/http://www.sa.gov.au/topics/emergencies-and-safety/pinery-fire 31 December 2015 deadhttp://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-26/live-blog-sa-fires/6975080 Live blog: SA fires ABC News Australia 26 November 2015 26 November 2015Elizabeth Henson Lauren Novak Pinery bushfire: Emergency radio system failed at height of blaze, trapping firefighters http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/pinery-bushfire-emergency-radio-system-failed-at-height-of-blaze-trapping-firefighters/news-story/758bf274bf7ae3ec7bed021f660058e8 5 May 2016 Adelaide Advertiser 1 December 2015 A$170 million 34 18 36 S 138 25 26 E(ignition point) 2015 11 25 yyes 2015 12 2 More than 85000 ha acre -3 Car battery left in paddock Residential Farmland Forest reserves 470+;91 houses 388 non-residential structures 98 vehicles 93 items of farm machinery 90; including 5 critical 2 Australia South Australia Location of the ignition starting point of the bushfire, in South Australia The 2015 Pinery bushfire was a bushfire that burned from 25 November to 2 December 2015, and primarily affected the Lower Mid North and west Barossa Valley regions immediately north of Gawler in the Australian state of South Australia. At least 86000 ha of scrub and farmland in the council areas of Light, Wakefield, Clare and Gilbert Valleys, and Mallala were burned during its duration.Pinery Fire – Situation Map – 1900 hrs 25/11/2015 – CFS http://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/public/download.jsp?id=84903 South Australian Country Fire Service 3 May 2016House of Assembly South Australia Pinery Bushfires – Grievance Debate http://hansardpublic.parliament.sa.gov.au/Pages/HansardResult.aspx#/docid/HANSARD-11-21907 3 December 2015 Sam Duluk Member for Davenport https://web.archive.org/web/20191029104323/http://hansardpublic.parliament.sa.gov.au/Pages/HansardResult.aspx#/docid/HANSARD-11-21907 29 October 2019 On 25 November, during the major run of the Pinery fire, two fatalities occurred; Janet Hughes, 56, perished while fleeing in a vehicle outside Hamley Bridge; Allan Tiller, 69, perished while fighting the fire on a neighbour's property in Pinery itself.Jade Gailberger Doug Robertson Jordanna Schriever Pinery bushfire victims identified as Janet Hughes and Allan Tiller http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/descendant-of-pinery-settling-family-killed-in-devastating-fire-north-of-adelaide/news-story/ca0c09a1b9165c02db64c6914dd8d97c 2 May 2016 Adelaide Advertiser 26 November 2015SA bushfire: Allan Tiller identified as 69yo victim killed in Pinery fire http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-26/first-bushfire-victim-identified-as-allan-tiller/6974372 3 May 2016 ABC News Australia 26 November 2015SA bushfire: Hamley Bridge community mourns Janet Hughes, who helped provide firestorm refuge http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-27/sa-bushfires-janet-hughes-killed-hamley-bridge/6981240 3 May 2016 ABC News Australia 27 November 2015 A further 90 people were hospitalized as a result of the fire, with five of the victims suffering critical injuries. The Pinery fire destroyed or rendered uninhabitable 91 houses, and completely destroyed 388 non-residential structures, 93 pieces of farm machinery and 98 other vehicles.McLoughlin Chris Pinery bushfire: Tally of homes destroyed rises to 91 as SA Govt prepares to hand out first relief payments http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-19/number-of-homes-destroyed-in-pinery-fire-rises-to-91/7043178 20 December 2015 ABC News Australia 19 December 2015SA bushfire: 77 homes confirmed destroyed in deadly blaze as threat eases http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-27/deadly-sa-bushfire-downgraded-as-fire-crews-clean-up/6978888 26 November 2015 ABC News Australia 27 November 2015SA bushfire: 87 homes destroyed or damaged in deadly Pinery blaze, Premier confirms http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-27/sa-bushfires-87-homes-lost-premier-says/6981240 27 November 2015 ABC News Australia 27 November 2015House of Assembly South Australia Pinery Bushfires – Ministerial Statement http://hansardpublic.parliament.sa.gov.au/Pages/HansardResult.aspx#/docid/HANSARD-11-21663 1 December 2015 Jay Weatherill Member for Cheltenham, Premier of South Australia https://web.archive.org/web/20191029104323/http://hansardpublic.parliament.sa.gov.au/Pages/HansardResult.aspx#/docid/HANSARD-11-21663 29 October 2019 It also caused significant damage to rural produce; 53,000 poultry and 17,500 head of livestock perished and up to A$40 million worth of fodder and unharvested grains were destroyed.Lauren Novak Doug Robertson Clean-up of Pinery fire ground begins, with 450 insurance claims lodged to value of $61 million http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/clean-up-of-pinery-fire-ground-begins-with-450-insurance-claims-lodged-to-value-of-61-million/story-fni6uo1m-1227626197738?sv=5209e3c0bc79c9dc9febae7574372df6 28 November 2015 Adelaide Advertiser 28 November 2015James Colin Pinery Fire: Country Fire Service declares fire is contained as residents confront widespread devastation http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/pinery-fire-country-fire-service-declares-fire-is-contained-as-residents-confront-widespread-devastation/story-fni6uok5-1227616735753 27 November 2015 Adelaide Advertiser 27 November 2015Whiting Natalie SA bushfire: Farmers hit by fires face years of land rehabilitation after $40m worth of crops lost http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-01/farmers-hit-by-sa-bushfires-face-years-of-land-rehabilitation/6991176 4 May 2016 ABC News Australia 1 December 2015 Communities affected by the fire included Barabba, Daveyston, Freeling, Greenock, Hamley Bridge, Kapunda, Magdala, Mallala, Nain, Nuriootpa, Owen, Pinery, Pinkerton Plains, Redbanks, Roseworthy, Stockport, Tarlee, Templers, Wasleys and Woolsheds. Climate and weather setting Daily maximum temperatures were the highest on record for October in South Australia, averaging +5.61 °C above the mean.Bureau of Meteorology 2015a 7–8 Daily rainfall records for November were observed across a large number of stations in the agricultural districts of South Australia on 4–5 November, with daily totals ranging from 30 mm to 80 mm over large areas; Tarlee observed a record 69.9 mm falling on 5 November.Bureau of Meteorology 2015b 9Bureau of Meteorology 2015b 18 Several communities within the eventual fire ground recorded their highest November rainfall in at least 30 years; Tarlee observed the wettest November since 1971, with 79.8 mm.Bureau of Meteorology 2015b 20 However, extremely low rainfall was observed after 5 November and prior to the fire; 0.5 mm at Nuriootpa and 1.6 mm at Roseworthy. The record rainfall in early November prompted growth of both agricultural crops and other plant material, which increased the fuel load across the fire ground. More plant material was present in the fire ground than later in the fire season, as the fire occurred during a spring harvest period with predicted wheat yields of near the long-term average.Rural Solutions SA Crop and Pasture Report – South Australia http://pir.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/266344/Crop_and_Pasture_Report_South_Australia_2015-16_Seeding_Intentions_and_Crop_Establishment.pdf Primary Industries and Regions South Australia 4 May 2016 15 2015 17 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160317194450/http://pir.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/266344/Crop_and_Pasture_Report_South_Australia_2015-16_Seeding_Intentions_and_Crop_Establishment.pdf dead During the rest of November, this organic material quickly dried out as South Australia recorded mean temperatures in the warmest 10% of years, due in part to two high pressure systems that moved eastwards across southeastern Australia on 18–20 November and on 21–23 November.Bureau of Meteorology 2015b 7–8 Large areas of the state recorded daily maximum temperatures of +12 °C above average during the passage of both systems; on 18 November, Roseworthy recorded 41.6 C F and, on 19 November, Nuriootpa recorded 38.9 C F. Weather on 25 November The day prior to ignition of the Pinery fire, the Country Fire Service issued a warning for "Extreme" fire conditions in the Mid-North and Mount Lofty Ranges and declared a total fire ban in both regions for 25 November.CFS Fire Ban and Fire Danger Rating – Issued 24 Nov 16:35 http://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/site/home/criimson/cfs_fire_ban_and_fire_danger_rating_issued_24_nov_16350000115.jsp 4 May 2016 South Australian Country Fire Service 24 November 2015 26 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160326103211/http://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/site/home/criimson/cfs_fire_ban_and_fire_danger_rating_issued_24_nov_16350000115.jsp dead The weather conditions around the Pinery fire on 25 November have been described as "catastrophic"; sustained north-westerly winds of 50–60 kph and reputed gusts of up to 90 kph are believed to have fanned the fire front in a run of over 50 km in the first 4 hours.Kate Dowler Alice Pohlner Crop, stock hit hard in South Australia and Western Australia fires http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/agribusiness/crop-stock-hit-hard-in-south-australia-and-western-australia-fires/news-story/e9aec46451151f844b2b90b2f1145b17 2 May 2016 Weekly Times 2 December 2015 At Nuriootpa, the Bureau of Meteorology observed a maximum wind gust of 72 kph from the northwest at 13:25 ACDT (UTC+10:30), the highest recording in November 2015.Nuriootpa, South Australia; November 2015 Daily Weather Observations http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/201511/html/IDCJDW5049.201511.shtml Bureau of Meteorology 3 May 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160611205937/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/201511/html/IDCJDW5049.201511.shtml 11 June 2016 dead 81 kph from the west-north-west at 13:31 ACDT (UTC+10:30) was the highest recorded wind speed at Roseworthy that month, and the relative humidity of 11% at 9:00 ACDT (UTC+10:30) was also the lowest that month.Roseworthy, South Australia; November 2015 Daily Weather Observations http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/201511/html/IDCJDW5062.201511.shtml Bureau of Meteorology 3 May 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160611210130/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/201511/html/IDCJDW5062.201511.shtml 11 June 2016 dead At approximately 15:00 ACDT (UTC+10:30) the fire ground was affected by a cold front that passed across the entirety of southern Australia. The fire had initially spread to the south-east on a long narrow front, and when the cold front caused the prevailing wind to change direction, the long eastern flank became a broad front and the fire spread rapidly to the east and north. The wind at Roseworthy was observed as having shifted to 54 kph from the west-south-west, and the mean sea level pressure had fallen to a low of 999.4 at 15:00 ACDT (UTC+10:30). Fire timeline Around noon on 25 November, the Pinery fire was started by a spark from a car batteryhttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-19/car-battery-caused-fatal-pinery-fire/8039622 Pinery bushfire caused by car battery, no charges laid 18 November 2016 ABC News Australia in a paddock bordering Plains Road and Port Lorne Road in the lower Mid North wheat-growing locality of Pinery, 70 km due north of Adelaide's centre.Rice Steve Police identify Pinery fire origin but investigations continue http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/police-identify-pinery-fire-origin-but-investigations-continue/news-story/fd782835999b418908b86747594560e4 2 May 2016 Adelaide Advertiser 16 December 2015 Shortly after noon, the first alert message for the Pinery fire was issued by the Country Fire Service, the fire burning west of Avon on Port Lorne Road. The warning was upgraded 10 minutes later to emergency level, with the fire burning in a south-easterly direction and impacting on properties around Mallala.Emergency Warning Message – PINERY Issued 25 Nov 12:28 http://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/site/home/criimson/emergency_warning_message_pinery_issued_25_nov_12280000126.jsp 2 May 2016 South Australian Country Fire Service 25 November 2015 26 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160326103151/http://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/site/home/criimson/emergency_warning_message_pinery_issued_25_nov_12280000126.jsp dead According to a Pinery farmer who spoke to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Landline program, local farmers were "...confronted with two kilometres of 30-foot-high wall of flame."Straight Kerry From the Ashes: Pinery Fires http://www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/landline/old-site/content/2016/s4419409.htm 28 December 2018 Landline Australian Broadcasting Corporation 11 March 2016 An hour later the emergency warning area was expanded to include Magdala, Pinkerton Plains, Redbanks, Wasleys and Woolsheds as the fire moved in a south-easterly direction, and by 14:30 ACDT (UTC+10:30) the fire was impacting properties in the areas around Gawler, Hewett and Roseworthy.Emergency Warning Message – PINERY Issued 25 Nov 14:27 http://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/site/home/criimson/emergency_warning_message_pinery_issued_25_nov_14270000136.jsp 2 May 2016 South Australian Country Fire Service 25 November 2015 26 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160326103119/http://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/site/home/criimson/emergency_warning_message_pinery_issued_25_nov_14270000136.jsp dead However, a wind change passed the fire ground at approximately 15:00 ACDT (UTC+10:30), causing the fire front to expand in a northerly direction, and by 15:17 ACDT (UTC+10:30) the fire was traveling in a north-easterly direction towards Barabba, Freeling, Greenock, Hamley Bridge, Kapunda, Nuriootpa, Owen and Tarlee.Emergency Warning Message – PINERY Issued 25 Nov 15:17 http://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/site/home/criimson/emergency_warning_message_pinery_issued_25_nov_15170000141.jsp 2 May 2016 South Australian Country Fire Service 25 November 2015 26 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160326103059/http://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/site/home/criimson/emergency_warning_message_pinery_issued_25_nov_15170000141.jsp dead At 16:25 ACDT (UTC+10:30), the area placed under an emergency warning was expanded again to include Dutton, Eudunda, Marrabel and Riverton.Emergency Warning Message – PINERY Issued 25 Nov 16:26 http://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/site/home/criimson/emergency_warning_message_pinery_issued_25_nov_16260000148.jsp 2 May 2016 South Australian Country Fire Service 25 November 2015 26 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160326103030/http://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/site/home/criimson/emergency_warning_message_pinery_issued_25_nov_16260000148.jsp dead A worker at a piggery between Wasleys and Mallala reportedly "...drove 120 kilometres per hour in one direction away from the fire, before seeing the wind swing around and having to double back in the opposite direction." The man, who spoke to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation described "...flames taller than buildings".Michael Dulaney James Jooste After the fire: Pinery residents return home http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-27/after-the-fire-pinery-residents-return-home/6981332 4 May 2016 ABC News Australia 27 November 2015 The members of three Country Fire Service brigades were trapped between Wasleys and Mallala during the wind change and sheltered in their vehicles during a burn over, however there were no injuries. At 21:30 ACDT (UTC+10:30) all warnings for the Pinery fire were downgraded to "watch and act", however the fire had already impacted directly on property as far north as Tarlee, as far east as Belvidere and as far south as Roseworthy.Watch and Act Message – PINERY Issued 25 Nov 21:31 http://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/site/home/criimson/watch_and_act_message_pinery_issued_25_nov_21310000156.jsp 2 May 2016 South Australian Country Fire Service 25 November 2015 26 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160326102948/http://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/site/home/criimson/watch_and_act_message_pinery_issued_25_nov_21310000156.jsp dead By 26 November, approximately 400 firefighters and 70 firefighting appliances had been deployed to fight the fire and both the Horrocks and Thiele Highways were closed to all but emergency traffic.Two dead, over 85,000ha burnt in Pinery blaze http://www.barossaherald.com.au/story/3517476/update-fire-at-pinery/ 4 May 2016 Barossa Herald 25 November 2015 On 2 December, eight days after ignition, all warnings for the fire ceased; the fire had burned property across a fire front of over 210 km.Crews Remain On-Scene as Threat from Pinery Fire Reduces; Issued 01 Dec 18:47 http://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/site/home/criimson/crews_remain_onscene_as_threat_from_pinery_fire_reduces_issued_01_dec_18470000217.jsp 2 May 2016 South Australian Country Fire Service 25 November 2015 During the entire duration of the fire, at least 1,700 firefighters and volunteers were deployed, including a large interstate deployment of strike teams from Victoria's Country Fire Authority (CFA).Bushfire History http://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/site/about/history/bushfire_history.jsp South Australian Country Fire Service 4 May 2016 13 April 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160413132656/http://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/site/about/history/bushfire_history.jsp dead Aftermath There were two human fatalities during the Pinery fire, both on the afternoon of 25 November. Janet Hughes, 56, was trapped in her car on Owen Road outside Hamley Bridge and died at the scene. Fellow residents believed Mrs. Hughes was attempting to reach her partner, who was at work in nearby Balaklava, when her car left the road and ignited.Rice Steve Pinery fire: Andrew Lemmon tells of desperately trying to find fiancee Janet Hughes in the smoke http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/pinery-fire-andrew-lemmon-tells-of-desperately-trying-to-find-fiancee-janet-hughes-in-the-smoke/news-story/f25de0ab35e205f143caefad5340d137 4 May 2016 Adelaide Advertiser 9 December 2015 While assisting another man to defend a neighbor's property, Allan Tiller, 69, was overcome by the fire front in a Pinery paddock and died of his injuries at the scene. Significant damage was caused to numerous communities across an 86000 ha area in the council areas of Light, Wakefield, Clare and Gilbert Valleys, and Mallala.SA bushfires mapped: What happened where http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-26/sa-bushfires-mapped-what-happened-where/6975846 4 May 2016 ABC News Australia 26 November 2015 At least 91 houses were destroyed or rendered uninhabitable by fire damage during the Pinery fire, the vast majority during the initial six hours after ignition.Robertson Doug Families devastated by the Pinery bushfire confused by EPA stance on dumping http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/families-devastated-by-the-pinery-bushfire-confused-by-epa-stance-on-dumping/news-story/185bfb184a97dfc8efc94dad022be14c 4 May 2016 Adelaide Advertiser 27 January 2016 In the town of Wasleys, a lawn bowls club and a post office were gutted by the fire. Also destroyed were 388 non-residential buildings, 98 vehicles and 93 pieces of farm machinery. Numerous civilian vehicles were destroyed along the Horrocks, Sturt and Thiele highways as people attempted to flee; approximately 110 km of roads and roads infrastructure—including bridges and signage—were damaged or destroyed by the fire.DPTI's ongoing efforts in Pinery Bushfire recovery http://dpti.sa.gov.au/news/?a=250447 4 May 2016 Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure Government of South Australia 12 January 2016 3 June 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160603201530/http://dpti.sa.gov.au/news/?a=250447 dead The fire had a catastrophic impact upon the rural industry of Lower Mid North, Light River and west Barossa regions. A large quantity of livestock perished in the fire, including 53,600 poultry, 17,000 sheep, 500 pigs, 87 cattle, 19 horses and three Alpaca. Many of the livestock were buried in mass graves across the region.Coggan Michael SA bushfire: Farmers shoot injured sheep and bury flocks in mass graves http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-27/bushfire-livestock-losses-shooting-injured-sheep/6981416 4 May 2016 ABC News Australia 27 November 2015 Approximately two-thirds of the area burned in the Pinery fire was estimated to have been paddocks and fields of produce; 120,000 tonnes of agricultural crops—including wheat, barley, canola, lentils and chickpeas—with a value of up to A$40 million were destroyed.Peter Jean Ken McGregor Sarah Rohweder Farmers in Mid-North start counting loss from Pinery fire devastation https://www.news.com.au/national/south-australia/farmers-in-midnorth-start-counting-loss-from-pinery-fire-devastation/news-story/949fed0a4927dd36fffc619f05b344b6 4 May 2016 news.com.au 27 November 2015 On 17 March 2016, winds of up to 90 kph during a thunderstorm that passed over the fire ground created a dust storm, which affected towns in the mid-north of South Australia and in the Barossa Valley.Dust storm sweeps up from Pinery fire ground as strong winds lash South Australia http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-17/dust-storm-barossa-black-outs-weather/7255878 3 May 2016 ABC News Australia 17 March 2016 Aid and recovery Those in the Light, Wakefield, Clare and Gilbert Valleys, and Mallala council areas who suffered loss or injury as a result of the fires were able to claim a one-off Disaster Recovery Payment and, in some cases, a 13-week Disaster Recovery Allowance, both provided by the State Government of South Australia.Pinery fire – Nov. 2015; Recovery assistance https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/emergencies-and-safety/pinery-fire/recovery-assistance#title8 Department of the Premier and Cabinet Government of South Australia 3 May 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160403185443/http://www.sa.gov.au/topics/emergencies-and-safety/pinery-fire/recovery-assistance#title8 3 April 2016 dead $A84,000 was donated by businesses and the community to the RSPCA, which then allocated the funds to the University of Adelaide's School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences and the Veterinary Health Centres to treat pets and livestock injured in the blaze.$84,000 donated to save animals injured after Pinery fire https://www.adelaide.edu.au/news/news82223.html 4 May 2016 University of Adelaide 11 December 2015 See also South Australia Bushfires in Australia List of Australian bushfire seasons References Bibliography Monthly Weather Review – Australia; October 2015 http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/mwr/aus/mwr-aus-201510.pdf 2015a Bureau of Meteorology Bureau of Meteorology Melbourne, Victoria Commonwealth of Australia Monthly Weather Review – Australia; November 2015 http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/mwr/aus/mwr-aus-201511.pdf 2015b Bureau of Meteorology Bureau of Meteorology Melbourne, Victoria Commonwealth of Australia External links http://www.dcsi.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/53119/Reflections-on-the-Pinery-fire-web.pdf Reflections on the Pinery fire Hall Nicole May 2017 Department for Communities and Social Inclusion, Government of South Australia 28 June 2017 expanded Category:Bushfires in South Australia Pinery bushfires Pinery bushfires Category:South Australian Country Fire Service Category:2010s in South Australia Category:2016 disasters in Australia