GITNUXREPORT 2026

Australia Bushfire Statistics

Unprecedented bushfires devastated Australia with staggering human and ecological costs.

Sarah Mitchell

Senior Researcher specializing in consumer behavior and market trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

The economic cost of the 2019-2020 bushfires was estimated at AUD 103 billion.

Statistic 2

Insurance claims reached AUD 2.8 billion for property damage alone.

Statistic 3

Agriculture losses totaled AUD 2.4 billion, including fruit, wine, and livestock.

Statistic 4

Tourism industry lost AUD 6.5 billion due to closures and cancellations.

Statistic 5

Forestry damages amounted to AUD 1.2 billion, with 40% of plantation area burned.

Statistic 6

840 km of powerlines destroyed, costing AUD 500 million to repair.

Statistic 7

NSW government spent AUD 2.2 billion on immediate response and relief.

Statistic 8

Retail sales dropped 20% in fire-affected regions, equating to AUD 1 billion loss.

Statistic 9

Health costs from smoke exposure estimated at AUD 1.95 billion.

Statistic 10

1,600 km of roads damaged, repair bill AUD 300 million.

Statistic 11

Water infrastructure losses AUD 100 million, including 50 treatment plants affected.

Statistic 12

Fishing industry lost AUD 50 million from habitat destruction.

Statistic 13

GDP impact was 0.5% national reduction in Q1 2020.

Statistic 14

Over 100 airports and airstrips closed temporarily, affecting logistics.

Statistic 15

AUD 4.4 billion in federal disaster recovery funding allocated.

Statistic 16

The economic loss from destroyed assets was AUD 10 billion insured.

Statistic 17

2,500 businesses destroyed or severely damaged.

Statistic 18

Coal exports disrupted by port closures, loss AUD 200 million.

Statistic 19

AUD 5 billion in rebuilding homes and infrastructure planned.

Statistic 20

150 bridges destroyed on rural roads.

Statistic 21

During the 2019-2020 Australian bushfire season, a total of 18.6 million hectares of land were burned, an area larger than the entire United Kingdom.

Statistic 22

New South Wales saw 5.3 million hectares burned in the 2019-2020 bushfires, accounting for nearly 7% of the state's total land area.

Statistic 23

Victoria experienced bushfires that scorched 1.5 million hectares during the Black Summer season, including the East Gippsland mega-fire complex.

Statistic 24

The Gospers Mountain fire in New South Wales became Australia's largest single bushfire on record, burning 512,628 hectares over 166 days.

Statistic 25

South Australia had 590,000 hectares burned, with major fires in the Adelaide Hills and Kangaroo Island.

Statistic 26

Queensland recorded 410,000 hectares burned, primarily in the southern regions bordering New South Wales.

Statistic 27

Tasmania saw 67,000 hectares affected, including peat fires that smoldered for months in the World Heritage Area.

Statistic 28

The fires generated over 400 pyrocumulus clouds, leading to 17 pyro-tornadoes observed across the season.

Statistic 29

Fire fronts reached speeds of up to 20 km/h in open country during peak conditions in December 2019.

Statistic 30

Flame heights exceeded 70 meters in some eucalyptus forests, contributing to extreme fire behavior.

Statistic 31

Over 5,000 individual fires were ignited during the 2019-2020 season across eastern Australia.

Statistic 32

The season lasted from September 2019 to March 2020, with the most intense period from November to January.

Statistic 33

Satellite data showed daily burned area peaks of over 200,000 hectares on 31 December 2019.

Statistic 34

Fire scar mapping indicated 97% of burned areas were in temperate eucalypt forests.

Statistic 35

Western Australia had minor impacts with 100,000 hectares burned in the south-west.

Statistic 36

The total perimeter of active fire fronts peaked at over 20,000 km in mid-January 2020.

Statistic 37

Drought conditions covered 100% of New South Wales by November 2019, fueling fire spread.

Statistic 38

Over 100 million tonnes of fine fuel (dry vegetation) were available across fire-prone areas.

Statistic 39

Spot fires ignited up to 30 km ahead of main fire fronts due to extreme ember showers.

Statistic 40

The Black Summer fires crossed the Great Dividing Range 47 times, unprecedented in records.

Statistic 41

The 2019-2020 fires emitted 830 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent.

Statistic 42

Peak fire radiative power reached 1.5 terawatts on 31 Dec 2019.

Statistic 43

72% of Australia's land area under bushfire warning at some point.

Statistic 44

Fire weather index hit record 164 in Catastrophe Class 5.

Statistic 45

The Australian Defence Force deployed 3,500 personnel for fire suppression.

Statistic 46

15,000 Australian Defence Force reservists were activated for relief.

Statistic 47

Over 20,000 volunteers from Rural Fire Services fought the fires.

Statistic 48

52 million litres of water dropped by aircraft on fires.

Statistic 49

AUD 2 billion National Bushfire Recovery Agency established.

Statistic 50

1,200 helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft used in operations.

Statistic 51

Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements launched.

Statistic 52

400 wildlife rescue organizations mobilized, saving 90,000 animals.

Statistic 53

AUD 761 million Bushfire Appeal raised nationally.

Statistic 54

58 Lives Lost Inquiry recommended 195 actions for reform.

Statistic 55

Interstate firefighting taskforces from all states and NZ deployed.

Statistic 56

Satellite fire mapping provided 24/7 monitoring via Sentinel-2.

Statistic 57

10,000 personnel on ground at peak, including internationals from US/Canada.

Statistic 58

Mental health support provided to 50,000 affected individuals.

Statistic 59

5,000 km of fire breaks constructed during containment efforts.

Statistic 60

The Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission cost AUD 150 million to conduct.

Statistic 61

300,000 livestock vaccinated and treated post-fire.

Statistic 62

1 million seedlings planted in first year of recovery.

Statistic 63

NSW Bushfire Inquiry made 77 recommendations.

Statistic 64

90% containment achieved by 14 March 2020.

Statistic 65

At least 33 people died directly from the bushfires, including firefighters and civilians.

Statistic 66

213 firefighters suffered injuries serious enough to require hospitalization.

Statistic 67

Over 3,094 homes were completely destroyed across New South Wales alone.

Statistic 68

Victoria reported 1,552 houses destroyed, with 80% in East Gippsland.

Statistic 69

More than 9,400 buildings were damaged or destroyed nationwide.

Statistic 70

Kangaroo Island lost 36% of its Little Sahara dunes and over 500 homes threatened.

Statistic 71

Evacuations affected 250,000 people, with 28 emergency declaration areas in NSW.

Statistic 72

443 firefighters were injured in total, including 19 serious burn cases.

Statistic 73

Over 80% of Mallacoota residents (4,000 people) were trapped by fire on 31 Dec 2019.

Statistic 74

Batlow lost 75 homes, representing 10% of its housing stock.

Statistic 75

102 schools were closed or damaged, affecting 50,000 students.

Statistic 76

191 power substations were destroyed, causing outages for 700,000 customers.

Statistic 77

Over 400 hospitals treated 3,000 smoke-related cases.

Statistic 78

23 firefighters died, 18 from vehicle accidents.

Statistic 79

Nearly 3 billion wild animals were killed or severely impacted.

Statistic 80

Koala populations in NSW lost up to 30% in fire-affected areas, totaling 60,000 individuals.

Statistic 81

60,000 koalas perished on Kangaroo Island alone, 50% of the local population.

Statistic 82

Over 1 billion native mammals affected, including 143 million possums and gliders.

Statistic 83

51 million birds were killed or displaced nationwide.

Statistic 84

524 million reptiles perished, with fire-adapted species suffering most.

Statistic 85

150,000 livestock died, costing farmers AUD 100 million.

Statistic 86

80% of habitat for 7 threatened bird species was burned in South Australia.

Statistic 87

Glossy black cockatoo lost 40% of its foraging habitat on Kangaroo Island.

Statistic 88

100 threatened ecological communities were impacted, including 23 endangered ones.

Statistic 89

Dung beetles declined by 60% in fire zones, affecting soil health.

Statistic 90

95% of greater glider habitat destroyed in some NSW bioregions.

Statistic 91

Fungal species diversity dropped 50% in peatlands post-fire.

Statistic 92

20% of Australia's temperate rainforest was scorched, rare for fire-prone nation.

Statistic 93

Bat populations lost 25% in roost sites, impacting insect control.

Statistic 94

Over 1,000 plant species had >50% of populations burned.

Statistic 95

4.5 million hectares of national parks burned (20% of total).

Statistic 96

112 threatened animal species had >10% habitat loss.

1/96

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Imagine a wildfire so vast it consumed a land area larger than the United Kingdom, leaving in its wake an unprecedented toll of over 18 million scorched hectares, billions of animal lives lost, and communities forever changed during Australia's devastating 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfire season.

Key Takeaways

During the 2019-2020 Australian bushfire season, a total of 18.6 million hectares of land were burned, an area larger than the entire United Kingdom.
New South Wales saw 5.3 million hectares burned in the 2019-2020 bushfires, accounting for nearly 7% of the state's total land area.
Victoria experienced bushfires that scorched 1.5 million hectares during the Black Summer season, including the East Gippsland mega-fire complex.
At least 33 people died directly from the bushfires, including firefighters and civilians.
213 firefighters suffered injuries serious enough to require hospitalization.
Over 3,094 homes were completely destroyed across New South Wales alone.
Nearly 3 billion wild animals were killed or severely impacted.
Koala populations in NSW lost up to 30% in fire-affected areas, totaling 60,000 individuals.
60,000 koalas perished on Kangaroo Island alone, 50% of the local population.
The economic cost of the 2019-2020 bushfires was estimated at AUD 103 billion.
Insurance claims reached AUD 2.8 billion for property damage alone.
Agriculture losses totaled AUD 2.4 billion, including fruit, wine, and livestock.
The Australian Defence Force deployed 3,500 personnel for fire suppression.
15,000 Australian Defence Force reservists were activated for relief.
Over 20,000 volunteers from Rural Fire Services fought the fires.

Unprecedented bushfires devastated Australia with staggering human and ecological costs.

Economic and Infrastructure Impacts

The economic cost of the 2019-2020 bushfires was estimated at AUD 103 billion.
Insurance claims reached AUD 2.8 billion for property damage alone.
Agriculture losses totaled AUD 2.4 billion, including fruit, wine, and livestock.
Tourism industry lost AUD 6.5 billion due to closures and cancellations.
Forestry damages amounted to AUD 1.2 billion, with 40% of plantation area burned.
840 km of powerlines destroyed, costing AUD 500 million to repair.
NSW government spent AUD 2.2 billion on immediate response and relief.
Retail sales dropped 20% in fire-affected regions, equating to AUD 1 billion loss.
Health costs from smoke exposure estimated at AUD 1.95 billion.
1,600 km of roads damaged, repair bill AUD 300 million.
Water infrastructure losses AUD 100 million, including 50 treatment plants affected.
Fishing industry lost AUD 50 million from habitat destruction.
GDP impact was 0.5% national reduction in Q1 2020.
Over 100 airports and airstrips closed temporarily, affecting logistics.
AUD 4.4 billion in federal disaster recovery funding allocated.
The economic loss from destroyed assets was AUD 10 billion insured.
2,500 businesses destroyed or severely damaged.
Coal exports disrupted by port closures, loss AUD 200 million.
AUD 5 billion in rebuilding homes and infrastructure planned.
150 bridges destroyed on rural roads.

Economic and Infrastructure Impacts Interpretation

The statisticians have tallied a bill of over one hundred billion dollars for the fires, proving that when nature sends an invoice, it itemizes everything from bridges to breath.

Geographical Extent and Fire Behavior

During the 2019-2020 Australian bushfire season, a total of 18.6 million hectares of land were burned, an area larger than the entire United Kingdom.
New South Wales saw 5.3 million hectares burned in the 2019-2020 bushfires, accounting for nearly 7% of the state's total land area.
Victoria experienced bushfires that scorched 1.5 million hectares during the Black Summer season, including the East Gippsland mega-fire complex.
The Gospers Mountain fire in New South Wales became Australia's largest single bushfire on record, burning 512,628 hectares over 166 days.
South Australia had 590,000 hectares burned, with major fires in the Adelaide Hills and Kangaroo Island.
Queensland recorded 410,000 hectares burned, primarily in the southern regions bordering New South Wales.
Tasmania saw 67,000 hectares affected, including peat fires that smoldered for months in the World Heritage Area.
The fires generated over 400 pyrocumulus clouds, leading to 17 pyro-tornadoes observed across the season.
Fire fronts reached speeds of up to 20 km/h in open country during peak conditions in December 2019.
Flame heights exceeded 70 meters in some eucalyptus forests, contributing to extreme fire behavior.
Over 5,000 individual fires were ignited during the 2019-2020 season across eastern Australia.
The season lasted from September 2019 to March 2020, with the most intense period from November to January.
Satellite data showed daily burned area peaks of over 200,000 hectares on 31 December 2019.
Fire scar mapping indicated 97% of burned areas were in temperate eucalypt forests.
Western Australia had minor impacts with 100,000 hectares burned in the south-west.
The total perimeter of active fire fronts peaked at over 20,000 km in mid-January 2020.
Drought conditions covered 100% of New South Wales by November 2019, fueling fire spread.
Over 100 million tonnes of fine fuel (dry vegetation) were available across fire-prone areas.
Spot fires ignited up to 30 km ahead of main fire fronts due to extreme ember showers.
The Black Summer fires crossed the Great Dividing Range 47 times, unprecedented in records.
The 2019-2020 fires emitted 830 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
Peak fire radiative power reached 1.5 terawatts on 31 Dec 2019.
72% of Australia's land area under bushfire warning at some point.
Fire weather index hit record 164 in Catastrophe Class 5.

Geographical Extent and Fire Behavior Interpretation

The Black Summer fires didn't just burn an area larger than the UK; they weaponized Australia's own drought-stricken landscape into a continent-spanning, record-breaking inferno that crossed mountain ranges with its own weather and a 20,000-kilometer-long front of flame.

Government Response and Recovery Efforts

The Australian Defence Force deployed 3,500 personnel for fire suppression.
15,000 Australian Defence Force reservists were activated for relief.
Over 20,000 volunteers from Rural Fire Services fought the fires.
52 million litres of water dropped by aircraft on fires.
AUD 2 billion National Bushfire Recovery Agency established.
1,200 helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft used in operations.
Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements launched.
400 wildlife rescue organizations mobilized, saving 90,000 animals.
AUD 761 million Bushfire Appeal raised nationally.
58 Lives Lost Inquiry recommended 195 actions for reform.
Interstate firefighting taskforces from all states and NZ deployed.
Satellite fire mapping provided 24/7 monitoring via Sentinel-2.
10,000 personnel on ground at peak, including internationals from US/Canada.
Mental health support provided to 50,000 affected individuals.
5,000 km of fire breaks constructed during containment efforts.
The Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission cost AUD 150 million to conduct.
300,000 livestock vaccinated and treated post-fire.
1 million seedlings planted in first year of recovery.
NSW Bushfire Inquiry made 77 recommendations.
90% containment achieved by 14 March 2020.

Government Response and Recovery Efforts Interpretation

It was a national trauma of staggering scale, met with a military-scale response, vast public generosity, and a hard-won containment that still left a country tallying the devastating cost and vowing, through exhaustive inquiries, to never be so overwhelmed again.

Human Casualties and Property Damage

At least 33 people died directly from the bushfires, including firefighters and civilians.
213 firefighters suffered injuries serious enough to require hospitalization.
Over 3,094 homes were completely destroyed across New South Wales alone.
Victoria reported 1,552 houses destroyed, with 80% in East Gippsland.
More than 9,400 buildings were damaged or destroyed nationwide.
Kangaroo Island lost 36% of its Little Sahara dunes and over 500 homes threatened.
Evacuations affected 250,000 people, with 28 emergency declaration areas in NSW.
443 firefighters were injured in total, including 19 serious burn cases.
Over 80% of Mallacoota residents (4,000 people) were trapped by fire on 31 Dec 2019.
Batlow lost 75 homes, representing 10% of its housing stock.
102 schools were closed or damaged, affecting 50,000 students.
191 power substations were destroyed, causing outages for 700,000 customers.
Over 400 hospitals treated 3,000 smoke-related cases.
23 firefighters died, 18 from vehicle accidents.

Human Casualties and Property Damage Interpretation

Behind the stark ledger of lost homes, lives, and landscapes lies a nation scorched not just by flame, but by the profound and ongoing cost of an ecosystem in crisis.

Wildlife and Biodiversity Loss

Nearly 3 billion wild animals were killed or severely impacted.
Koala populations in NSW lost up to 30% in fire-affected areas, totaling 60,000 individuals.
60,000 koalas perished on Kangaroo Island alone, 50% of the local population.
Over 1 billion native mammals affected, including 143 million possums and gliders.
51 million birds were killed or displaced nationwide.
524 million reptiles perished, with fire-adapted species suffering most.
150,000 livestock died, costing farmers AUD 100 million.
80% of habitat for 7 threatened bird species was burned in South Australia.
Glossy black cockatoo lost 40% of its foraging habitat on Kangaroo Island.
100 threatened ecological communities were impacted, including 23 endangered ones.
Dung beetles declined by 60% in fire zones, affecting soil health.
95% of greater glider habitat destroyed in some NSW bioregions.
Fungal species diversity dropped 50% in peatlands post-fire.
20% of Australia's temperate rainforest was scorched, rare for fire-prone nation.
Bat populations lost 25% in roost sites, impacting insect control.
Over 1,000 plant species had >50% of populations burned.
4.5 million hectares of national parks burned (20% of total).
112 threatened animal species had >10% habitat loss.

Wildlife and Biodiversity Loss Interpretation

This one-sentence onslaught of ecological carnage, where billions of creatures from koalas to cockatoos to dung beetles were either incinerated or dispossessed, reads less like a statistician's report and more like a scorched-earth invoice from a war we are waging, catastrophically and blindly, against our own home.

Sources & References

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