Today, 16 February, marks 40 years since the devastating Ash Wednesday bushfires swept across Victoria on 16 February 1983.
CFA members and their families are remembering and honouring the tragic loss of 47 Victorians during the Ash Wednesday fires, including 14 CFA volunteers.
Today we recognise incredible strength and commitment of the CFA members and emergency service workers who played a role in battling more than 180 fires that day, including the eight major fires.
The Ash Wednesday fires impacted more than 200,000 hectares, destroyed more than 2080 homes and more than 32,750 livestock perished.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan said the incredible acts of bravery demonstrated by CFA and emergency service volunteers prevented even greater loss of life and property that day.
“We also recognise the resilience of Victorian communities which have since recovered and rebuilt after suffering enormous destruction,” he said.
“These fires are permanently etched in the minds of an entire generation of Victorians, and we pay tribute to their loss and lived experience.
“We will continue to carry the memories and heroism of those who were involved and we will always strive to be better prepared.”
In the four decades that followed Ash Wednesday, CFA underwent significant changes in the way it operates; transforming itself into a world-class firefighting organisation.
We saw improvements to protective clothing, vehicle design, communications and public information warnings, command and control response arrangements, fire behaviour and modelling research, as well as wellbeing support.
“CFA has invested billions of dollars in new equipment, stations, vehicles, communications devices and other resources to support our volunteers in the vital work they do to protect their communities,” CO Heffernan said.
“We are proud to be the modern, diverse and world-class firefighting organisation we are today.
“We’re always striving to improve the safety of our members and ensure CFA is an enjoyable place to work and volunteer.
“Victoria’s modern emergency management sector arrangement sees us work as one alongside our colleagues at FRV, FFMVic (DEECA), Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, Parks Victoria, EMV and other agencies to protect Victorian communities.”
CFA has learned so much from those fateful fires and while Victoria is one of the most bushfire-prone areas in the world, the community should take comfort in the fact we have some of the best firefighters in the world, ready to protect lives and property.
“We will never forget those who died in the line of duty and those who served their communities diligently during the Ash Wednesday fires.”
To learn more about the Ash Wednesday fires, visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au/about-us/who-we-are/major-fires/about-ash-Wednesday.
To learn more about CFA firefighters who lost their lives during Ash Wednesday, visit the Roll of Honour at www.cfa.vic.gov.au/about-us/who-we-are/history/roll-of-honour.
You can also read Ash Wednesday stories from: