2003 Canberra Bushfires - Build Up To The Event

Build Up To The Event

Fires had been burning in the adjoining Brindabella and Namadgi National Parks to the west of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) since 8 January 2003 when lightning strikes had started 160 fires.

On 13 January, a helicopter that had been waterbombing the fires in the forests west of Canberra crashed into Bendora Dam with one person, the pilot, injured. ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope and Chief Fire Officer Peter Lucas-Smith were reviewing the fires nearby in the Snowy Hydro Southcare helicopter. The pilot of the Southcare chopper cautiously positioned his aircraft to allow Stanhope, Lucas-Smith and a paramedic on board to dive into the dam and rescue the injured pilot. All three who rescued the injured pilot and the helicopter pilot later received awards for their bravery.

On 17 January, the ESB released its final media release prior to 18 January at 8:50pm. This media release differed to any previous one in format and content. It also provided several clues that were overlooked in the assessment of the risk Canberra faced. For example, one point of the release stated that bushfire logistical support staging areas were being relocated from Bulls Head and Orroral Valley (far outside urban Canberra) to the North Curtin District Playing Fields (far inside urban Canberra) signalling both a major retreat by fire fighters and pointing to imminent danger to the city itself.