The Ash Wednesday bushfires occurred in south-eastern Australia on 16 February 1983 . Over its twelve-hour rampage , more than 180 fires fanned by winds of up to 110 km/h caused widespread destruction across Victoria and South Australia . Years of severe drought and extreme weather combined to create one of Australia 's worst fire days since Black Friday in 1939 . In Victoria , 47 people died , while in South Australia there were a further 28 deaths . Over 16,000 firefighters combatted the blazes and a variety of equipment was used , including 400 vehicles ( fire-trucks , water tankers and dozers ) and 40 aircraft including 11 RAAF Iroquois and commercial helicopters . The Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser then directed the RAAF to supply a CH47 Chinook to support remote firefighting operations on Mount Buffalo transporting large quantities of personnel and cargo onto the plateau . Forests Commission annual expenditure on fire suppression for 1982-83 rose to $ 16.8 million
Black Friday
Black Friday bushfires
Aerial firefighting and forestry in southern Australia