2008 – 09 Australian bushfire season was the Australian bushfire season that ran from late December 2008 to April/May 2009 . Above average rainfalls in December , particularly in Victoria , delayed the start of the season , but by January 2009 , conditions throughout South eastern Australia worsened with the onset of one of the region 's worst heat waves . On 7 February , extreme bushfire conditions precipitated major bushfires throughout Victoria , involving several large fire complexes , which continued to burn across the state for around one month . 173 people lost their lives in these fires and 414 were injured . 3,500 buildings were destroyed , including 2,029 houses , and 7,562 people displaced
bushfires throughout Victoria
Black Saturday bushfires
2008–09 Australian bushfire season