The Black Friday bushfires on 13 January 1939 where nearly 2 million hectares burnt , 69 sawmills were destroyed , 71 people died and several towns were entirely obliterated became a landmark in the history of the State of Victoria and a major turning point in the story of the Forests Commission . During 1939 , Alf Lawrence appeared , along with many other witnesses from the Forests Commission , to give evidence at Judge Leonard Edward Stretton ’s Royal Commission into the devastating bushfires . Lawrence was the President of the Victorian State Foresters Association ( VSFA ) at the time and later wrote in 1950 of the staff morale during that period : '' " they were totally dispirited - their work of years lay in ashes ... all the protection , planning and works had proved futile " ..... . Alf Lawrence - 1950 '' In December 1939 , in the wake of the disastrous bushfires , Lawrence replaced Reginald Edward Torbet to become the Commission ’s Chief Fire Officer , and immediately set about the huge challenge of rebuilding a highly organised and motivated fire fighting force , lifting staff morale , introducing RAAF fire spotting aircraft , fire towers , modern vehicles and equipment such as powered pumps , as well as a statewide radio communications network , VL3AA
Black Friday bushfires
Black Friday bushfires
Alfred Oscar Lawrence