Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 13.1 MTC region population density and big fire events in recent history
Big fire events
Population
density
(km
2
)
Losses
Land area
(km
2
)
Population
(million)
Ignition
sources
Year Size (ha)
Buildings
Lives
Notes
Mediterranean Basin:
Portugal
2003 430 000
a
92 400
10.6
114
200
21
Lightning,
accidental
Heat wave and high
wind gusts
2007 271 000
a
Greece
131 900
10.7
87
2100
84
Arson, accident Meltimi wind and
heat wave
Substantial losses of
forest and orchards
California:
northern
257 600
14.3
56
1991 620
3791
25
Accidental
Tunnel Fire, Diablo
winds
southern
146 400
22.4
153
2007 109 500
2400
15
Power line
Witch Fire, Santa Ana
winds following 17
months drought
Central Chile
756 900
16.0
21
-
South Africa:
Western Cape
129 400
5.4
41
2000 8000
8
0
Accidental
High winds, anomalously
high alien plant fuels
Australia:
Western Australia
(southwestern
MTC region)
356 700
1.8
5.0
1961 40 000
160
0
Lightning
Dwellingup fires, cyclonic
winds
Victoria
227 400
5.2
23
2009 330 000
2029
173
Power lines
Black Saturday fires with
extreme heat wave,
high winds and record
drought
a
Annual total area burned.
Data from government websites, population estimates from 2006 to 2009, fire events from newspaper and web reports.
