Synopsis

In February of 2009, southeastern Victoria, Australia, faced conditions primed for wildfire. A persistent heatwave, a seemingly unending drought, and dry winds originating in the outback had left the landscape parched and bracing for disaster. On Saturday, February 7th, Victoria erupted in flames, with raging fires consuming everything in their path. When the blazes finally subsided, 173 lives were lost, over a million acres of mountain ash forest were destroyed, and countless animals perished.