90% of homes destroyed by bushfires were ignited by flying embers. These embers can travel for many kilometers.

A dramatic example of this was the December 2, 1957 bushfire that destroyed 170 homes in Leura and Wentworth Falls.

The graphic below, created by Katoomba Leura Rural Fire Brigade, shows the homes lost in Leura:

Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute created a project to study the effects of the fire and look at the differences in community preparedness from then to now. As well as a 20 page booklet, there’s a short film that is compelling viewing – watch it here: http://www.fire.bmwhi.org.au/

Register now for the 2019 Australian Bushfire Building Conference >