The Great Divide Fires of 2006/07

The Great Divide Fires of 2006/07 were the longest running bushfires in Victoria’s fire history.
On 1 December 2006, over 70 fires were caused by lightening strikes.
Many of these fires eventually merged to become the Great Divide Complex, which lasted 69 days and burnt approximately 1.2 Million hectares ,the equivalent of 10 million average-sized house blocks, of public and private land.
Multiple other fires occurred simultaneously across the state.

Fifty-one houses, including twenty-one principle residences, and hundreds of stock and farm fences were lost in the fires. One man died in a vehicle accident while assisting a property owner to prepare for fire impact.

By the 7th February, more than 1400 firefighters had been injured (including bruises, cuts, blisters, burns, dehydration, broken limbs and spider bites).
More than 400 St John Ambulance volunteers, including doctors, nurses and first aid officers provided first aid.
On 16 December, eleven New Zealand firefighters were injured while fighting the fire in the Howqua Valley in north-east Victoria.