Case 142
The Churchill Fire
Australia is no stranger to bushfires. But when Victorian Premier John Brumby warned residents that the weather conditions for February 7, 2009, could be “the worst day in the history of the state,” no one could have predicted the damage that lay ahead.
400 fires raged around the state, resulting in the highest loss of human life caused by a fire that Australia had ever seen. The tragedy came to be known as ‘Black Saturday’, but it soon became apparent that natural disaster wasn’t the only evil force at play.
CREDITS
EPISODE:
Research & writing – Milly Raso
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Narration – Anonymous Host
MUSIC:
‘Flatline intro’ and ‘Come play with me’ intro and outro – www.dl-sounds.com
Audio production – Mike Migas
Scoring – Mike Migas and Andrew Joslyn
OTHER:
Logo and website design – Paulina Szymanska
PREMIUM
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RESOURCES
ROYAL COMMISSION DOCUMENTS
The Churchill Fire – Chapter 9
The Churchill Fire – Chapter 17
BOOKS
The Arsonist: A Mind on Fire – by Chloe Hopper
ARTICLES
‘Worst day in history’: Brumby warns of fire danger – The Age
Flight from fire led to tragedy – The Sydney Morning Herald
Husband tells of death in a rain of ‘red bullets’ – The Sydney Morning Herald
Rudd angrily denounces ‘mass murder’ arsonists – ABC News
Australian web vigilantes call for alleged arsonist Brendan Sokaluk to be ‘burned at the stake’ – The Telegraph
Accused Black Saturday arsonist an ‘easy target’ – ABC
Father of accused arsonist describes son as ‘slow’ – ABC
Guilty verdict for Black Saturday arsonist Brendan Sokaluk – The Australian
Former CFA trainee guilty of Black Saturday arson deaths – Herald Sun
Black Saturday arsonist jailed for almost 18 years – ABC
Appeal against Black Saturday arsonist Brendan James Sokaluk’s sentence dismissed – Herald Sun
Gippsland remembers lives lost on Black Saturday – ABC
Gippsland marks fires anniversary – ABC News
Inside the mind of an arsonist – ABC
On the arsonist’s trail: inside Australia’s worst bushfire catastrophe – The Guardian
Chloe Hopper: Investigating the culpability and motive of an arsonist – The Sydney Morning Herald
Is Black Saturday arsonist Brendan Sokaluk a misfit or monster? – Herald Sun
Half a decade after Black Saturday, towns are still rebuilding – Herald Sun
Deadly arson attack: inside the Black Saturday fires – Who
Tribute vandalised – Latrobe Valley Express
Arson legacy: ‘I weep in the deepest places in my soul’ – The Age
COURT DOCUMENTS
R v Brendan James Sokaluk – Supreme Court of Victoria
DPP v Brendan James Sokaluk – Court of Appeal
DOCUMENTARIES
The burning question – Australian Story
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
The Firesetting Intervention Programme for Mentally Disordered Offenders – University of Kent
2009 Churchill Fires – Community Bushfire Connection