MELBOURNE - Devastating February bushfires that killed 173 people generated enough energy to fuel 1,500 atomic bombs, the bushfires royal commission has been told.
Bushfire behaviour analyst Dr Kevin Tolhurst told the commission the fires were like "1500 atomic bombs the size of Hiroshima".
"It's an enormous amount of energy," he said.
Dr Tolhurst estimated the fire moved at a speed of about 120km/h, which was about the same speed estimated on Ash Wednesday.
In some areas, the blaze spotted 35km ahead of the main fire.
Dr Tolhurst said it was important to evaluate a fire on a three dimensional level, taking into account not just surface winds but upper winds created by the plume of smoke above a fire.
He showed the commission photos of trees that had been snapped off about three to four metres above ground level in the February 7 Black Saturday bushfires by these types of winds.
"You would have needed winds of 120km/h or more to produce that," he said.
The commission also viewed graphic footage of the Black Saturday bushfires captured by cameras at four locations around Victoria.
The cameras were controlled from Melbourne and in particular captured the Murrindindi blaze that obliterated Marysville.
The hearing continues.
- AAP
Bushfires like '1500 atomic bombs' inquiry told
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