The bushfires that raged through south-eastern Tasmania on 7 February 1967 were among the most disastrous ever faced by Australia. Despite their courage, it was nearly impossible for firefighters to control the fires because the temperature was so high, there were very strong winds, and the terrain was very dry. Winds that reached 80 km an hour fanned flames straight down Mount Wellington and to within 2 km of the centre of Hobart. At the peak of the disaster, hot winds blew many of the fires together into massive fires that destroyed everything they touched. In some places the temperature was so high that the bitumen on the road melted and burst into flame. At Middleton nearly 40 people just survived the fire by standing in the sea around a small boat where pregnant women and small children sat – the fire even burnt the seaweed on the beach and at the edge of the water. The fires killed 62 people and injured hundreds more, as well as killing 1400 cattle, 50,000 sheep, 25,000 poultry and 900 pigs. At least 1400 buildings and 1500 cars were also destroyed, with overall losses costing about $40 million.