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ABC News
ABC News
National

UNBELIEVABLE: Ash and hellfire | History Defined

The Ash Wednesday bushfire crisis wreaked unprecedented havoc, hardship and heartache across southern and south-eastern Australia. (Supplied: Peter Savage)

Four decades ago, Australia confronted what was its deadliest bushfire disaster to date, claiming 75 lives, injuring scores more and destroying almost 3,000 homes.

On the morning of February 16, 1983, Heather Smith noticed a strange cloud looming above her Deans Marsh property in Victoria's south-west.

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