The 2023–24 Australian bushfire season was the summer season of bushfires in Australia. The spring and summer outlook for the season prediction was for increased risk of fire for regions in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory.
Above average temperatures and below average rainfall occurred for most of Australia. The fuel load growth was elevated due to above average rainfall associated with prolonged La Niña atmospheric conditions over the previous 3 years. A significantly dry and warm winter over much of Australia in 2023 elevated the fire risk associated with these fuel loads.
Other major contributing factors to the elevated fire risk included a strong El Niño in the tropical Pacific Ocean, an indicator for dry and hot weather patterns for eastern and southern Australia. Additionally, a sustained positive Indian Ocean Dipole lead to drier conditions in southern and central Australia. Global sea surface temperatures had continued to be the warmest on record since April 2023, while July 2023 had been the hottest month on record for global air temperatures. These trends continued with Australia's winter becoming the hottest on record. August, September and October continued this trend by being within the top 5 hottest and driest months on record, running approximately 3.38 °C above average and rainfall 70.8% below average in September.http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/month/aus/summary.shtml
Anthropogenic climate change influenced these conditions with Australia's climate warming approximately 1.47 °C from 1910 to 2021.
Other significant factors for an elevated fire season are over the past several years the number of days to conduct controlled burns have been lower compared to past years with NSW RFS reporting they have only been able to conduct around 20% of their Hazard Reduction targets. Leading to extensive fuel load build up, the previous 3 years of La Niña conditions enabled rapid vegetation growth throughout the landscape adding to the already high fuel loads. Areas which were impacted in the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season have fully regenerated, putting those communities back into potential risk.
Early into the season fire agencies reported that fire behaviour was similar or worse than the 2019–20 bushfire season, with the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) Deputy Commissioner stating that it is the worst in 70 years.
By November 2023, over had been burnt, more than during the entirety of the 2019–20 bushfire season.
Overview State / territory Fatalities Homeslost Area Notes ha acres Australian Capital Territory 0 0 150 370 New South Wales 4 25 1,000,000 2,471,053 Northern Territory 0 0 84,000,000 207,568,520 Queensland 5 70 911,778 2,253,052 South Australia 0 0 450,000 1,111,974 Tasmania 0 4 20,000 49,421 Victoria 0 49 200,000 494,210 Western Australia 1 25 9,500,000 23,475,011 Total 10 171 96,081,928 237,423,611
Fires by state or territory
New South Wales In August, over 70 blazes were already active in New South Wales leading to the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) announcing an early start to the fire danger season across most of the state's north.
19 September an 'Extreme' fire danger warning was issued for the Far South Coast region of New South Wales, causing 29 schools to be closed. Strengthening winds resulted in the warning later being upgraded to "Catastrophic".
23 September six firefighters were injured when their fire truck crashed responding to a reported fire on the outskirts of Bathurst. Several firefighters had to be cut free from the wreckage and two were airlifted to Sydney in serious condition, with four being transported to local hospitals.
3 October a fire started burning in Coolagolite in the Bega Valley. Due to strong winds of up to 100 km/h (62 mph), the fire quickly spread leading to emergency warnings being issued in Bermagui and surrounding towns. By 5 October, the fire was largely brought under control after burning nearly 7,000 ha (17,300 acres) of bushland, destroying two homes, and fourteen outbuildings. Another fire broke out on 3 October in Kearsley, south-east of Cessnock in the Hunter Valley, burning over 190 ha (470 acres). Both of these fires required deployment of the newly bought NSW RFS Chinook and the 737 Large Air Tanker. Further resources from Queensland were lent to the NSW RFS to bring the fires under control. A further fire broke out on October 3 at Home Rule, between Mudgee and Gulgong in the state's Mid West. The fire led to widespread emergency warnings in the surrounding communities and burnt through hundreds of hectares, destroying one home and several outbuildings.
13 October firefighters saved ten houses from an out of control emergency level fire at Wallangara near Ashford which burnt over 2,000 hectares (5,000 acres).
14 October the NSW RFS confirmed the death of a volunteer firefighter in the Kyogle region, while fighting the Bean Creek fire which burnt over 1,100 hectares (2,273 acres).
16 October widespread extreme fire dangers were issued due to high temperatures and high winds upwards of 100 km/h (62 mph). Multiple fires broke out across the state, most noticeably in the state's Mid West and Mid North Coast where The Cope fire near Gulgong, the Upper Horseshoe Creek fire near Kyogle, the Bayshore Drive fire near Byron Bay, the Booral Road fire near Girvan, and the Rocky River Road fire near Tenterfield began. These fires quickly reached emergency warning levels, prompting widespread evacuations. Collectively these fires burnt over 2,905 hectares (7,178 acres). The Booral Road fire destroyed a home, while the Rocky River Road fire destroyed three.
On the same day the Willi Willi Road fire broke out of containment lines in Willi Willi National Park west of Kempsey, New South Wales, which then burnt over 30,000 hectares (74,131 acres). Fire crews reported that the fire exhibited "extraordinary" behavior similar to the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season. Numerous properties are believed to have been lost, with seven homes being confirmed destroyed and one person killed.
23 October a fast moving bush and grass fire broke out in a reserve on Hickeys Lane at Penrith. Numerous homes and businesses were evacuated and saved by firefighters from the blaze which grew to consume 30 hectares (74 acres).
25 October the Glens Creek Rd Fire near Nymboida, New South Wales developed a rare Cumulonimbus flammagenitus, Also known as a fire thunderstorm.
29 October a large and fast moving grassfire broke out along the T8 train line in Ingleburn. Local residents were told to evacuate after the fire jumped the rail line and burnt towards properties in Bow Bowing. The trains were halted for a number of hours leading to disruptions and delays. The fire grew 38 ha (93 acres) before it was contained.
30 October a fast moving grass fire spread into thick bush, burning through 8 hectares and destroying a home at The Oaks.
31 October fire outbreak 31 October was New South Wales' worst fire danger day for October. High to extreme fire dangers as well as total fire bans were issued for over 80% of the state, due to parched winds upwards of 50 km/h (31 mph) and temperatures soaring to . There were 87 fires with 36 of these fires burning out of control by the morning. The RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers said significant resources were deployed to slow the fires down, and stated that: "Properties are well at risk today, and to be honest if we get out of today without losing a number of properties I'll be very happy" Throughout the day ten emergency warnings were issued throughout the state including warnings issued for Nymboida, Tabulam, Mudgee, and Tenterfield. Residents were advised to seek shelter as the fires approached, having burnt over 25,000 ha (61,776 acres) and destroying four homes.
An Emergency Warning was issued for the Cooks Gap Fire near Mudgee when the 204 hectare (504 acre) fire burnt close to a site with stored explosives, leading to the establishment of a one-kilometre exclusion zone.
The Christies Fire started in Queensland where it impacted Wallangarra, destroying four homes. The fire then rapidly spread over the border into New South Wales and impacted the township of Jennings. Overnight an RFS truck crashed ten kilometres south of Jennings, trapping two firefighters in the wreckage and resulting in three hospitalizations.
A number of fires burning over 30,000 hectares (74,000 acres) surrounded the township of Tenterfield, with residents warned to prepare for scattered embers landing across the town. These included the Sawyers Creek Fire which burnt 2,689 hectares, the Woodside Fire which burnt 6,367 hectares, the Scrub Road Fire which burnt 1,963 hectares, the Benders Creek Fire which burnt 8,048 hectares and Rocky River Fire which burnt 1,729 hectares. Further fires impacted neighbouring communities, including the Oglive Drive Fire which burnt 1,311 hectares near Tabulam, the Magistrate Trail Fire which burnt 3,138 hectares near Deepwater and the Torrington Complex Fire which burnt 363 hectares, Bonshaw Road Fire which burnt 2,432 hectares and Yetman Road fire which burnt 1,729 hectares near Ashford.
Extreme winds reaching up to 104 km/h (64 mph) were recorded at Badgerys Creek, flaring up a number of fires at Oran Park, Leppington, Rossmore, Bringelly, Horsley Park, Wallacia and Silverdale. The winds were strong enough to rip the roof off a row of shops at Bringelly and flip over a small plane at Bankstown Airport, generating over 300 calls for help from emergency services.
Through October, New South Wales began to see frequent Total Fire Bans and significant fires. The first widespread Total Fire Ban was declared for nine regions across New South Wales on 1 October. Significant fires have since occurred throughout the state, predominately in the Mid West/North Coast. However, fires of significance have also occurred in the Bega Valley, Ingleburn, Mudgee and the Hunter Valley. Combined these fires burnt over 98,233 ha (242,739 acres), destroying 27 homes and claiming the lives of two.
1 November a fast-moving grass fire tore through paddocks at Orchard Hills near Penrith.
14 and 15 November a large fire complex near Lightning Ridge, New South Wales merged into a large fire and burnt over 18,100 hectares. On the 15th it impacted the township of Glengarry, in which it destroyed 6 properties. On 16 November a NSW RFS volunteer firefighter was killed by a falling tree while fighting the fire.
19 November a large and fast moving grassfire broke out in Menangle which quickly threatened properties including a retirement village. Multiple waterbombing aircraft were sent to control the fire which grew up to 67 hectares. The fire was believed to have been ignited by a spark from a passing train.
9 December the Duck Creek Pilliga Forest Fire started which quickly developed a Cumulonimbus flammagenitus. By 13 December the fire was controlled with significant aid from aircraft support, having burnt over 28,600 ha (69,930 acres).
11 December the Trap Valley Mountain Dumaresq Valley Fire broke out and threatened properties, due to being in extreme terrain it was largely inaccessible to ground crews leading to a challenging containment operation. By 13 December the fire was declared controlled with significant aircraft support; it burnt over 1,800 ha (4,447 acres).
12 December the NSW RFS confirmed the death of a volunteer firefighter in the Murray River while responding to a car fire which burnt into surrounding bushland.
14 December multiples bushfires broke out around the Cessnock area, which burnt more than 600 ha (1,482 acres) and destroyed two homes and a business.