2023–24 Australian bushfire season
The fuel load growth was elevated due to above average rainfall associated with prolonged La Niña atmospheric conditions over the previous 3 years.
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.
Areas which were impacted in the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season have fully regenerated, putting those communities back into potential risk.
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 after control after burning nearly 7,000 ha (17,300 acres) of bushland, destroying two homes, and fourteen outbuildings.
The fire led to widespread emergency warnings in the surrounding communities and burnt through hundreds of hectares, destroying one home and several outbuildings.
[17][18][19] 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).
[20] 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).
30 October a fast moving grass fire spread into thick bush, burning through 8 hectares and destroying a home at The Oaks.
The RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers said significant resources were deployed to slow the fires down, and stated that:[29] "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.
[33] Overnight an RFS truck crashed ten kilometres south of Jennings, trapping two firefighters in the wreckage and resulting in three hospitalizations.
[34] 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.
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.
[40][41] 19 November a large and fast moving grassfire broke out in Menangle which quickly threatened properties including a retirement village.
[44] 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.
By 19 December the blaze burnt over 80,000 ha (197,684 acres) and generated a cumulonimbus flammagenitus, with smoke from the fire reaching as far as Tamworth, Dubbo and Sydney.
A large blaze near Briagolong resulted in the town and its surrounds being evacuated, while emergency warnings were issued for residents in proximity of other fires in Loch Sport and Rawson.
Heavy rain across the state on 3 October helped to bring the flames under control, by which time the fires had burnt a combined total of over 20,000 ha (49,500 acres) of bushland.
As of 23 February, the blaze has burnt a total of 14,027 Ha (34,661 acres) and impacted the townships of Raglan, Warrak, Bayindeen, Beaufort, Waterloo and Main Lead, Chute, Mount Lonarch, Middle Creek and Elmhurst, with around 5000 properties without power.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan warned "tomorrow is likely to be one of the most dangerous fire days Victoria has experienced in recent years.
On 1 October a fire began burning in Mount Tanner on Flinders Island, before spreading rapidly out of control and threatening the communities of Leeka and Pine Scrub.
[59] 4 September, a large fire began burning in the Barkly Tablelands, rapidly spreading out of control and threatening isolated cattle farms.
Below-average rainfall and above-average temperatures caused significant grass loads to dry out, leading to an early and increased risk of fire.
[64] 7 October a large and dangerous fire began burning in the Shire of Gingin, with a emergency warning being issued to residents to evacuate immediately.
[67][68] 3 November a number of fires broke out throughout the Peel region due to dry thunderstorms, with emergency warnings being issued for the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale, Nambeelup, and North Dandalup.
[70]22 November a large bushfire started in Wanneroo, northern Perth, impacting numerous suburbs with residences warned they were in immediate danger.
The conditions continued into the following day as a fire broke out in Deepwater, Queensland on 15 October, which burnt over 3,600 ha (8,895 acres) with two houses confirmed to be lost.
[94] The ratings are collected from a range of data such as weather conditions, fuel loads, and vegetation types which are compiled into the Fire Behaviour Index (FBI), a scale from 0-100.
An investigation revealed that the highly detailed data required for the system to produce accurate fire danger ratings was often unavailable, leading to erroneous predictions.
[98] 28 September The National Council for Fire and Emergency Services in Australia and New Zealand (AFAC), which oversaw the system's development and implementation, admitted there were "some improvements to inputs needed".
