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10 November 2023
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Australia’s 2023/2024 wildfire season to date
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Wildfires spread across New South Wales and Queensland in Australia during October 2023, driving families from their homes, threatening towns and advanced on an explosive storage facility, prompting residents to evacuate. Dozens of properties were damaged as firefighters battle to contain more than 200 fires across the states amid windy, dry conditions. Queensland’s premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said she had witnessed “very distressing” scenes on the ground, particularly in the hard-hit community of Tara. “Some people have lost everything,” she said. “I think everybody is feeling absolutely broken with what’s been happening out there.”
The premier praised a “great effort” by crews in the Bundaberg town of Goodwood and Wollangarra, a town bordering NSW. “600 people live in that town,” she said. “We’ve just been observing the vision and been getting briefings from emergency services.
The 31 October 2023 fire outbreak
31 October 2023 was New South Wales' worst fire danger day for October 2023 where total fire bans were issued for over 80 percent of the state due to winds upwards of 50km/h and temperatures hitting low 40 °C range, leading to high to extreme fire dangers throughout the state. There were 87 fires with 36 of these fires out of control burning that morning. The Rural Fire Service Commissioner Rob Rogers said significant resources were deployed to slow the fires down and stated that.
Throughout the day 10 emergency warnings were issued throughout the state with warnings issued for Nymboida, Tabulam, Mudgee and Tenterfield. Residents advised to seek shelter as the fires approached, having burnt over 25 000ha and destroyed four homes.
An Emergency Warning was issued for the Cooks Gap Fire near Mudgee when the 204 hectare fire burnt close to a site with stored explosives, leading to a one-kilometre exclusion zone to be established.
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 a Rural Fire Service truck crashed 10 kilometres south of Jennings, trapping two firefighters in the wreckage and resulting in three being taken to hospital.
A number of fires burning over 30 000 hectares surrounded the township of Tenterfield, with residents warned to prepare for ember attack to 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 1311 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.
Bush Fire approaches Penrith, NSW
Extreme winds reaching up to 104kph 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 2023. 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 233ha destroying 27 homes and claiming the lives of two.
On 1 November 2023 a fast moving grass fire tore through paddocks at Orchard Hills near Penrith.
On 14 and 15 November 2023 a large fire complex near Lightning Ridge, New South Wales merged into a large fire and burnt over 18 100ha. On the 15th it threatened, and impacted the township of Glengarry which destroyed 6 properties. On 16 November a NSW RFS volunteer firefighter was killed by a falling tree at the fire.
On 19 November 2023a large and fast moving grassfire broke out in Menangle which quickly threatened properties including a retirement village, multiple water-bombing aircraft were sent to control the fire which grew up to 67ha. The fire was believed to of started by a spark from a passing train.
Victoria
On 1 October, four major bushfires began burning in the eastern Victorian region of Gippsland. 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. Strong winds in the region resulted in the fires spreading rapidly and burning out of control. By the following day, one house and several other outbuildings and sheds had been destroyed. Damage to power lines also left around 2 000 properties without power around the Loch Sport area. Heavy rain across the state on 3 October 2023 helped to bring the flames under control, by which time the fires had burnt a combined total of over 20 000ha of bushland.
Tasmania
On 1 October2023, 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. Nearby residents were advised to evacuate.
On 12 October a fire began burning and destroyed two properties at Dolphin Sands on the east coast of Tasmania.
Northern Territory
Since the start of the season In August the NT had lost over 61 million hectares. The primary causes of these fires were dry lightning strikes and believed to of been arson.
On 14 August 2023 Bushfires NT chief issued a warning that the Northern Territory could lose up to 80 percent of the territory by March.
On 4 September 2023, a large fire began burning in the Barkly Tablelands, rapidly spreading out of control and threatening isolated cattle farms. On 11 September 2023, residents in Tennant Creek were warned to prepare for the fire's arrival, after a significant edge of the fire spread 60km towards the township over a 24 hour period. The efforts of firefighters prevented Tennant Creek from being impacted. By 17 October, the fire had burnt over 2.8 million ha. The fire took 51 days to be declared out which occurred on 18 October 2023.
South Australia
On 6 October South Australia announced the start of their bushfire season for six districts 2 weeks earlier than normal due to below-average rainfall and above-average temperatures causing significant grass loads to dry out, leading to an earlier and increased risk of fire.
Western Australia
On 7 October a large and dangerous began burning in Shire of Gingin, with an emergency warning being issued to residents to act immediately to survive and leave the area.
On 24 October 5 fires broke out in Kings Park, Western Australia which threatened properties and lives, including the Perth Children's Hospital. The fire was sparked by an arsonist.
On 2 November a fire broke near Jacob's Ladder, in Kings Park, Western Australia which threatened properties and lives in neighbouring apartments. By 3 November a 41-year-old man was charged in connection to five fires in Kings Park and around West Perth’s Jacob’s Ladder.
On 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. Over 100 fires burnt through 1 900 ha these fires destroyed a number of outbuildings and a public park in Piara Waters. Interstate support from New South Wales was deployed on 5 November2023 including a C130 Hercules waterbombing aircraft.
Due to these fires the fire season was declared two months early in a number of regions because as quoted by the DEFS Commissioner Klemm "The seasonal conditions are roughly five to eight weeks ahead of where they would typically be".
Queensland
On 21 July, a large grassfire broke out on Neurum Road at Neurum with the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) issuing a prepare to leave warning for the area.
Throughout September and October multiple fires occurred in the Beerwah and Landsborough area, up to 4 different fires were burning at once in late October. These fires were speculated that the fires started in late September were accidentally caused by hoons doing burnouts on Roys Road, along with some of the fires from late September–October being caused by arsonists.
On 7 October, a large and dangerous fire began in the Duckinwilla, Queensland area. An emergency warning was issued and local media was instructed to use the standard emergency warning signal to alert those in the vicinity, a measure reserved for the most serious and life-threatening scenarios.
A fire near Mount French was contained on 13 October, after emergency warnings issued earlier to communities around the area were downgraded. The fire destroyed two sheds. A second fire in the Western Downs region also prompted emergency warnings, but was also downgraded by that night.
On 14 October, due to widespread high temperatures and high winds, a fire ban was issued for various regions in South East Queensland, including Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, and the Scenic Rim, these conditions continued into the following day were a fire broke out in the Deepwater, Queensland on 15 October which has burnt over 3 600 ha with two houses confirmed to be lost.
Tara Fire
Two large bushfires broke out on 22 October sparked by dry thunderstorms that morning, in Southern Queensland located near Tara, Queensland which destroyed over 16 homes through the following days. By 25 October it was confirmed two people had died. By 27 October these fires have burnt over 30 000ha and had destroyed 32 homes with more than a dozen other structures.
On 27 October four fires broke out near Mount Isa with people warned to evacuate. These fires are the first time ever that water bombing aircraft have been used in this region. All four fires were started by overheated machinery coming into contact with the highly combustible spinifex grass.
By 31 October significant fire conditions expected were strong winds with high temperatures on the Tara fireground which by this point had destroyed 52 homes. Crews were warning the surrounding community to get out immediately, as their focus on that day was to save lives, rather than protect properties, leading to expectations of widespread property losses. By the end of the day the fire had destroyed up to 58 homes.
On 31 October there were significant fire conditions expected throughout southern Queensland were strong winds and high temperatures are expected to fan fires. Crews were warning the communities around firegrounds to get out immediately, as their focus on that day was to save lives, rather than protect properties, leading to expectations of widespread property losses. On that day the most significant fire was the Christies Fire started near which impacted Wallangarra where four homes were destroyed. The fire then rapidly spread over into New South Wales and impacted the township of Jennings. On this day a further two homes in far north Queensland, two near Bundaberg and one home was lost in a fire at Millmerran on the Darling Downs.
By the end of October Queensland saw over 1 000 bushfire, many of these sparked by dry thunderstorms. Several of these fires were significant such, as the Tara and Mount Isa fires, which burnt well over 40 000 ha combined, destroyed 65 homes and claimed the lives of two people.
The QFES Deputy Commissioner reported this season as the worst in 70 years. International and interstate support were deployed from New Zealand and Victoria.
As of early November, this season had more homes lost than the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season, which destroyed 49 homes compared to this season’s 65.
On 4 November a firefighting aircraft was deployed from Toowoomba to Mount Isa to map the currently burning fires in Western Queensland which crashed near the Eloise Copper Mine killing all three people onboard.
Sources: Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, Wikipedia
The premier praised a “great effort” by crews in the Bundaberg town of Goodwood and Wollangarra, a town bordering NSW. “600 people live in that town,” she said. “We’ve just been observing the vision and been getting briefings from emergency services.
The 31 October 2023 fire outbreak
31 October 2023 was New South Wales' worst fire danger day for October 2023 where total fire bans were issued for over 80 percent of the state due to winds upwards of 50km/h and temperatures hitting low 40 °C range, leading to high to extreme fire dangers throughout the state. There were 87 fires with 36 of these fires out of control burning that morning. The Rural Fire Service Commissioner Rob Rogers said significant resources were deployed to slow the fires down and stated that.
Throughout the day 10 emergency warnings were issued throughout the state with warnings issued for Nymboida, Tabulam, Mudgee and Tenterfield. Residents advised to seek shelter as the fires approached, having burnt over 25 000ha and destroyed four homes.
An Emergency Warning was issued for the Cooks Gap Fire near Mudgee when the 204 hectare fire burnt close to a site with stored explosives, leading to a one-kilometre exclusion zone to be established.
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 a Rural Fire Service truck crashed 10 kilometres south of Jennings, trapping two firefighters in the wreckage and resulting in three being taken to hospital.
A number of fires burning over 30 000 hectares surrounded the township of Tenterfield, with residents warned to prepare for ember attack to 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 1311 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.
Bush Fire approaches Penrith, NSW
Extreme winds reaching up to 104kph 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 2023. 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 233ha destroying 27 homes and claiming the lives of two.
On 1 November 2023 a fast moving grass fire tore through paddocks at Orchard Hills near Penrith.
On 14 and 15 November 2023 a large fire complex near Lightning Ridge, New South Wales merged into a large fire and burnt over 18 100ha. On the 15th it threatened, and impacted the township of Glengarry which destroyed 6 properties. On 16 November a NSW RFS volunteer firefighter was killed by a falling tree at the fire.
On 19 November 2023a large and fast moving grassfire broke out in Menangle which quickly threatened properties including a retirement village, multiple water-bombing aircraft were sent to control the fire which grew up to 67ha. The fire was believed to of started by a spark from a passing train.
Victoria
On 1 October, four major bushfires began burning in the eastern Victorian region of Gippsland. 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. Strong winds in the region resulted in the fires spreading rapidly and burning out of control. By the following day, one house and several other outbuildings and sheds had been destroyed. Damage to power lines also left around 2 000 properties without power around the Loch Sport area. Heavy rain across the state on 3 October 2023 helped to bring the flames under control, by which time the fires had burnt a combined total of over 20 000ha of bushland.
Tasmania
On 1 October2023, 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. Nearby residents were advised to evacuate.
On 12 October a fire began burning and destroyed two properties at Dolphin Sands on the east coast of Tasmania.
Northern Territory
Since the start of the season In August the NT had lost over 61 million hectares. The primary causes of these fires were dry lightning strikes and believed to of been arson.
On 14 August 2023 Bushfires NT chief issued a warning that the Northern Territory could lose up to 80 percent of the territory by March.
On 4 September 2023, a large fire began burning in the Barkly Tablelands, rapidly spreading out of control and threatening isolated cattle farms. On 11 September 2023, residents in Tennant Creek were warned to prepare for the fire's arrival, after a significant edge of the fire spread 60km towards the township over a 24 hour period. The efforts of firefighters prevented Tennant Creek from being impacted. By 17 October, the fire had burnt over 2.8 million ha. The fire took 51 days to be declared out which occurred on 18 October 2023.
South Australia
On 6 October South Australia announced the start of their bushfire season for six districts 2 weeks earlier than normal due to below-average rainfall and above-average temperatures causing significant grass loads to dry out, leading to an earlier and increased risk of fire.
Western Australia
On 7 October a large and dangerous began burning in Shire of Gingin, with an emergency warning being issued to residents to act immediately to survive and leave the area.
On 24 October 5 fires broke out in Kings Park, Western Australia which threatened properties and lives, including the Perth Children's Hospital. The fire was sparked by an arsonist.
On 2 November a fire broke near Jacob's Ladder, in Kings Park, Western Australia which threatened properties and lives in neighbouring apartments. By 3 November a 41-year-old man was charged in connection to five fires in Kings Park and around West Perth’s Jacob’s Ladder.
On 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. Over 100 fires burnt through 1 900 ha these fires destroyed a number of outbuildings and a public park in Piara Waters. Interstate support from New South Wales was deployed on 5 November2023 including a C130 Hercules waterbombing aircraft.
Due to these fires the fire season was declared two months early in a number of regions because as quoted by the DEFS Commissioner Klemm "The seasonal conditions are roughly five to eight weeks ahead of where they would typically be".
Queensland
On 21 July, a large grassfire broke out on Neurum Road at Neurum with the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) issuing a prepare to leave warning for the area.
Throughout September and October multiple fires occurred in the Beerwah and Landsborough area, up to 4 different fires were burning at once in late October. These fires were speculated that the fires started in late September were accidentally caused by hoons doing burnouts on Roys Road, along with some of the fires from late September–October being caused by arsonists.
On 7 October, a large and dangerous fire began in the Duckinwilla, Queensland area. An emergency warning was issued and local media was instructed to use the standard emergency warning signal to alert those in the vicinity, a measure reserved for the most serious and life-threatening scenarios.
A fire near Mount French was contained on 13 October, after emergency warnings issued earlier to communities around the area were downgraded. The fire destroyed two sheds. A second fire in the Western Downs region also prompted emergency warnings, but was also downgraded by that night.
On 14 October, due to widespread high temperatures and high winds, a fire ban was issued for various regions in South East Queensland, including Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, and the Scenic Rim, these conditions continued into the following day were a fire broke out in the Deepwater, Queensland on 15 October which has burnt over 3 600 ha with two houses confirmed to be lost.
Tara Fire
Two large bushfires broke out on 22 October sparked by dry thunderstorms that morning, in Southern Queensland located near Tara, Queensland which destroyed over 16 homes through the following days. By 25 October it was confirmed two people had died. By 27 October these fires have burnt over 30 000ha and had destroyed 32 homes with more than a dozen other structures.
On 27 October four fires broke out near Mount Isa with people warned to evacuate. These fires are the first time ever that water bombing aircraft have been used in this region. All four fires were started by overheated machinery coming into contact with the highly combustible spinifex grass.
By 31 October significant fire conditions expected were strong winds with high temperatures on the Tara fireground which by this point had destroyed 52 homes. Crews were warning the surrounding community to get out immediately, as their focus on that day was to save lives, rather than protect properties, leading to expectations of widespread property losses. By the end of the day the fire had destroyed up to 58 homes.
On 31 October there were significant fire conditions expected throughout southern Queensland were strong winds and high temperatures are expected to fan fires. Crews were warning the communities around firegrounds to get out immediately, as their focus on that day was to save lives, rather than protect properties, leading to expectations of widespread property losses. On that day the most significant fire was the Christies Fire started near which impacted Wallangarra where four homes were destroyed. The fire then rapidly spread over into New South Wales and impacted the township of Jennings. On this day a further two homes in far north Queensland, two near Bundaberg and one home was lost in a fire at Millmerran on the Darling Downs.
By the end of October Queensland saw over 1 000 bushfire, many of these sparked by dry thunderstorms. Several of these fires were significant such, as the Tara and Mount Isa fires, which burnt well over 40 000 ha combined, destroyed 65 homes and claimed the lives of two people.
The QFES Deputy Commissioner reported this season as the worst in 70 years. International and interstate support were deployed from New Zealand and Victoria.
As of early November, this season had more homes lost than the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season, which destroyed 49 homes compared to this season’s 65.
On 4 November a firefighting aircraft was deployed from Toowoomba to Mount Isa to map the currently burning fires in Western Queensland which crashed near the Eloise Copper Mine killing all three people onboard.
Sources: Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, Wikipedia
