Australia Wildfire Guide: Causes, Wildfire Map, Season & Prevention

Australia Wildfires Overview

High winds, low humidity, and a relentless drought have ignited devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, destroying entire neighbourhoods and forcing tens of thousands to abandon their homes during the previous eight days.

The wildfires have destroyed or damaged over 12,000 houses, businesses, and other structures, prompting officials to evacuate over 92,000 people.    

Firefighters are facing challenging conditions in their fight against the Los Angeles wildfires. Heavy winds are expected over the next 24 hours, potentially causing extreme fire behaviour or turning any fresh spark into a blazing inferno.

We must learn from Australia's wildfires to properly prepare for wildfires. While homeowners have little control over the spread of wildfires, there are various strategies to protect your family, house, and neighbourhood from these threats.

Australia's wildfires are among the most severe in the country's history. They have burned millions of acres, caused deadly air pollution, killed countless animals, and displaced thousands of residents. In addition to the short-term repercussions, these fires are expected to have long-term harmful consequences for local ecosystems.

Bushfires and grassfires are commonplace in Australia. Grassfires burn quickly, lasting five to ten seconds before smouldering for several minutes. They are low to medium in intensity and mostly damage crops, livestock, and rural infrastructure such as fences. Bushfires are often slower-moving but produce more heat. This means they die in two to five minutes, but they can smoulder for days. Fire in the crown of the tree canopy can spread quickly.

Bushfires are a natural element of Australia's landscape. Natural ecosystems have evolved in response to fire, and historical and contemporary fires have affected the landscape and its biological richness. 

Many of Australia's native plants are fire-prone and highly combustible; many species rely on fire for regeneration. Fire has historically been utilised as a land management tool by Indigenous Australians, and it is still employed today to clear land for agriculture and protect properties from violent, uncontrolled fires.

What Causes the Wildfires in Australia?

Wildfires' size, intensity, pace, and predictability are all influenced by weather conditions, as is their potential hazard. Large fires can even generate their weather. Understanding fire weather can help you plan for wildfires at any time of year.

Wildfires can be started by natural sources, such as lightning strikes, or by humans (accidentally or intentionally). Both weather and fuel conditions influence wildfires.

Bushfire fuel sources include leaf litter, bark, small branches and twigs, grasses, and bushes. Dry fuel is more likely to catch fire and burn readily, but damp fuel may not. Bushfire conditions are influenced by the sort of fuel available to burn, its quantity, and its dryness or moistness.

Weather conditions that are hot, dry, and windy might increase the risk of fire. Weather-related factors that contribute to an elevated likelihood of wildfire hazard include the following:

High temperatures

Little recent rain

Low humidity

Strong winds

Abundant dry vegetation

Thunderstorms

Hot, windy, and dry weather undoubtedly influences and heightens the risk of conflagration. But what are the most prevalent causes for a fire to start?

According to data from the Australian Institute of Criminology (the Institute), they are primarily caused by human occurrences. According to the report, people cause most bushfires intentionally or unintentionally. The Institute discovered that "suspicious" was the top attribution, followed by "accidental":

Suspicious 37%

Accidental 35%

Deliberate 13%

Natural 6%

Reignition/spot 5%

Other 4%

According to fire investigators, the following are the most common causes of bushfires in Australia:

Smoking or a discarded cigarette butt

Burning off/debris

Arson

Railway cause

According to the professional report, while estimates vary, almost half of all wildfires in Australia are either deliberately ignited or considered suspicious. Trains can spark bushfires, which is shocking. Burning carbon embers from train engine exhausts or brake failure can cause sparks to ignite dry vegetation near the tracks. Other factors are:

Campfires

Equipment used, including chainsaws, mowers and angle grinders

Lightning

Miscellaneous items include electrical lines, glass refraction, and electric fences. One of the most critical aspects of extreme weather preparation is having suitable home insurance coverage and understanding exactly how you're covered. Natural catastrophes and extreme weather are unexpected and may have a greater impact in different areas.

When Is the Australia Wildfire Season?

The 2024-25 Australian wildfire season is Australia's current summer bushfire season. At the start of the season, temperatures were above average to far above average for most locations, with sections of Western Australia, South Australia, and Queensland seeing their highest on-record maximum temperatures for the winter season. Overall, August 2024 was Australia's warmest August on record.

Spring saw an increase in the risk of high maximum temperatures across most of Australia and above-average rainfall in much of New South Wales, Queensland, and Tasmania. Large areas of Western Australia faced an increased risk of below-average rainfall. Unseasonal rains in Queensland and the Northern Territory resulted in higher fuel loads. August also saw above-average to well-above-average rainfall in southwest Western Australia and Tasmania, which helped to alleviate drought conditions.

At the commencement of the wildfire season, fire authorities indicated that most of the Northern Territory, significant portions of northern and central Queensland, western Victoria, and parts of southern South Australia were most at risk from bushfire.

Dangerous wildfire activity can occur at any time. Peak bushfire activity varies with seasonal weather trends throughout Australia. The peak fire danger seasons are as follows:

June to November in northern Australia

Mid-October to mid-January in central latitudes

December to February in Southern Australia

The primary bushfire season in northern Australia occurs during the dry season, which typically lasts from winter to spring. Summer and fall are peak bushfire seasons in southern Australia. While these are the traditional peak days of the wildfire season, local conditions can sometimes cause dangerous blaze activity.

Australia Wildfire Map

Wildfires can destroy property and infrastructure and kill people. Fire is simply one part of the threat. Other effects of bushfires include radiant heat and smoke.

Fire embers can travel many miles from the site of a massive wildfire, causing smaller spot fires to break up. Radiant heat can be felt over 100 metres away from a huge blaze and can potentially melt or fracture objects such as car parts, glass windows, etc.

Bushfires produce toxic chemicals and heavy smoke, which can impair vision, degrade air quality, and make breathing difficult. Because fast-moving fires are unpredictable, individuals will most likely be encouraged to flee their houses as soon as possible to reach safety. It is critical to heed any local alerts and cautions, and you may obtain more information by viewing the Australia wildfire map.

Numerous Apps and websites can monitor wildfires or bushfires in Australia. For example, MyFireWatch allows you to browse satellite-observed hotspots interactively. This material should not be used to protect life or property. Please refer to your state's local emergency services. You can also check a particular location on the Unorthodox Map.

How to Prevent Wildfires in Australia?

The general public contributes significantly to wildfire prevention efforts. The national average of human-caused wildfires accounts for 87 per cent of all wildfires yearly, and most of these are preventable.

Humans are responsible for about nine out of ten wildfires nationwide. These preventable wildfires endanger lives, property, and our valuable natural resources. Whether a first-time visitor or an experienced public land user, you must avoid wildfires in Australia and conserve our natural resources.

For Individuals and Communities

If you live in a wildfire-prone location, you should follow our wildfire preparation advice, but keep in mind that prevention is a vital part of the process. Because the "safest" wildfire is one that never begins, here are some recommendations on how to lessen the risk of wildfire from:

Create Defensible Safe Space: To create a safe space surrounding your property, remove flammable vegetation such as dried leaves, dead branches, and overgrown shrubs. Trim trees, keep them spaced apart, and consider fire-resistant landscaping.

Practice Safe Outdoor Activities: Follow fire regulations, extinguish campfires, and exercise caution when enjoying outdoor spaces, particularly during high fire danger periods.

Maintain Equipment: Vehicles, power tools, and other spark-generating equipment should be inspected regularly. Remove clutter and replace any worn-out parts.

Dispose of Cigarettes and Matches: Never throw cigarette butts out automobile windows or in dry regions. Extinguish them completely in approved containers.

Check Local Rules of Outdoor Burning: Burn safely with the appropriate tools and supervision if permitted. Always extinguish fires completely.

Report Suspicious Activity: Report suspicious activity in fire-prone regions to prevent human-caused fires.

Utilise Prescribed Fires: Use prescribed fires under expert supervision to reduce fuel loads and avoid wildfires. To improve ecosystem health and lessen wildfire risk, ensure that all burns are planned and carried out by local environmental standards.

For Companies and Organisations

To prevent wildfires, businesses and organisations can focus on creating defensible space around their properties by clearing flammable vegetation, monitoring wildfire risk in the area, maintaining proper landscaping, educating employees about fire safety practices, and following local regulations for outdoor burning and equipment usage.

Conduct Risk Assessments: Consider wildfire prevention planning in your organisation's risk assessments, considering meteorological conditions, closeness to foliage, and equipment usage.

Monitor Weather: Monitor weather conditions, including high temperatures, dryness, wind speed, and humidity, to estimate wildfire danger before daily work.

Keep Vehicles Off Dry Grass: Avoid parking near dry vegetation, especially during high-risk weather conditions. Exhaust systems can cause fires.

Train Staff on Early Detection and Suppression: Educate personnel on recognising early indicators of wildfires and safely suppressing them in their smouldering state.

Maintain Equipment: Maintain equipment to prevent sparks and malfunctions.

Plan for the Future: Include wildfire prevention techniques in your organisation's long-term planning to minimise hazards.

How to Stay Safe During a Wildfire in Australia?

The bad news is that wildfires are highly destructive and dangerous. The even worse news is that they are ready to cause more damage in the coming years. If you reside in a wildfire-prone state, you should know how to keep safe when a wildfire breaks out.

Australia's climate is often hot, arid, and prone to droughts. Bushfires can occur at any time of year in certain areas, and the continent's weather patterns mirror the great range of fire seasons. 

Summer and fall are the most dangerous seasons for most of southern Australia. The highest-risk season in New South Wales and southern Queensland is usually spring and early summer. The Northern Territory experiences most of its fires in the winter and spring. The following are some advice and methods for staying safe during a wildfire in Australia.

Tip 1: Prepare for an Emergency Plan

Creating an emergency plan is an essential component of wildfire safety planning. Include these essentials in your plan:

Ensure your family has at least two escape routes and practice them regularly.

A gathering point for you and your family following evacuation.

Considerations for family members with impairments, asthma, and other diseases.

Considerations for pets and livestock.

Emergency supplies kit includes N95 masks, pharmaceuticals, and fire alert devices. In an emergency, you can use a portable power source, such as the Jackery Portable Power Station, to charge your communication devices or GPS.

Store essential documents and personal IDs in a fireproof area.

Keep digital copies of critical papers.

Contact for preparedness and evacuation recommendations and an understanding of how the local fire department might respond to a wildfire in your community. Enquire about the wildfire danger level of your home and whether there are any ordinances to be aware of. Contact us to discover more about building materials, landscaping, and home ideas.

Tip 2: When You're at Home During a Wildfire

In rare situations, a wildfire may take your neighbourhood by surprise. However, you do receive some notice in many circumstances. For example, flames may have been raging in your vicinity for a few days or weeks, and you know you may need to leave anytime. In certain circumstances, monitor conditions and prepare to leave if necessary.

For wildfire updates in Australia, listen to ABC Local Radio, the premier emergency broadcaster that provides localised information.

Wear N95 respirator masks.

Stay in a safe place or location where outside air cannot enter.

Move outside furniture, door mats, potted plants, and other items inside or away from the home.

Store your emergency kit and other essential supplies in your car.

Fill garbage cans, pools, and tubs with water to assist firefighters if they arrive on your property. Connect the water hoses.

Close all vents, windows, garage doors, and pet doors to prevent embers from entering your home.

If given evacuation orders, leave immediately. Ideally, you should leave before orders are issued so that firefighters can get into position and you have more of a safety cushion.

If you're trapped, call 000, but be patient as responders may take some time to arrive. Turning on your lights will help them discover you faster.

Evacuating may require you to spend significant time in your vehicle waiting for traffic to move. If feasible, evacuate in a car with a large gas tank and the ability to tolerate the wait. Evacuate away from the fire and its direction of movement. 

Choose wide routes because narrow roads are quickly obstructed. Keep your vehicle's doors unlocked, and the headlights turned on. In smokey conditions, close all windows and turn off ventilation fans.

Tip 3: Driving in a Wildfire

Many persons who die in wildfires do it in autos. One explanation is that people take too long to flee or believe their vehicle can go quicker than a wildfire. However, wildfires may leapfrog and hopscotch obstacles. Another reason individuals die in cars is due to road conditions, such as debris, low visibility, and heavy evacuee traffic. However, if you are travelling or in a car during a wildfire, you have the following options:

Turn on your headlights and warning lights and drive slowly.

Close or restrict air vents.

Roll up the windows.

Use recirculated air from your air conditioner.

Use a dry item to cover your face and skin, as moist materials might induce steam from the heat.

Park in an area free of flammable things such as trees and rubbish. If feasible, find a substantial object, such as a concrete wall, as a barrier between you and the flames. Your tyres may explode but stay inside the vehicle. If you leave, you won't be able to remain ahead of the fire. Also, wool blankets should be carried instead of synthetic ones, as wool is less combustible.

Tip 4: Evacuation or Sheltering in Place

Evacuation is not always safe, such as when your only escape routes lead you into the fire or when the fire is moving too quickly/closely that you do not have the time to flee safely. Other instances in which you should not evacuate include being unable to see where you're going owing to smoke or having your escape routes too congested or closed. Emergency personnel may also recommend that you stay.

However, some dwellings and constructions are not suitable for sheltering in place. In those circumstances, establish arrangements with neighbours to evacuate to a safer location should the need arise. Do any of the following describe your home? If so, your home is a dangerous shelter:

Brush piles, wood sheds, or wood piles are adjacent to the dwelling.

The residence is surrounded by dense grass and trees.

The house is on a steep slope with lush flora below.

The house has wooden shingles or siding.

Thick bushes surround sliding glass doors and windows.

Once the fire has passed and the thick smoke has gone, follow any radio directions about what to do. Examine the house's inside, exterior, and roof. Also, look beneath decks and around fences. Put out any flames, sparks, or embers. Avoid opening heated interior doors and avoid vulnerable trees and downed power lines. Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and cotton or wool gloves.

Tip 5: Hiking or Walking in a Wildfire

To stay safe in a wildfire, seek out a low-lying area with no vegetation or flammable materials, such as a ditch. Face down with your body covered in water, dirt, mud, or nonflammable textiles. If you dial 000, it's conceivable, but it is doubtful that rescuers will arrive quickly. It will not hurt to reach out. 

Smoke inhalation, rather than flames, is frequently the most dangerous risk. You must have access to clean air. Remain cool while using a handkerchief as a filter around your lips.

Tip 6: Pay Attention to Your Pet Safety

Providing pets and livestock the best chance of survival during wildfires requires careful planning. If you have barns or other facilities for your animals, treat them like you would your own home. In other words, take precautions such as cleaning the area around them of debris and flammable objects.

Have multiple animal evacuation alternatives. Shelter options include fairgrounds, equestrian centres, stockyards, and friends' homes.

Set up a cleared area in case you must abandon your livestock. Leave enough hay or food for three days in addition to water (power outages may disable automatic watering systems).

Keep copies of your animals' critical records and your own. Include registration documents, vaccination and medical records, images of the animals, and evidence of ownership.

Prepare a disaster kit for livestock. Include three days' worth of food and water, wire cutters, a knife, a shovel, water buckets, flashlights, a hoof pick, leg bandages, and first-aid supplies.

Above everything, evacuate your livestock as soon as possible. When you sense danger approaching, get out instead of waiting for officials to sound the alert. Pets, such as cats and dogs, require fewer preparations than cattle, but they are equally vital. Many of the steps are the same.  

If you need to leave your dogs at home, bring them inside. Never leave them outside. Please place them in an area like the bathroom, utility room, or garage. These spaces have adequate ventilation, no windows, and will be relatively easy to clean.

Jackery Portable Power Stations for Emergencies

Portable power stations are essential during fire crises. They offer a secure and dependable electrical source for vital communication devices, medical apparatus, and other necessary items when the primary power system is compromised.

In circumstances where relocation to a powered site is unfeasible, they serve as an essential resource for first responders and civilians; in contrast to gas generators, they present no supplementary fire hazard due to the absence of combustible fuel sources.

Here, we recommend Jackery Portable Power Stations, which are durable, resistant to extreme temperatures, and ensure safe usage during emergencies. These portable battery chargers are equipped with ChargeShield technology to safeguard gadgets against voltage fluctuations. They are engineered for outdoor durability, have a 94V-0 fire rating, and have superior shock resistance. Effortless transition to off-grid electricity (under 20 milliseconds) guarantees uninterrupted operation of refrigerators and devices during power interruptions.

Jackery Explorer 300 Plus

The Jackery Explorer 300 Plus is a lightweight (3.75kg) and portable power station with a capacity of 288Wh that delivers a reliable power source for communication devices and other essential items.

The following are the features that may help you during an emergency:

Sufficient Power for Charging Essentials: The Jackery 300 Plus possesses a capacity of 288Wh and an output of 300W, featuring dual PD ports that provide up to 100W output, facilitating rapid charging for multiple devices concurrently and presenting diverse charging alternatives, thereby ensuring convenience for emergency charging.

Safety Is Paramount: The Jackery 300 Plus features a robust 10-year lifespan with a Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery, delivering a stable voltage and pure sine wave, ensuring the safety of all your electrical devices. The cutting-edge ChargeShield technology and consistent power output safeguard against any equipment damage.

Multiple Recharging Ability: Utilise our sophisticated technology for expedited charging durations and prolonged battery longevity. Remain energised and connected, whether at home or while travelling. This power station can be utilised with SolarSaga 80W to convert sunlight into electricity.

(*The working hours are only for reference; the actual working hours depend on your usage..)

Jackery Explorer 600 Plus

The Jackery Explorer 600 Plus is more powerful than the 300 Plus, featuring a capacity of 632Wh and an output of 800W. It will facilitate charging several critical devices and enable your neighbours and family members to charge their stuff conveniently.

The following are the features that may help you during an emergency:

Go-To Power for Emergencies: Besides its increased capacity, it is also portable.  The Jackery Explorer 600 Plus is a lightweight (7.3 kg), sturdy, powerful power station, ideal for emergencies.

Fast & Emergency Charging Mode: A complete charge in 1.6 hours, enhanced battery pack longevity by 30%, designed for sustained reliability. The emergency charging mode allows the Charge 600 Plus to reach 100% from 0% in one hour, providing a rapid response to emergencies. This feature can be managed through our application.

Sustainable Next-Gen Generator: The Explorer 600 Plus features a sustainable next-generation generator with an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) function, supporting specified desktop computers, freezers, and CPAP machines that require power within 20 ms, including the HP Z230 and ResMed AirSense 10, both evaluated by Jackery's Lab.  

(*The working hours are only for reference; the actual working hours depend on your usage.)

Recovery from Wildfires

It can take months, if not years, to recover from a wildfire's emotional, financial, and environmental effects. A community's healing process necessitates substantial resources and support.

Stabilising the landscape and restoring houses and communities after a wildfire can be stressful and difficult. While urgent action is essential for landscape rehabilitation, infrastructure repairs, post-fire flooding mitigation, and neighbourhood restoration, long-term care is necessary to ensure personal well-being, financial stability, communal health, and a revitalised sense of place. Disaster recovery can also be done from an equitable perspective.

Final Thoughts

It was an unforgettable year. Before the difficulties posed by COVID-19, Australia had severe bushfires throughout the summer of 2019-20, marking the most devastating blaze season in the nation's history. Since January 7, 2025, wildfires have impacted the Los Angeles metropolitan area and adjacent regions. It is essential to understand and plan for wildfires in Australia. 

Prompt evacuation is the most effective strategy for ensuring safety during rampant wildfires near your residence. To prevent delays, promptly establish evacuation plans to provide you, your family, and your pets with many options. Avoid the region until officials declare it safe for reentry, and remain vigilant regarding the possible hazards of mudflows and flooding.