2024–25 Australian bushfire season

2024–25 Australian bushfire season
Date(s)	September 2024 – ongoing
Location	Australia
Statistics
Burned area	unspecified
Impacts
Deaths	0
Structures destroyed	unspecified
Ignition
Cause	Substantial fuel loads Record high temperatures Climate change lightning
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The 2024–25 Australian bushfire season is the current summer season of bushfires in Australia. At the beginning of the season temperatures had been above average to high above average for most regions, with parts of Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland experiencing highest on record maximum temperatures for the winter period. August 2024 overall in Australia was the warmest August on record.

In spring, there continued to be an increased likelihood of unusually high maximum temperatures across most of Australia, and increased chance of above average rainfall for much of New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania. Large parts of Western Australia had an increased chance of below average rainfall. Unseasonal rainfall in Queensland and Northern Territory led to increased fuel loads. August also saw above average to well above average rainfall in both southwest Western Australia and Tasmania, easing dry conditions in these regions.

Fire authorities advised that overall main areas of increased risk of bushfire in Australia at the start of the bushfire season were most parts of the Northern Territory, large areas of northern and central Queensland, and also western Victoria as well as parts of southeastern South Australia.

On 1 February the Bureau of Meteorology announced that Victoria would swelter through a severe head wave with temperatures up to 43 ℃ in Mildura.

Western Australia

On the 8 October a bushfire was reported at Lake Powell Nature Reserve in Albany. It burnt 4.5ha before being brought under control and sparked a bushfire warning for the Elleker township. The cause of the fire was soon found to be arson, making it the fifth bushfire caused by arson in Albany that year.

South Australia

On 2 November a grassfire occurred in the northern suburbs of Adelaide which burnt 33ha before being controlled, requiring the use of both fixed wing and rotary wing support. The fire caused damage to sheds and greenhouses in the area, and two men were arrested for arson.

Victoria

On 24 December, residents of the Grampians region were evacuated with over 41,000 hectares (101,000 acres) already burnt with Victoria's State Control Centre spokesman Luke Hegarty stating; "We're expecting to see extreme fire danger across almost the entire state". After three weeks, on 6 January, the fire was declared as contained, with a total of 76,000 hectares burnt.

On 27 January residents of Dimboola were evacuated with a fire burning out of control in the Little Desert National Park. More than 65,000 hectares were burnt in under 8 hours. On 31 January it was deemed contained after burning 70887 hectares. The fire got meters within the township of Dimboola luckily no houses in the town were destroyed. Although a popular wedding destination and Youth camp was destroyed.

On 2 February the Little Desert fire jumped lines on the southern side of the fire, with high winds the fires quickly became uncontrollable, evacuation orders were send out for residents on private property near the township of Goroke. As of the 3rd of February the fire has burnt a total of 83550 hectares. As of the 5th of February the fire has burnt 94000 hectares and is still out of control.

On 28 January, lightning ignited multiple fires in the Grampians national park, all burning out of control as of 31 January. Favourable conditions on 30 and 31 January gave crews the opportunity to burn out unburnt areas of the national park. With a severe heat wave set to hit the state of Victoria over the first week of February, the fire danger rating will be high. On 2 February temperatures across the high 30s were recorded, with temperatures of 39 °C in Horsham and 41 °C in Mildura. Wind speeds of 30 kph in some places with gusts of 55 kph caused the Bullawin fire to jump lines near the township of Mirranatwa. Later that day, residents were told to evacuate with the fire spreading uncontrollably eastward towards the township.

On the 4th of February the fire jumped lines on the north eastern side of the fire,Residents in several towns in Victoria's west have been advised to "leave immediately" as strong winds drive an out-of-control bushfire in the Grampians national park, the fire was expected to reach red rock road by 8:30pm that night. As of the 5th of February the fire has burnt a total of 48000 hectares.

On the 2nd of February a small bushfire in the states far north west, in the township of Colignan caused the loss of 2 Homes.

On the 4th of February, dry lightning swept over the states east, causing multiple small bushfires. Fortunately none of these fires grew to a substantial size.