AFAC warns heightened bushfire danger across most of Australia as El Niño intensifies
The Australian and New Zealand Council for Fire and Emergency Services says spring fire risk is up in all states and territories except the ACT, driven by dry eastern conditions and growing fuel loads.
The latest seasonal forecast from the Australian and New Zealand Council for Fire and Emergency Services indicates a rise in bushfire risk for most Australian jurisdictions this spring, sparing only the ACT. The uptick is linked to prolonged dryness in the eastern states and a buildup of combustible material across central and northern lands. AFAC chief Rob Webb stresses the need for communities to understand local hazards and act early, noting that fires can still occur even where the outlook is normal.
Scientists warn that an unusually strong El Niño, potentially the strongest on record, together with a likely positive Indian Ocean Dipole, may create hotter, drier conditions. University of Tasmania fire expert David Bowman points to prolific vegetation growth after recent fires, which could dry out quickly under heat stress, while climate change adds further risk. The outlook follows a summer of extreme wildfires in the northern hemisphere, underscoring the growing challenge of managing fire seasons in Australia.
Why it matters
Higher fire risk this spring could threaten lives, property and ecosystems across much of Australia.
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