In late December 2024 and early January 2025, NSW firefighting authorities faced a run of numerous bushfires in remote locations. Most if not all were ignited by lightning. On 27 December storms swept over the Blue Mountains and about a dozen fires popped up across the northern parts of Wollemi and Yengo national parks and adjacent bushland.
Category Archives: Events
NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into the assets, premises and funding of the Rural Fire Service
This inquiry by the Public Accounts Committee of the Legislative Assembly kicked off in February 2024 with public submissions and then two hearing days in August and September. Full details, terms of reference, submissions and hearing transcripts are available on the inquiry’s web page.
Escape of ‘Meatworks’ planned burn, Sydney
On Saturday 21 September a planned burn for hazard reduction near Oxford Falls on Sydney’s northern beaches escaped containment and spread to a much larger area.
Findings of NSW Black Summer Bushfires Coronial handed down
On 27 March the NSW Coroner delivered a two-volume report from this lengthy inquiry into the worst fires NSW has ever seen. The inquiry extended over 78 sitting days from August 2021 to August 2023 and considered 780 witness statements.
Cause of fires
The media have been largely silent on the origin of recent fires, but until 26 October when a wave of storms across northern NSW sparked a reported 47 new ignitions, the role of lightning has been minimal. This leaves human causes.
Biodiversity impacts of Black Summer…and the future
Early in 2023 the CSIRO published an important new book: Australia’s Megafires – Biodiversity Impacts and Lessons from 2019-2020. With five author-editors and 190 scientific, management and expert contributors, this encyclopaedic work focuses on the impacts of the fires in south-east Australia.
Presenting to the NCC Bushfire Conference
IBG made a presentation to the 2023 NCC Bushfire on: Learning from past fire operations for future success.
NSW Bushfires Coronial Inquiry
The NSW Bushfires Coronial Inquiry is currently conducting a series of inquests and inquiries relating to the 2019-20 NSW bushfire season. The process is explained in the Coroner’s Public Hearings Information Paper.
Dixie fire, California
According to official sources the Dixie Fire in California (USA) has been burning since 14 July, across Plumas National Forest, Lassen National Forest, Lassen Volcanic National Park and five counties. It merged with the Fly Fire and as of 5 September had reached a burnt area of 360,000 hectares with 3,820 personnel deployed1. Fuel moistures are ‘historically low’ with light winds and relative humidity falling to 10% in the afternoons
NSW bushfire coronials start
The State Coroner is conducting a series of coronial inquests and inquiries relating to the 2019-20 NSW bushfire season (Black Summer). Public proceedings began on 25 August with an opening address from Counsel Assisting
Independent Bushfire Group 