Centralian fires ‘only the start’ as authorities warn of horror bushfire season ahead

Alice Springs residents are being urged to prepare for the worst bushfire season for almost 50 years as weekend fires continue to keep firefighters on their toes. Read what it means for you.

A massive fire burning around Alice Springs is ”only the start” of a potentially horror bushfire season that could see 80 per cent of the Territory go up in flames, authorities have warned.

On Monday, Bushfires NT chief fire control officer Tony Fuller said the inferno had so far burnt 36,000ha surrounding Alice Springs, extending over 34km east to west and 16km north to south over multiple fronts.

He warned fuel levels had reached 50-year highs, urging residents to implement their own fire-containment measures including fire breaks.

The fire took off last week after a Parks and Wildlife NT controlled burn cleared containment lines, resulting in a joint response from Bushfires NT and NT Fire and Rescue to protect lives and properties in the region.

Mr Fuller described the current fuel phenomena as “a decadal event” and said locals had reported fuel loads at the high levels reported in 1975, which was one of the nation’s worst fire seasons on record.

He said during 2011-12 80 per cent of the Northern Territory was burnt and “we’re expecting that this season or into next year”.

“It’s what’s called a decadal event where there’s a build-up of fuel.

“This season we’ve had extra rain just before the season and that’s just added to our fuel load.

“A lot of the areas we’re burnt previously are starting to regrow already, buffel grass really quickly re-establishes itself.

“We’re assessing now whether we have to go back and do more backburning to protect those areas.”

Bushfires NT chief fire control officer Tony Fuller.

“Last week we were alerted to a fire in Alice Springs that was started to the west of Alice Springs that was the result of a planned burn that escaped the control lines,” Mr Fuller said.

“The fire was managed by Parks and we were alerted to assist trying to control the fire before heading towards Alice Springs.

“Over the weekend the fire encroached to Alice Springs proper and moved into the Emergency Response Area, which is the responsibility of NT Fire and Rescue and they assumed control with support from Parks and Bushfires NT.

“There are multiple fire fronts in that fire so it’s impacting on a fairly wide area.”

Mr Fuller said the blaze was a warning for the potential for a 10-year fire event in the town based on accumulated fuel load.

“Not to be too alarmist but this is a precursor to what we’re expecting for the rest of the season in Central Australia,” he said.

“It’s only the start and it’s not the sort of dress rehearsal that we wanted but it’s going to be good for us and trying to get our resourcing and our practices interoperabilities honed before the season in Central Australia starts.

Alice Springs bushfire August 2023

“There’s grass in the area and high fuel loads hence why that fire moved as fast as it is.

“We already expected Central Australia was going to cause some grief but we were hoping it wouldn’t be that early in the season because we’re really concentrating on the Top End season at the moment.

“We’ve still got another month of fire activity at the Top End before we even look at Central Australia.”

Bushfires NT’s 15 full-time fire fighters are supported by about 300 volunteers and NT Fire and Rescue when fires reach towns.

Mr Fuller said strong winds and inaccessibility made it difficult for crews to get ahead of the blaze to backburn.

Alice Springs bushfire August 2023

However he said the fire should be viewed “a really big opportunity for people to take heed of what’s coming and to start preparing their own properties”

“At the end of the day, people are responsible for their own properties and they need to put areas around those properties to protect yourselves,” he said.

“You choose what you lose, effectively.”

Originally published as Centralian fires ‘only the start’ as authorities warn of horror bushfire season ahead