An autumn bushfire outlook has flagged a heightened risk in parts of Victoria, SA and WA following warm conditions and “very much below average rainfall” in the back half of last year.

The Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Council says the danger areas extend from Victoria’s Gippsland region to central SA and WA’s southern coastline. 

It notes mean temperatures for Australia from last August to January were well above average, with large areas reporting record highs.  

Victoria’s central and western regions have had significant rainfall deficits across one to two years, which will probably increase the flammability of forests, woodlands and heathlands, the council’s Seasonal Bushfire Outlook says.  

SA is predicted to have high average temperatures in autumn, with western parts of Kangaroo Island, the Upper Eyre, the Mount Lofty Ranges and parts of the eastern Eyre Peninsula and Yorke Peninsula expected to have low rainfall.  

Continued warm, dry conditions will affect WA’s southern coastline, while southern parts of Kimberley, Geraldton Sandplains, Yalgoo and the southern Carnarvon bioregion also face elevated fire risk.

Queensland, Tasmania, NSW, ACT and NT are expected to have normal risk levels. 

“The same dry conditions that have seen recent fires in Victoria and in WA look set to continue across much of the southern coastline of mainland Australia,” council CEO Rob Webb said. “It means the fire season in these areas may go a little longer this year.” 

Mr Webb says fire authorities will carry out prescribed burns in the regions.

From the latest Insurance News magazine: Remarkable aerial images show the devastation inflicted on LA's suburbs by the January wildfires. Could the same fate befall Australian cities?