Northern Australia Seasonal Bushfire Outlook 2011

Fire Note 85:  Large areas of Northern Australia face above-normal fire potential for the 2011 fire season. The main cause of the above normal risk is strong vegetation growth in many areas fuelled by the wet weather that accompanied the very strong La Niña event of 2010-11.

In Western Australia, the Kimberley has an above-normal bushfire potential, with the fuel loads remaining significant despite increased prescribed burning across the region.

Large areas of Central Australia as well as the north-west coast of the Northern Territory can expect above-normal bushfire potential thanks to two years of above-average rainfall that has increased fuel loads and fuel continuity.

Queensland is facing above- normal fire potential over a vast area of coastal and inland areas of Central and Northern Queensland, thanks to abundant and continuous highly cured grassland.