2015–16 Australian bushfire season
{{short description|none}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox wildfire
|title=2015–16 Australian bushfire season
|image=File:2015-16 Australian Bushfire season MODIS overview.png
|caption = NASA MODIS burned area detections from June 2015 to May 2016
|location= Australia
|cost=
|date= Winter (June) 2015 – Autumn (May) 2016
|cause =
|area= Approximately {{convert|299468|hectare}}Total area burned calculated as sum of all known burnt areas for fires listed in article as is likely to be less than the actual burnt area.
|fatalities = 9 total
{{bulleted list |1 RFS volunteer firefighter (health complications while fighting fire) |8 other }}
|injuries=
|damage=
|buildings= 900+ total
{{bulleted list |408 houses |500+ non-residential structures |}}
|is_season =true
|prev=2014–15 Australian bushfire season
|next=2016–17 Australian bushfire season
}}
The most destructive bushfire season in terms of property loss since the 2008–09 Australian bushfire season, occurred in the summer of 2015–16, with the loss of 408 houses and at least 500 non-residential buildings as a result of wild fires between 1 June 2015 and 31 May 2016. The season also suffered the most human fatalities since the 2008–09 Australian bushfire season; 6 died in Western Australia, 2 in South Australia and 1 in New South Wales. 8 deaths were as a direct result of fire, and a volunteer firefighter died due to unrelated health complications while on duty.
The season witnessed four notable fires; the Cascades fire in Western Australia, the Pinery fire in South Australia, the Great Ocean Road fire in Victoria, and the Harvey-Waroona fire in Western Australia.
Climate summary and predictions
A longer, more severe season was predicted, with an above normal potential for bushfires—particularly along the west and east coasts—as the result of the strengthening El Niño over the Pacific Ocean and warmer sea temperatures in the Indian Ocean.{{cite web|url=http://www.bnhcrc.com.au/hazardnotes/010|title=Southern Australia seasonal bushfire outlook 2015-16|access-date=11 September 2015|year=2015|publisher=Australian Government}}{{cite web|url=http://news.cfa.vic.gov.au/news/early-start-predicted-for-2015-2016-fire-season.html|title=Early start predicted for 2015-2016 fire season|date=2 September 2015|access-date=11 September 2015|website=cfa.vic.gov.au|publisher=Country Fire Authority|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909160527/http://news.cfa.vic.gov.au/news/early-start-predicted-for-2015-2016-fire-season.html|archive-date=9 September 2015|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.climatecouncil.org.au/longer-bushfire-seasons-leave-australia-exposed|title=Longer bushfire seasons leave Australia exposed|date=1 September 2015|access-date=11 September 2015|publisher=The Climate Council}}
In Victoria, large areas of the Wimmera and the Western District had their lowest recorded rainfall in the three years to 31 July 2015, and significant areas of the Goldfields, North Central, Otways and Yarra Valley recorded "very much below average" rainfall over the same period.{{cite web|title=Pre-Season Update; 2015-16 Summer Season|url=http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/fm_files/attachments/plan_and_prepare/Pre-Season_Update_2015-16_summer_season.pdf|website=cfa.vic.gov.au|publisher=Emergency Management Victoria|access-date=4 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312114748/http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/fm_files/attachments/plan_and_prepare/Pre-Season_Update_2015-16_summer_season.pdf|archive-date=12 March 2016|url-status=dead}} In Western Australia, the Goldfields-Esperance, Peel and South West regions were expected to experience "above normal fire potential" due to a lack of rainfall, soil dryness and high fuel loads; the Peel and South West regions were at specific risk, having experienced their 8th driest year on record in 2015.{{cite news|title=Challenging bushfire season expected for Western Australia|url=http://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/mediareleases/Pages/MediaRelease.aspx?ItemId=755|access-date=4 May 2016|work=dfes.wa.gov.au|publisher=Department of Fire and Emergency Services|date=1 September 2015}}{{cite web|title=Western Australia in 2015: second-warmest year on record; dry in southwest|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/annual/wa/summary.shtml|website=bom.gov.au|publisher=Bureau of Meteorology|access-date=4 May 2016|date=6 January 2016}} The Great Southern, Peel, Perth and South West regions suffered record rainfall deficiencies for the 16-year period to 31 March 2016.{{cite web|title=March rainfall reduces deficiencies in some areas|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/drought/archive/20160408.shtml|website=bom.gov.au|publisher=Bureau of Meteorology|access-date=4 May 2016|date=8 April 2016}}
The areas that suffered the greatest rainfall deficiencies during the season typically receive the majority of rainfall from cold fronts and low pressure systems, autumn through spring. However, continental Australia has experienced a decrease in this activity over recent decades, as high pressure systems have become more dominant. These longer-term deficiencies has a great effect on the drying of woodland fuels, particularly in the Jarrah forest of Western Australia's South-West and the forests of Victoria's Otway Ranges, which witnessed significant fires during the 2015/16 season.
Fires of note
| class="wikitable sortable" | |
| scope="col" style="width:6%; text-align:center;"| State
! scope="col" style="width:12%; text-align:center;"| Start date ! scope="col" style="width:6%; text-align:center;"| Deaths ! scope="col" style="width:6%; text-align:center;"| Injuries ! scope="col" style="width:6%; text-align:center;"| Res. houses lost ! scope="col" style="width:6%; text-align:center;"| Other structures lost ! scope="col" style="width:8%; text-align:center;"| Area (ha) ! scope="col" style="width:12%; text-align:center;"| Local govt. ! scope="col" style="text-align:center;" class="unsortable"| Impacted communities ! scope="col" style="width:6%; text-align:center;" class="unsortable"| Duration ! scope="col" style="width:10%; text-align:center;" class="unsortable"| Ref. | |
|---|---|
| style="text-align:center;" | NSW
| style="text-align:center;" | 1 June 2015 | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1 | style="text-align:center;" | 1 | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1 | style="text-align:center;" | Gosford | Copacabana
| style="text-align:center;" | 1 day |
| style="text-align:center;" | NT
| style="text-align:center;" | 8 September 2015 | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 2 | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | Litchfield | Howard Springs
| style="text-align:center;" | 2 days |
| style="text-align:center;" | QLD
| style="text-align:center;" | 10 September 2015 | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 8 | style="text-align:center;" | 1 | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | Townsville | Stuart
| style="text-align:center;" | |
| style="text-align:center;" | QLD
| style="text-align:center;" | 4 October 2015 | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1 | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | Townsville | Cape Cleveland
| style="text-align:center;" | |
| style="text-align:center;" | VIC
| style="text-align:center;" | 5 October 2015 | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1 | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 10 | style="text-align:center;" | Surf Coast | Wensleydale
| style="text-align:center;" | 1 day |
| style="text-align:center;" | VIC
| style="text-align:center;" | 6 October 2015 | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 6 | style="text-align:center;" | 15 | style="text-align:center;" | 4,000 | style="text-align:center;" | Macedon Ranges | Benloch, Cobaw & Lancefield
| style="text-align:center;" | 8 days |
| style="text-align:center;" | VIC
| style="text-align:center;" | 17 November 2015 | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1 | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 50 | style="text-align:center;" | Wellington | Devon North
| style="text-align:center;" | |
| style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | WA | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | 15 November 2015 | style="text-align:center;" | 4 | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1 | style="text-align:center;" | 16 | style="text-align:center;" | 128,000 | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | Esperance | Grass Patch, Salmon Gums & Scaddan
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | 9 days | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | {{#tag:ref|Referred to as the Esperance fires. Significant fire-weather/destruction on 17 November 2015.|group=nb}} |
| style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 2 | style="text-align:center;" | several | style="text-align:center;" | 18,000 | Myalup & Stockyard Creek |
| style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| style="text-align:center;" | SA | style="text-align:center;" | 25 November 2015 | style="text-align:center;" | 2 | style="text-align:center;" | 90 | style="text-align:center;" | 91 | style="text-align:center;" | 388 | style="text-align:center;" | 82,000 | style="text-align:center;" | Clare and Gilbert Valleys, Light & Wakefield | Alma, Freeling, Hamley Bridge, Mallala, Nain, Pinery, Roseworthy, Stockport, Tarlee, Templers & Wasleys
| style="text-align:center;" | 3 days | style="text-align:center;" | {{#tag:ref|Referred to as the Pinery fire. Significant fire-weather/destruction on 25 November 2015.|group=nb}} |
| style="text-align:center;" | NSW
| style="text-align:center;" | 26 November 2015 | style="text-align:center;" | 1 | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 5 | style="text-align:center;" | Cessnock | Stanford Merthyr
| style="text-align:center;" | |
| style="text-align:center;" | VIC
| style="text-align:center;" | 19 December 2015 | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 14 | style="text-align:center;" | 30 | style="text-align:center;" | 4,600 | Clarendon, Durham Lead, Elaine, Garibaldi & Scotsburn
| style="text-align:center;" | 2 days |
| style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| style="text-align:center;" | VIC | style="text-align:center;" | 19 December 2015 | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 3 | style="text-align:center;" | 116 | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 2,300 | style="text-align:center;" | Colac Otway | Separation Creek & Wye River
| style="text-align:center;" | 34 days | style="text-align:center;" | {{#tag:ref|Referred to as the Great Ocean Road fire. Significant fire-weather/destruction on 25 December 2015.|group=nb}} |
| style="text-align:center;" | VIC
| style="text-align:center;" | 20 December 2015 | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 4 | style="text-align:center;" | several | style="text-align:center;" | 7,000 | style="text-align:center;" | Indigo | Barnawartha & Indigo Valley
| style="text-align:center;" | 5 days |
| style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| style="text-align:center;" | WA | style="text-align:center;" | 6 January 2016 | style="text-align:center;" | 2 | style="text-align:center;" | 5+ | style="text-align:center;" | 162 | style="text-align:center;" | numerous | style="text-align:center;" | 70,000 | Cookernup, Hamel, Harvey, Lake Clifton, Preston Beach, Waroona, Wagerup & Yarloop
| style="text-align:center;" | 17 days | style="text-align:center;" | {{#tag:ref|Referred to as the Harvey-Waroona fire. Significant fire-weather/destruction on 7 January 2016.|group=nb}} |
| style="text-align:center;" | VIC
| style="text-align:center;" | 18 January 2016 | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1 | style="text-align:center;" | 6 | style="text-align:center;" | 90 | style="text-align:center;" | Mornington Peninsula | Crib Point & Stony Point
| style="text-align:center;" | 1 day |
| style="text-align:center;" | VIC
| style="text-align:center;" | 19 January 2016 | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1 | style="text-align:center;" | 1 | style="text-align:center;" | 100 | style="text-align:center;" | Macedon Ranges | Edgecombe & Kyneton
| style="text-align:center;" | 1 day |
| style="text-align:center;" | VIC
| style="text-align:center;" | 23 February 2016 | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 2 | style="text-align:center;" | 1 | style="text-align:center;" | 1,300 | style="text-align:center;" | Ballarat | Addington & Mount Bolton
| style="text-align:center;" | 2 days |
| style="text-align:center;" | WA
| style="text-align:center;" | 14 March 2016 | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1 | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 12 | style="text-align:center;" | Joondalup | Joondalup
| style="text-align:center;" | 1 day |
Fires by state or territory
= New South Wales =
;June
On 1 June, a {{convert|1|ha}} bushfire completely destroyed one house and damaged a second house at Copacabana in the City of Gosford municipality of the Central Coast region. One civilian was treated for burns received while fighting the fire.{{cite news|last1=Vince|first1=Mary-Louise|title=Bushfire destroys home, damages another on NSW central coast|url=http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2015-06-01/bushfire-destroys-home-damages-another-on-nsw-central-coast/1453722|access-date=12 June 2015|work=ABC Radio Australia|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=1 June 2015}}{{cite news|title=Bushfire hits houses in NSW Central Coast on last day of autumn|url=http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/news/national/bushfire-hits-houses-in-nsw-central-coast-on-last-day-of-autumn/news-story/b4c083f7a85bca43b4adae47982bf563|access-date=27 April 2016|work=Weekly Times|agency=AAP|publisher=News Corp.|date=1 June 2015}}
;July
On 31 July, a fire ignited in the bushland of the Jamison Valley, nearby Wentworth Falls and within the City of Blue Mountains municipality. Over the next 12 days, one house was damaged and {{convert|30|ha}} of forest were consumed by the fire, which spread rapidly due to strong winds of up to {{convert|80|kph}}. At least 150 firefighters and several water bombing aircraft were required to bring the fire under control, and it was declared extinguished on 12 August.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-01/blue-mountains-bushfire-out-of-control/6665018|title=Blue Mountains bushfire: Conditions ease after homes threatened, NSW Rural Fire Service says|date=1 August 2015|access-date=11 September 2015|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}{{cite journal|editor1-last=Murphy|editor1-first=Jacqueline|title=Fire and Ice; Horden Road, Wentworth Falls (Blue Mountains LGA)|journal=Bush Fire Bulletin|date=2015|volume=37|issue=3|pages=13–18|url=http://issuu.com/nswrfs/docs/bfb_single_small/13?e=5467805/31479979|access-date=2 May 2016|publisher=NSW Rural Fire Service}}
;November
On 26 November, a Rural Fire Service volunteer firefighter collapsed and died while fighting a fire {{convert|5|ha}} in size near Stanford Merthyr in the City of Cessnock municipality. Paul Sanderson, 48, volunteered with the Kurri Kurri brigade and had been a member for almost 20 years.{{cite news|title=Volunteer firefighter dies of suspected heart attack while fighting Cessnock blaze|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-26/firefighter-dies-of-heart-attack-while-fighting-cessnock-blaze/6978868|access-date=19 January 2016|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=27 November 2015}}{{cite news|title=NSW firey remembered after Thursday blazes|url=http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/breaking-news/nsw-firefighter-dead-from-heart-attack/news-story/16818640bd4c85d10aff807de8a338bd|access-date=19 January 2016|work=Gold Coast Bulletin|publisher=News Corp.|agency=AAP|date=27 November 2015}}
= Northern Territory =
;September
On 8 September and during the day following, 2 houses and several vehicles and items of industrial equipment were destroyed by a bushfire burning in and around Howard Springs in the Litchfield municipality on the outskirts of Darwin.{{cite news|title=Houses believed lost to Howard Springs bushfire in Darwin; firefighters bring blaze under control|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-09/howard-springs-bushfire-destroys-two-houses-several-vehicles/6762906|access-date=1 May 2016|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=9 September 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Herbert|first1=Lisa|title=Water bombers ready for Top End fire risk; landholders not|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-10/top-end-fire-conditions/6764556|access-date=1 May 2016|work=ABC Rural|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=10 September 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Dunlop|first1=Craig|title=Rural area bushfire destroys two Howard Springs homes, cars|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/rural-area-bushfire-destroys-two-howard-springs-homes-cars/news-story/0a73123fe1beb53d7a972dc6664201aa|access-date=3 May 2016|work=The Daily Telegraph|publisher=News Corp.|date=9 September 2015}}
= Queensland =
;September
On 3 September, one house was damaged and one shed was destroyed by a bushfire at Bluewater, a suburb on the "Northern beaches" of the City of Townsville municipality.{{cite news|author1=Tom Fowles|author2=Francis Tapim|title=Home damaged by north Queensland bushfire|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-04/home-damaged-by-north-queensland-bushfire/6750680|access-date=2 May 2016|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=4 September 2015}}{{cite news|title=Firefighters monitor bushfire at Bluewater in north Queensland|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-05/firefighters-monitor-bushfire-at-bluewater-in-north-qld/6752126|access-date=2 May 2016|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=5 September 2015}}
On 10 September, one house and up to 30 vehicles were destroyed during a bushfire at Stuart, a suburb on the outskirts of the City of Townsville municipality. The fire prompted the evacuation of a correctional facility and also caused a power outage that affected approximately 1,000 houses. Two people were hospitalized, six others were treated for smoke inhalation, and over 50 firefighters were required to bring the blaze under control.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-10/bushfires-threaten-homes-near-townsville/6765134|title=Bushfire destroys house, dozens of cars at property at Stuart near Townsville in north Queensland|author=Isobel Roe|date=10 September 2015|access-date=11 September 2015|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}{{cite news|last1=Roe|first1=Isobel|title=Stuart fires in Townsville that destroyed house, cars, considered suspicious|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-11/townsville-fires-considered-suspicious/6767328|access-date=2 May 2016|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=11 September 2015}}
;October
On 4 October, one house and several vehicles were destroyed by a bushfire in Cape Cleveland, to the southern end of the City of Townsville municipality.{{cite news|last1=Branco|first1=Jorge|title=Cape Cleveland bushfire threatens homes south east of Townsville|url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/cape-cleveland-bushfire-threatens-homes-south-east-of-townsville-20151004-gk0xq9.html|access-date=2 May 2016|work=Brisbane Times|publisher=Fairfax Media|date=4 October 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Nugent|first1=Victoria|title=Family loses everything as Townsville bush fires rage|url=http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/news/townsville/family-loses-everything-as-townsville-bush-fires-rage/news-story/4f295044ea5bd60352a2c1e8f6ca2834|access-date=2 May 2016|work=Townsville Bulletin|publisher=News Corp.|date=6 October 2015}}
= South Australia =
;November
{{see also|2015 Pinery bushfire}}
During November, there were a number of significant fires in South Australia, the largest and most significant being the "Pinery" fire that burned {{convert|82600|ha}} in the municipalities of Clare and Gilbert Valleys, Light and Wakefield over eight days. On 25 November, during the major run of the Pinery fire, two fatalities occurred: Janet Hughes, 56, perished while fleeing in a vehicle outside Hamley Bridge; Allan Tiller, 69, died while fighting the fire on a neighbour’s property in Pinery itself. The Pinery fire destroyed or rendered uninhabitable 87–91 houses, and completely destroyed 388 non-residential structures, 93 pieces of farm machinery and 98 other vehicles. It also caused significant damage to rural produce; 53,000 poultry and 17,500 head of livestock perished.{{cite news|author1=Jade Gailberger|author2=Doug Robertson|author3=Jordanna Schriever|title=Pinery bushfire victims identified as Janet Hughes and Allan Tiller|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/descendant-of-pinery-settling-family-killed-in-devastating-fire-north-of-adelaide/news-story/ca0c09a1b9165c02db64c6914dd8d97c|access-date=2 May 2016|work=Adelaide Advertiser|publisher=News Corp.|date=26 November 2015}}{{cite news|title=SA bushfire: 77 homes confirmed destroyed in deadly blaze as threat eases|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-27/deadly-sa-bushfire-downgraded-as-fire-crews-clean-up/6978888|access-date=26 November 2015|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=27 November 2015}}{{cite news|title=SA bushfire: 87 homes destroyed or damaged in deadly Pinery blaze, Premier confirms|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-27/sa-bushfires-87-homes-lost-premier-says/6981240|access-date=27 November 2015|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=27 November 2015}}{{cite news|last1=James|first1=Colin|title=Pinery Fire: Country Fire Service declares fire is contained as residents confront widespread devastation|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/pinery-fire-country-fire-service-declares-fire-is-contained-as-residents-confront-widespread-devastation/story-fni6uok5-1227616735753|access-date=27 November 2015|newspaper=Adelaide Advertiser|date=27 November 2015}}{{cite news|author1=Lauren Novak|author2=Doug Robertson|title=Clean-up of Pinery fire ground begins, with 450 insurance claims lodged to value of $61 million|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/clean-up-of-pinery-fire-ground-begins-with-450-insurance-claims-lodged-to-value-of-61-million/story-fni6uo1m-1227626197738?sv=5209e3c0bc79c9dc9febae7574372df6|access-date=28 November 2015|newspaper=Adelaide Advertiser|date=28 November 2015}}{{cite news|last1=McLoughlin|first1=Chris|title=Pinery bushfire: Tally of homes destroyed rises to 91 as SA Govt prepares to hand out first relief payments|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-19/number-of-homes-destroyed-in-pinery-fire-rises-to-91/7043178|access-date=20 December 2015|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=19 December 2015}}{{Cite Hansard|house=House of Assembly |jurisdiction=South Australia |title=Pinery Bushfires - Ministerial Statement |url=http://hansardpublic.parliament.sa.gov.au/Pages/HansardResult.aspx#/docid/HANSARD-11-21663 |date=1 December 2015 |speaker=Jay Weatherill |position=Member for Cheltenham, Premier of South Australia}}{{Cite Hansard|house=House of Assembly |jurisdiction=South Australia |title=Pinery Bushfires - Grievance Debate |url=http://hansardpublic.parliament.sa.gov.au/Pages/HansardResult.aspx#/docid/HANSARD-11-21907 |date=3 December 2015 |speaker=Sam Duluk |position=Member for Davenport}}{{cite news|author1=Kate Dowler|author2=Alice Pohlner|title=Crop, stock hit hard in South Australia and Western Australia fires|url=http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/agribusiness/crop-stock-hit-hard-in-south-australia-and-western-australia-fires/news-story/e9aec46451151f844b2b90b2f1145b17|access-date=2 May 2016|work=Weekly Times|publisher=News Corp.|date=2 December 2015}}
;December
On 31 December, a fire destroyed four non-residential buildings, four vehicles and {{convert|310|ha}} of farmland around the Mosquito Hill area of the Alexandrina municipality. 120 firefighters and 4 aircraft assisted in containing the fire the same day as its ignition and 4 people were injured during the blaze.{{cite news|title=SA bushfire destroys six buildings and burns 310 hectares|url=http://www.9news.com.au/national/2015/12/31/15/46/emergency-warning-for-sa-bushfire|access-date=2 May 2016|work=ninemsn|agency=AAP|publisher=9News|date=1 January 2016}}{{cite journal|editor1-last=Martin|editor1-first=Alison|editor2-last=Hamilton|editor2-first=Daniel|title=Yearbook|journal=The Volunteer|date=2016|page=22|url=https://safecom-files.s3.amazonaws.com/current%2Fdocs%2Fvolunteer_yearbook_2016.pdf?Expires=1475963772&response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3Dvolunteer_yearbook_2016.pdf&AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJQ4Q62CAGOAFH3RA&Signature=mTjEB0Lj%2BxH3%2FzBOLTwhG%2F7QeKM%3D|access-date=8 October 2016|publisher=Country Fire Service}}{{Dead link|date=September 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
;March
On 2 March, a grass fire destroyed 23 b-double semi-trailers as it burned {{convert|2|ha}} of land at Burton, in the north of Adelaide. 140 firefighters in 25 appliances attended the fire, supported by 2 firefighting aircraft, and 2 people suffered injuries in the fire.{{cite news|title=Trailers destroyed after fire breaks out at business in Burton, in Adelaide's north|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-02/trucks-alight-after-fire-breaks-out-at-business-burton/7214018|access-date=8 October 2016|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Commission}}{{cite journal|editor1-last=Martin|editor1-first=Alison|editor2-last=Hamilton|editor2-first=Daniel|title=Yearbook|journal=The Volunteer|date=2016|page=23|url=https://safecom-files.s3.amazonaws.com/current%2Fdocs%2Fvolunteer_yearbook_2016.pdf?Expires=1475963772&response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3Dvolunteer_yearbook_2016.pdf&AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJQ4Q62CAGOAFH3RA&Signature=mTjEB0Lj%2BxH3%2FzBOLTwhG%2F7QeKM%3D|access-date=8 October 2016|publisher=Country Fire Service}}{{Dead link|date=September 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
= Tasmania =
{{further|2016 Tasmanian bushfires}}
= Victoria =
;October
On 5 October, one house and {{convert|10|ha}} of scrubland were destroyed by a bushfire at Wensleydale in the Surf Coast Shire, south-west of Geelong. The fire was contained the same day by Country Fire Authority firefighters.{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/home-destroyed-in-wensleydale-bushfire-20151005-gk1p7n.html|title=Home destroyed in Wensleydale bushfire|author=Allison Worrall|date=5 October 2015|access-date=5 October 2015|work=The Age|publisher=Fairfax Media}}{{cite news|last1=Payne|first1=Nicholas|title=Otways bushfire burns 10 hectares, destroys Wensleydale house|url=http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/news/otways-bushfire-burns-10-hectares-destroys-wensleydale-house/news-story/c31653a38511e1f5fadb7af2359a6e72|access-date=19 January 2016|work=Geelong Advertiser|date=5 October 2015}}{{cite news|title=Wensleydale bushfire: House destroyed in blaze near Anglesea in Victoria|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-05/bushfire-burning-at-wensleydale-near-anglesea-in-victoria/6828780|access-date=27 April 2016|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=5 October 2016}}
On 6 October and during the week following, 6 houses, 15 non-residential structures, 5 vehicles and {{convert|3100|ha}} of forest and paddock were destroyed by a significant bushfire in the Lancefield area of the Shire of Macedon Ranges, {{convert|70|km}} north of Melbourne. Communities affected by the fire included Baynton, Benloch, Nulla Vale, Lancefield, Pastoria and Sidonia. At least 22 aircraft were utilized by the Country Fire Authority to fight the fire before it was contained on 12 October.{{cite news|title=Two homes destroyed as bushfires raze central Victoria|url=http://www.9news.com.au/National/2015/10/06/14/09/Watch-and-Act-bushfire-alert-issued-at-Cobaw|access-date=6 October 2015|publisher=Channel 9 Australia|date=7 October 2015}}{{cite news|title=Lancefield bushfire: Fears for homes as emergency warnings for six towns in central Victoria remain|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-08/bushfire-emergency-warnings-still-in-place-six-towns-in-victoria/6835702|access-date=7 October 2015|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=8 October 2015}}{{cite news|title=Lancefield bushfire: Thunderstorms could make firefighting efforts difficult, CFA says|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-08/thunderstorms-could-make-firefighting-efforts-difficult/6839214|access-date=9 October 2015|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=9 October 2015}}{{cite journal|last1=Hillard|first1=Leith|title=Huge effort to save Lancefield homes|journal=Brigade|volume=Summer 2015|pages=4–5|url=http://asp-au.secure-zone.net/v2/index.jsp?id=666/730/8129&lng=en|access-date=27 December 2015|publisher=Country Fire Authority}}{{cite news|title=Crews battle out-of-control Vic bushfires|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/vic-bushfire-fight-enters-fourth-day/story-fni0xqi4-1227562745279?from=herald%20sun_rss|access-date=9 October 2015|agency=Australian Associated Press|work=Herald Sun|publisher=News Corp.|date=9 October 2015}} The fire had been lit a week earlier as part of a controlled burn in Cobaw State Forest overseen by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, however the authorities had lost control of the blaze in strong winds and hot conditions. An independent report into the blaze, released in November 2015, criticized the initial controlled burn as inadequately planned and inadequately staffed. The then Victorian Environment minister Lisa Neville admitted failures in the risk assessment taken prior to the approval of the controlled burn, and the following quote of hers was reported by The Age on 19 November 2015.{{cite news|author1=Marissa Calligeros|author2=Rania Spooner|author3=Rachel Wells|title=Lancefield fire burns out of control as residents demand answers|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/lancefield-fire-burns-out-of-control-as-residents-demand-answers-20151007-gk3920.html|access-date=1 May 2016|work=Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Fairfax Media|date=7 October 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Gray|first1=Darren|title=Victorian bushfires 2015: Lancefield fire report finds 'significant shortcomings' in handling of burn-offs|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/lancefield-fire-report-finds-significant-shortcomings-in-handling-of-burnoffs-20151118-gl2k8m.html|access-date=1 May 2016|work=The Age|publisher=Fairfax Media|date=19 November 2015}}
{{quote|It [the control burn] probably should not have been lit, given the broader circumstances.}}
;November
On 17 November, one "weekender" holiday house and {{convert|50|ha}} of forest were destroyed by a bushfire at Devon North in the Shire of Wellington, {{convert|6|km}} north-west of Yarram. The blaze originated from a controlled burn to reduce the fuel load on private land.{{cite news|title=Bluestone weekender home lost in bushfire caused by burn-off at Devon North|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-18/bluestone-weekender-home-lost-in-bushfire-at-devon-north/6950112|access-date=2 May 2016|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=18 November 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Hamblin|first1=Andrea|title=Victorian homes under threat from Gippsland bushfire|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/victoria-fire-alerts-live-coverage/news-story/e17a096f20ce398c25c8ddecec23bfa7|access-date=2 May 2016|work=Herald Sun|publisher=News Corp.|date=18 November 2015}}
;December
Over 19–20 December, temperatures reached up to {{convert|45|C}} across Victoria—including {{convert|41|C}} in Melbourne, Victoria—and extreme fire conditions were felt across the entirety of the state. During the following week, Victoria suffered three significant fires; {{convert|4600|ha}} of forest and farm land were burnt by the Scotsburn fire, {{convert|7000|ha}} were burnt by the Barnawartha fire, and fire started by lightning in the Otway National Park near Lorne would continue to burn past Christmas and be dubbed the "Lorne-Jamieson Track" fire.
On 19 December, 14 houses and at least 30 non-residential structures were destroyed by the Scotsburn fire, which also ravaged significant areas of rural property in the City of Ballarat and Shire of Moorabool municipalities. Suburbs and towns affected included Clarendon, Durham Lead, Elaine, Garibaldi and Scotsburn. The fire had been ignited on the same day by a landowner using a slashing machine; 500 firefighting personnel and 8 aircraft attended the fire, and it was contained by 20 December.{{cite journal|last1=Hillard|first1=Leith|title=December scorcher flares|journal=Brigade|volume=Autumn 2016|pages=10–12|url=https://asp-au.secure-zone.net/v2/index.jsp?id=666/730/8397&lng=en|access-date=27 April 2016|publisher=Country Fire Authority}}{{cite news|title=Ten homes, 23 sheds destroyed by Vic fires|url=http://www.skynews.com.au/news/top-stories/2015/12/20/hot-conditions-continue-for-vic-fires.html|access-date=20 December 2015|publisher=Sky News|date=20 December 2015}}{{cite news|author1=Liam Mannix|author2=Tammy Mills|author3=Allison Worrall|title=Victorian fires: Blazes destroy homes near Ballarat, threaten outskirts of Wodonga|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/victorian-fires-homes-lost-at-scotsburn-after-fires-tear-through-victoria-20151219-glrp0o.html|access-date=20 December 2015|newspaper=The Age|date=20 December 2015}}{{cite news|title=Victorian bushfires: Emergency warnings downgraded after 13 homes lost in weekend blazes|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-21/emergency-fire-warnings-downgraded-in-victoria/7044454|access-date=21 December 2015|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=21 December 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Ritchie|first1=Kerri|title=Scotsburn fire: The aftermath of the 'other' Victorian bushfire|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-05/other-victorian-bushfire-aftermath-of-the-scotsburn-fire/7069426|access-date=2 May 2016|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=5 January 2016}}
On 20 December, the Barnawartha fire destroyed 4 houses and several non-residential structures in the Shire of Indigo, as well as causing the deaths of 1,200 head of livestock. Near Wodonga, several dozen families were evacuated when the uncontrolled grass fire advanced rapidly on the town, however damage to the town itself was minimal. There were also fears that the fire may advance on Yackandandah, however rainfall of up to {{convert|20|mm}} on the night of 20 December slowed the spread of the fire and limited damage to Barnawartha and Indigo Valley.{{cite news|last1=Mills|first1=Tammy|title=Victorian fires: Three homes lost in Indigo Valley|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/victorian-fires-four-homes-lost-in-indigo-valley-20151221-glsgmb.html|access-date=21 December 2015|newspaper=The Age|date=21 December 2015}}{{Cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/tree-falling-on-power-line-blamed-for-starting-barnawartha-fire-20151221-glsrxf.html |title=Tree falling on power line blamed for starting Barnawartha fire |work=The Age |date=22 December 2015 |access-date=25 January 2016}}{{Cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/victorian-fires-homes-lost-at-scotsburn-after-fires-tear-through-victoria-20151219-glrp0o.html |title=Victorian fires: Blazes destroy homes near Ballarat, threaten outskirts of Wodonga |work=The Age |date=20 December 2015 |access-date=25 January 2016}}
On 25 December (Christmas Day) severe fire conditions, including a strong northerly wind, led to the Lorne-Jamieson Track fire in the Otway National Park jumping containment lines and impacting numerous communities situated along the Great Ocean Road in the Shire of Colac Otway. A total of 116 houses were destroyed—98 in Wye River and 18 in Separation Creek—on 25 December, and over {{convert|2500|ha}} of dense forest were burnt by the time the fire was contained on 21 January 2016. Although structural damage was limited to the two communities of Wye River and Separation Creek, the township of Lorne was advised by the Country Fire Authority to evacuate from mid afternoon on 25 December, the communities of Kennett River, Grey River and Wongarra were evacuated several times, and the Great Ocean Road was closed for several days after the 25 December run damaged parts of the road infrastructure.{{cite news|title=Catastrophic summer events cost insurers more than $550 million, Insurance Council of Australia says|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-25/catastrophes-summer-costs-insurance-companies-more-than-550m/7276564|access-date=28 April 2016|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=25 March 2016}}{{cite journal|last1=Hillard|first1=Leith|title=Wye River: Triumph amid devastation|journal=Brigade|volume=Autumn 2016|pages=4–6|url=https://asp-au.secure-zone.net/v2/index.jsp?id=666/730/8397&lng=en|access-date=27 April 2016|publisher=Country Fire Authority}}{{cite news|title=Great Ocean Road fire: Victoria should 'stand proud' that no lives lost at Wye River, Separation Creek|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-26/homes-lost-but-vic-communities-praised-for-bushfire-action/7054360|access-date=26 December 2015|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=26 December 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Booker|first1=Chloe|author2=Liam Mannix|author3=Benjamin Preiss|author4=Rania Spooner|author5=Anna Whitelaw|title=Victorian bushfires: Great Ocean Road towns hit by fires|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/victorian-bushfires-great-ocean-road-towns-hit-by-fires-20151225-glv2ud.html|access-date=26 December 2015|newspaper=The Age|date=26 December 2015}}{{cite news|title=Victorian bushfires: Number of homes confirmed destroyed by blaze rises to 116|url=http://www.9news.com.au/national/2015/12/25/13/27/emergency-warning-for-outer-melb-fire|access-date=26 December 2015|work=9news.com.au|agency=AAP|publisher=9News|date=26 December 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Johnson|first1=Krystal|title=Victorian residents return to see bushfire disaster zone |url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/a/30448558/victorian-residents-return-to-see-bushfire-disaster-zone/|access-date=26 December 2015|work=au.news.yahoo.com|publisher=Yahoo7|date=28 December 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Hamblin|first1=Andrea|author2=Lucie Morris-Marr|title=Great Ocean Road fires expected to rage for weeks|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/great-ocean-road-fires-expected-to-rage-for-weeks/news-story/14cbb115f11d4e28bf6b25eb31c87b3a|access-date=26 December 2015|newspaper=Herald Sun|date=26 December 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Florance|first1=Loretta|title=Wye River bushfire: Impact would have been 'far worse' without back-burning, report finds|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-23/wye-river-bushfire-impact-would-have-been-far-worse/7109478|access-date=28 April 2016|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=23 January 2016}}{{cite news|author1=Aisha Dow|author2=Richard Willingham|title=State Coroner to investigate Wye River bushfire|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/state-coroner-to-investigate-wye-river-bushfire-20160129-gmh8mj.html|access-date=2 May 2016|work=The Age|publisher=Fairfax Media|date=29 January 2016}}
Lightning ignited the Lorne-Jamieson Track fire in inaccessible country on 19 December, and during the week prior to the 25 December run the fire had burned to a distance of approximately {{convert|4|km}} north-west of Separation Creek. On the day of the run, a Keetch–Byram Drought Index of 80 was recorded at Aireys Inlet and 83 at Cape Otway; these are considered ‘serious’ with respect to fuel ignition potential. In Wye River, a north/north-westerly wind with gusts of up to {{convert|33|kph}} and humidity hit a low of 17% at 16:30 AEDT (UTC+11) were observed. At 11:30 AEDT (UTC+11) the emergency siren was sounded in Separation Creek and approximately three hours later the fire front impacted the communities.{{cite journal|author1=Raphaele Blanchi|author2=Mark Holland|author3=Justin Leonard|author4=Glenn Newnham|author5=Kimberley Opie|title=Wye River / Separation Creek; Post -bushfire building survey findings|date=April 2016|url=http://wyesepconnect.info/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Wye-River-Separation-Creek-final-V1-1.pdf|access-date=2 May 2016|publisher=CSIRO Land and Water|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507112201/http://wyesepconnect.info/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Wye-River-Separation-Creek-final-V1-1.pdf|archive-date=7 May 2016|url-status=dead}}
;January
On 18 January, one house, 6 non-residential buildings and {{convert|90|ha}} of scrub and forest were destroyed, and another house damaged, by a bushfire that burned through the Crib Point and Stony Point communities in the Shire of Mornington Peninsula. The fire moved rapidly through the scrubland around the abandoned Westernport Refinery and was battled by 27 firefighting appliances and 3 aircraft. The cause of the fire is suspected to have been arson.{{cite journal|last1=Hillard|first1=Leith|title=Crib Point's double whammy|journal=Brigade|date=Autumn 2016|pages=8–9|url=https://asp-au.secure-zone.net/v2/index.jsp?id=666/730/8397&lng=en|publisher=Country Fire Authority|access-date=2 May 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Mannix|first1=Liam|title=Victoria Bushfires: Homes burning in Crib Point, south east of Melbourne|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/victoria-bushfires-firefighters-defending-homes-in-stony-point-20160118-gm8d9t.html|access-date=18 January 2016|work=The Age|date=18 January 2016}}{{cite news|title=Houses under threat as emergency warning issued for grassfire at Crib Point, south-east of Melbourne|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-18/emergency-warning-for-bushfire-at-crib-point-south-of-melbourne/7096198|access-date=18 January 2016|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Commission|date=18 January 2016}}{{cite news|title=Crib Point bushfire being treated as suspicious, police say, as state swelters again|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-19/victorian-weather-severe-fire-conditions-mornington-peninsula/7097326?section=vic|access-date=19 January 2016|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Commission|date=19 January 2016}}{{cite news|title=Help comes after the fire|url=http://mpnews.com.au/2016/02/02/help-comes-after-the-fire/|access-date=27 April 2016|work=Western Port News|publisher=Mornington Peninsula News Group|date=2 February 2016}}{{cite news|author1=Adam Carey|author2=Beau Donelly|title=Arson suspected in Crib Point fire|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/arson-suspected-in-crib-point-fire-20160119-gm9dwl.html|access-date=2 May 2016|work=The Age|publisher=Fairfax Media|date=20 January 2016}}
On 19 January, one house and {{convert|100|ha}} of paddocks and grassland were destroyed by a bushfire that burned near Edgecombe and Kyneton in the Shire of Macedon Ranges. The fire is also suspected of having been deliberately-lit.{{cite news|title=Vic blazes deliberately lit: police|url=http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2016/01/20/vic-blazes-deliberately-lit-police|access-date=20 January 2016|work=SBS News|agency=AAP|publisher=Special Broadcasting Service|date=20 January 2016}}{{cite news|author1=Stephanie Corsetti|author2=Larissa Romensky|title=Community left anxious after suspicious Kyneton bushfire claims house|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-28/community-left-anxious-after-suspicious-bushfire-claims-house/7121978|access-date=27 April 2016|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Commission|date=28 January 2016}}
;February
On 23 February, 2 houses, up to 6 non-residential buildings and {{convert|1300|ha}} of forest and paddocks were destroyed, and one house damaged, by a fire that burned through Addington and Mount Bolton in the City of Ballarat municipality. The cause of the fire remains undetermined.{{cite news|title=Mount Bolton bushfire: Two homes destroyed, one damaged in blaze north-west of Ballarat|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-24/mount-bolton-bushfire-ballarat-victoria-three-homes-burnt/7194584|access-date=24 February 2016|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Commission|date=24 February 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Calligeros|first1=Marissa|title=Victorian bushfires: Homes, train track destroyed by blazes at Somerville, Mount Bolton|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/victorian-bushfires-homes-train-track-destroyed-by-blazes-at-somerville-mount-bolton-20160223-gn1uel.html|access-date=24 February 2016|work=The Age|date=24 February 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Calligeros|first1=Marissa|title=Home, pig and poultry gone but, somehow, 400 chicks survived Mount Bolton fire|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/home-pig-and-poultry-gone-but-somehow-400-chicks-survived-mount-bolton-fire-20160224-gn23k4.html|access-date=2 May 2016|work=The Age|publisher=Fairfax Media|date=24 February 2016}}
= Western Australia =
File:Waroona fire 2016 gnangarra 230116-121.JPG fire, January 2016]]
;October
On 1 October, a bushfire destroyed 2 sheds and {{convert|6500|ha}} of bushland in the Town of Port Hedland municipality. Residents of Bosna Estate were evacuated before at least 20 firefighting appliances helped contain the blaze. The bushfire was first reported on 29 September.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-01/bushfire-threatens-houses-in-wa-town-of-port-hedland/6820308|title=Sheds lost as bushfire threatens homes in north-west WA town of Port Hedland|author=Natalie Jones|date=1 October 2015|access-date=4 October 2015|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}
;November
{{see also|2015 Esperance bushfires}}
During November, the Shire of Esperance suffered two significant fires and a fire complex; {{convert|128000|ha}} were burnt by the Cascades fire, {{convert|18000|ha}} were burnt by the Merivale fire, and {{convert|164000|ha}} were burnt by the Cape Arid complex of fires.{{cite book|title=Major Incident Review of the Esperance District fires|date=8 March 2016|work=dfes.wa.gov.au|publisher=Department of Fire and Emergency Services|url=http://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/publications/MajorIncidentReports/DFES-MIR-Esperance-District-Fires-Final-Report-March-2016.pdf|author=Nous Group|access-date=26 April 2016|location=Perth, Western Australia}} On 17 November, during the major run of the Cascades fire, four civilian fatalities occurred in vehicles traveling on Griggs Road in Scaddan. The Cascades fire destroyed one house, 16 non-residential structures and dozens of vehicles. There was also significant damage to rural produce; approximately 4,500 head of livestock perished and {{convert|30000|ha}} of crop—constituting about 500,000 tonnes of grain—were burnt. In addition, the Merivale fire destroyed two houses in the Stockyard Creek area, and the Cape Arid complex destroyed large areas of Western Ground Parrot habitat.{{cite news|title=Esperance bushfire damage toll rising|url=http://www.9news.com.au/national/2015/11/20/11/45/esperance-bushfire-damage-toll-rising|access-date=26 November 2015|agency=AAP|publisher=9news.com.au|date=20 November 2015}}{{cite news|last1=Tomlin|first1=Sam|title=Esperance bushfire investigation finds region poorly resourced against 'unstoppable' fires|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-29/investigation-into-esperance-bushfires-finds-fires-unstoppable/7274114|access-date=27 April 2016|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=29 March 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Corridon|first1=Sarah|title=Two men and two women among fire victims, two more feared dead in Esperance bushfires|url=http://www.esperanceexpress.com.au/story/3496128/two-men-and-two-women-among-fire-victims-two-more-feared-dead/|access-date=2 May 2016|work=Esperance Express|publisher=Fairfax Media|date=17 November 2015}}{{cite news|author1=Bruce Butler|author2=Danielle le Messurier|title=Esperance bushfire: Four dead in raging inferno|url=http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/esperance-bushfire-four-dead-in-raging-inferno/news-story/00b758a5ee2b8c05c1d546bbbd09ca38|access-date=2 May 2016|work=Perth Now|publisher=The Sunday Times|date=18 November 2015}}{{cite news|author1=Mark Bennett|author2=Graeme Powell|title=WA bushfires: Foreign workers die trying to flee farm, save horse in Esperance bushfires|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-19/europeans-died-trying-to-rescue-horse-from-esperance-bushfire/6954094|access-date=2 May 2016|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=20 November 2015}}{{cite news|title=Esperance bushfires: European workers killed trying to flee blaze named by police|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-20/three-european-workers-killed-in-esperance-bushfires-named/6958904|access-date=2 May 2016|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=20 November 2015}}
;January
{{see also|2016 Waroona bushfire}}
File:Australia vir 2016007 lrg.jpg (VIIRS) on the Suomi NPP satellite acquired this image of the Waroona fire - 7 January]]
During January, the shires of Harvey & Waroona suffered a number of significant fires; {{convert|70000|ha}} of forest and farmland were burnt by the largest of these fires, which ignited on the night of the 6 January and was dubbed the "Waroona" fire.
On 7 January, two civilians perished when the fire-front of the Waroona fire burned into the center of the Yarloop townsite; Malcolm Taylor, 73, and Les Taylor, 77, both died within their own houses. During the time that the fire-front passed through Yarloop, it destroyed 121 houses, 18 buildings of commercial or community significance—including a fire station, a hospital, a hotel and a hall—and the historic Yarloop Workshops. In the 17 days between ignition and being extinguished, the Waroona fire destroyed at least 162 houses and a significant amount of other property in the communities of Cookernup, Hamel, Harvey, Lake Clifton, Preston Beach, Waroona, Wagerup and Yarloop.{{cite news |title=WA fires: historic Yarloop timber workshops destroyed by Waroona blaze |url=http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/wa-fires-historic-yarloop-timber-workshops-destroyed-by-waroona-blaze-20160108-gm1txv.html |access-date=8 January 2016 |work=WA Today |publisher=Fairfax Media |date=8 January 2016}}{{cite news|title=WA fire: Bushfire emergency remains in place for South West towns, four people unaccounted for|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-09/wa-fire-weather-conditions-slow-bushfire-threatening-harvey/7077874|access-date=9 January 2016|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Commission|date=9 January 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Clarke|first1=Tim|author2=Daniel Emerson|author3=Gabrielle Knowles|author4=Daniel Mercer|title=Inferno all but wipes Yarloop from map|url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/30523454/inferno-all-but-wipes-inferno-all-but-wipes-yarloop-from-map/#pause|access-date=9 January 2016|work=The West Australian|publisher=Yahoo7|date=9 January 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Hiatt|first1=Bethany|title=History wiped in the furious onslaught|url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/30521770/history-wiped-in-the-furious-onslaught/|access-date=9 January 2016|work=The West Australian|publisher=Yahoo7|date=9 January 2016}}{{cite news|agency=AAP|title=Two bodies found in Yarloop ruins|url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/30523925/wa-fire-continues-to-rage/#pause|access-date=9 January 2016|work=The West Australian|publisher=Yahoo7|date=9 January 2016}}{{cite news|title=WA fires: Two bodies found in burnt-out Yarloop homes thought to be those of missing elderly men|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-09/two-believed-dead-in-yarloop-fires-wa-after-human-remains-found/7078878|access-date=9 January 2016|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Commission|date=9 January 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Campbell|first1=Kate|author2=Danielle Le Messurier|author3=Trevor Paddenburg|title=WA bushfires: Two perish in Yarloop as residents flee from Harvey|url=http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/wa-bushfires-family-fear-the-worst-for-malcolm-talyor-missing-after-yarloop-fire/news-story/75e1f0bc1d1631ef164c950afc8aabfc|access-date=10 January 2016|work=Perth Now|publisher=The Sunday Times|date=10 January 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Powell|first1=Graeme|title=WA fire: Firefighters confident a deadly bushfire south of Perth has been contained|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-14/wa-town-of-cookernup-saved-due-to-wind-change/7087938|access-date=19 January 2016|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Commission|date=14 January 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Medlen|first1=Pamela|title=WA fire: Western Power embarks on $26m overhaul of ruined network|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-19/waroona-yarloop-wa-fire-forces-western-power-network-rebuild/7098688|access-date=19 January 2016|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Commission|date=19 January 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Hondros|first1=Nathan|title=Bushfire inquiry calls rejected by Francis|url=http://www.mandurahmail.com.au/story/3674053/bushfire-inquiry-calls-rejected-by-francis/?cs=289|access-date=19 January 2016|work=Mandurah Mail|publisher=Fairfax Media|date=19 January 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Campbell|first1=Kate|title=WA bushfires: NASA releases image of Yarloop's burn scar in wake of blaze|url=http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/wa-bushfires-nasa-releases-image-of-yarloops-burn-scar-in-wake-of-devastating-blaze/news-story/a945bd600023fe735e5630f98a7fb043|access-date=20 January 2016|work=Perth Now|publisher=The Sunday Times|date=20 January 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=Roxanne|title=Yarloop demolition work begins on bushfire-ravaged buildings|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-30/demolition-of-yarloop-buildings-commences/7285680|access-date=27 April 2016|work=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=30 March 2016}} Public road access to Yarloop was not restored until seven months after the fire when roadblocks were finally removed 11 August 2016.{{cite news |last1=Stewart|first1=Anthony |title=Roads into Yarloop reopen seven months after historic settlement destroyed by bushfire |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-12/roads-into-yarloop-reopen/7730934 |access-date=12 August 2016 |work=ABC News |date=12 August 2016 |language=en-AU}}
Effects of the Waroona fire were widespread in southern Western Australia; falling ash in the Eaton, Australind and outer Bunbury areas caused service stations to stop pumping fuel, and the closure of both the Forrest Highway and South West Highway prompted the cancellation of the 2016 Southbound music festival when it cut off access to Busselton. However, the event was partly revived as a benefit concert to raise funds for fire victims.{{cite news|last1=Foster|first1=Brendan|title=WA fires: Forrest Highway closed by South West fires has reopened|url=http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/wa-fires-forrest-highway-closed-by-south-west-fires-could-be-open-by-tuesday-20160111-gm3c7y.html|access-date=2 May 2016|work=WA Today|publisher=Fairfax Media|date=12 January 2016}}{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-35259600 |title=Australia Waroona fire: Inferno was just metres from us |work=BBC News |date=8 January 2016 |access-date=9 January 2016}}{{cite news |title=Southbound music festival cancelled over bushfires |url=http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/waroona-bushfire-delays-for-drivers-headed-to-southbound-music-festival/news-story/bbb736c98c05857d3a634bbb77af4700 |access-date=8 January 2016 |newspaper=Perth Now |date=8 January 2016}}{{cite news |last1=Staff writers|title=WA bushfires: Southbound to play benefit concert to raise funds for fire victims |url=http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/wa-bushfires-southbound-to-play-benefit-concert-to-raise-funds-for-fire-victims/news-story/04b74c400f7464afbaa6ad049c748278 |access-date=9 January 2016 |work=Perth Now |date=9 January 2016}}
The size of the fire allowed the creation of its own weather pattern with rising heat and particulate matter facilitating the development of both pyrocumulus and pyrocumulonimbus clouds. The rare weather event created unpredictable winds with sudden gusts and changes in directions making it even more difficult for firefighters to control the blaze.{{cite web|title=Bushfire Devastates Australian Town|url=http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=87302|website=Earth Observatory| date=12 January 2016 |publisher=National Aeronautics and Space Administration|access-date=25 January 2016}}{{cite news|title=WA fire: Yarloop blaze creates own weather system, causing further grief for WA firefighters|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-08/perth-fire-creates-own-weather-system/7076884|access-date=8 January 2016|agency=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=8 January 2016}}
A 'Special Inquiry Into the January 2016 Waroona Fire' was held by the Western Australian Government, headed by Euan Ferguson. Its 264-page report was released on 29 April 2016.{{cite web |last1=Ferguson|first1=Euan (Special Commissioner) |title=Report of the Special Inquiry Into the January 2016 Waroona Fire |url=http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2894047-Report-of-the-Special-Inquiry-Into-the-January.html#document/p1 |publisher=Waroona Fire Special Enquiry |access-date=12 August 2016|date=29 April 2016 |via=www.documentcloud.org}} ([https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/2894047/Report-of-the-Special-Inquiry-Into-the-January.pdf PDF version])
;March
On 14 March, one townhouse and {{convert|12|ha}} of parkland were destroyed by a fire that prompted evacuations at Edith Cowan University and damaged facilities at university situated in the City of Joondalup. A camper who had been lodging near Grassbird Avenue in Lake Joondalup Nature Reserve was charged for lighting the fire, allegedly to clear scrub near his camp site.{{cite news|last1=Farcic|first1=Elle|title=Man in court over Edith Cowan University bushfire|url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/31281743/man-in-court-over-edith-cowan-university-bushfire/|access-date=26 April 2016|work=West Australian|publisher=Yahoo7|date=6 April 2016}}{{cite news|title=Man charged after bushfire tears through home and student accommodation in Joondalup in Perth's north|url=http://www.9news.com.au/national/2016/03/15/10/56/perth-bushfire-destroys-home-damages-uni|access-date=26 April 2016|agency=AAP|work=ninemsn.com.au|publisher=9News|date=15 March 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Young|first1=Emma|title=Man charged over Joondalup ECU bushfire was trying to 'clear' a patch for tent|url=http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/man-charged-over-joondalup-ecu-bushfire-was-trying-to-clear-a-patch-for-tent-20160315-gnj3sr.html|access-date=2 May 2016|work=WA Today|publisher=Fairfax Media|date=15 March 2016}}
Notes
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References
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{{Bushfires in Australia}}
{{2016 wildfires}}
{{2015 wildfires}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Australian Bushfire Season}}