2013–14 Australian bushfire season

The summer of 2013–14 was at the time, the most destructive bushfire season in terms of property loss since the 2008–09 Australian bushfire season, with the loss of 371 houses and several hundred non-residential buildings as a result of wild fires between 1 June 2015 and 31 May 2016. The season also suffered 4 fatalities; 2 died in New South Wales, 1 in Western Australia and 1 in Victoria. One death was as a direct result of fire, 2 died due to unrelated health complications while fighting fires on their property, and a pilot contracted by the NSW Rural Fire Service died during an accident.

Climate summary and predictions

The season was predicted to have above average fire potential for most states including portions of the north west of Western Australia, the north west of the Northern Territory and large areas of central Queensland following below average rainfall and above average temperatures in these areas in the months leading up to the fire season. The year 2013 was the hottest on record in Australia, with the average temperature from September 2012 to August 2013 being calculated to be which is 1.1 °C (1.6 °F) higher than the 1961 to 1990 average.

Fires of note

*† – A series of separate fires in close proximity.

Fires by state or territory

New South Wales

;September

During August and September a total 2,322 active fires were recorded across the state.

On 9–10 September, 59 fires ignited around the western suburbs of Sydney during one of the earliest starts to a fire season in several years. A fire in Marsden Park destroyed one house and several sheds. Three houses were damaged and a Western Sydney University campus was evacuated as a result of other fires burning near Castlereagh, Londonderry and Windsor Downs. Approximately 800 firefighters and 200 appliances attended the blazes; two firefighters were injured while combating the Marsden Park blaze and another five were treated for smoke inhalation.

On 28 September, a fire ignited on Barrenjoey headland, destroying 60 percent of the scrub and forest on the headland and damaging the roof of the cottage attached to historic Barrenjoey Head Lighthouse and a second building in the lighthouse complex. Approximately 80 firefighters and three aircraft were required to bring the blaze under control by the following day. Communities around Taree were also threatened by fire on 28 September; several sheds and outbuildings were destroyed by a blaze that burned .

Another fire ignited in coal tailings from local mining operations near ''Ruttleys Rd.'', Doyalson, during September; the hot-spots were observed by the RFS several weeks before, but could not be extinguished before hot conditions on 17 October. The fire would eventually burn over and impact property in Cams Wharf, Catherine Hill Bay, Lake Munmorah and Nords Wharf, destroying 4 houses and damaging a further 7. 63-year-old retiree Walter Linder died of a suspected heart-attack while defending his home during the fire.

;October

During October 2013, 1,162 fires were recorded in New South Wales, 19 of these being declared major incidents.

On 13 October, a small grass fire burned through the car park of the Aquatic Centre at Sydney Olympic Park, near the Rural Fire Service Headquarters, destroying 47 cars and a motorbike and damaging a further 33. The evacuation plan of the Aquatic Centre
was employed and 500 to 1,500 people were safely moved away from danger by staff of the complex where the ''2013 Buffalo Sports NSW All Schools Championships'' were taking place. On the same day, two houses were destroyed and another damaged by a fire that ignited in the Webbs Creek area, west of Gosford.

Three fires ignited around the Port Stephens area on 13 October, destroying a total of 4 houses, 9 industrial/commercial/primary production buildings, 24 outbuildings and eight vehicles over a 10-day period; a further 9 houses and 10 industrial/commercial/primary production buildings were significantly damaged, also. The first fire, near Fingal Bay, burned . The second fire, ignited by powerlines arcing in high winds near ''Brownes Rd.'' and ''Lemon Tree Passage Rd.'' in Salt Ash, burned and destroyed four houses, a number of sheds, outbuildings, vehicles and boats. The third fire, which ignited near ''Hank St.'' in Heatherbrae, burned and impacted on property in Raymond Terrace, Tomago and Williamtown on 17 October when driven by winds of , gusting up to . More than 500 residents registered for assistance at the King Park, Raymond Terrace bushfire evacuation centre during the ''Hank St.'' fire.

On 16 October, a fire—later referred to as the ''State Mine'' fire—ignited on the grounds of the Marangaroo Army base during an explosives exercise. Firefighters were unable to combat the fire due to the danger of unexploded ordnance in the area and the presence of a no fly zone above the base. The blaze rapidly spread into rugged, largely inaccessible, country containing heavy fuel loads. Over a period of four weeks, the fire burned through of scrub and forest, the majority in Wollemi and Blue Mountains National Parks. Significant damage was caused to the infrastructure of the historic Zig Zag Railway, estimated to have cost A$3–4 million; eleven engines and carriages and numerous structures for accommodation and administration were destroyed. A total of 5 houses were destroyed and one damaged across the fire ground—including 2 destroyed in Mount Wilson, some from the point of ignition—7 businesses and numerous sheds and vehicles were also destroyed in Bell, Clarence, Lithgow, Mount Irvine and other communities affected by the fires.

The most destructive single bushfire in terms of property loss in the history of New South Wales ignited in the vicinity of ''Linksview Rd.'', Springwood, at about midday on 17 October. A total of of forest and private property was burned during the 27-day duration of the fire, which destroyed 195 houses and damaged a further 146 buildings in the communities of Faulconbridge, Mount Riverview, Springwood, Winmalee and Yellow Rock. A significant amount of destruction occurred in the initial hours of the fire around ''Buena Vista Rd., Emma Pde., Heather Glen Rd., Moray St.'' and ''Purvines Rd.'' A number of houses were also destroyed in ''Paulwood Ave.'', close to St. Thomas Aquinas Primary School, which was evacuated to Winmalee Shopping Centre and destruction also occurred on ''Singles Ridge Rd.'', where the children of Rainbow Pre-School were evacuated and the playground was destroyed.

Also on 17 October, two other significant fires ignited; one near ''Mt. York Rd.'' in Mount Victoria and another near ''Hall Rd.'' in Balmoral.

Over 22-day period the 'Mt. York Rd.' fire burned of scrub and forest, the majority within the boundaries of the Blue Mountains National Park. All property losses occurred on the first afternoon of the blaze; 10 houses were destroyed and a further 3 were damaged in ''St. George's Parade'', Mount Victoria, and a number of smaller structures and vehicles were destroyed in other streets around the town. From 18 to 24 October, there was concern that the fire could enter the Grose Valley and impact on Katoomba and the lower Blue Mountains, however a containment line, constructed by specialized and experienced RFS Remote Areas Firefighting Teams in a narrow ravine

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