South Australia’s bushfire season will likely be extended to late autumn as drought conditions fail to loosen their grip on the state.
Fire danger season dates were due to start ending from March 31, but the Country Fire Service (CFS) has advised updated dates will be released in the coming weeks.
CFS acting director for community risk and resilience Phil McDonough said the lack of rain was largely to blame for any extensions.
January rainfall across most of South Australia was in the lowest 10 per cent on record after a year of record-dry conditions across many regions.
SA has had a difficult bushfire season with significant damage from the Mount Remarkable National Park. (Supplied: Rachel Frick)
“It means that the fuels on the ground through the landscape of South Australia are potentially going to remain dry for a longer period than it normally would,” Mr McDonough said.
“In previous years we’ve seen some rainfall events in late December into January, even as late as February. We haven’t seen that this season.”
Waiting for rain
The high fire danger conditions will be sticking around until the state receives regular rainfall which is not forecast to arrive for months.
Of particular concern to the CFS are the Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula, the mid north, Mount Lofty Ranges, and lower south-east regions.
“The predictions from the BOM were showing rainfall deficiencies in the lower south-east have been one of the most prominent across the state,” Mr McDonough said.
“While some parts of the state will get their average rainfall or more, the southern parts — which are the most populated areas of the state — will not see that until late autumn.”
SA’s Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for Autumn 2025, with increased risk areas shown in red. (Supplied: National Council for Fire and Emergency Services)
While not completely unprecedented it is the first time in a number of years an extension has needed to be considered.
“Discussions are taking place over the next few weeks so that we can actually get ahead of what we’re going to be doing,” Mr McDonough said.
Bushfires always a concern for farmers
For those living on the land, an extended fire season will potentially mean more work and more worry.
But not everyone believes an extension is needed.
Cummins farmer Mark Modra said potential fuel loads in his region did not seem particularly high.
“I’m not sure it’s really necessary because, okay, it is dry, but we’ve got a lot less biomass out there to burn,” Mr Modra said.
Mark Modra says fuel levels in his region of the Eyre Peninsula do not seem unusually high. (ABC Eyre Peninsula: Brooke Neindorf)
“As time goes on that stubble or biomass decreases and the sugars get washed out … so it’s not as flammable now as it was a couple months ago.
“I think we are being a bit pre-emptive in regards to extending the season.”
South-east potato farmer Terry Buckley said he and his staff had been busy over the summer routinely preparing the farm for any high fire danger days.
“I’ve been very, very concerned about it,”
he said.
“There is always more to do on a farm than you can get done, and it becomes very important on those hot days.”
Farmers have a long memory, and Mr Buckley believes his district’s good luck will run out eventually.
“I was here when Ash Wednesday occurred in 1983 and I was thinking that sort of event would happen every 15 to 20 years,” he said.
“Surprisingly we have been able to get through 40 years without too much trouble.
“It just seems like the longer you leave it the more likely it is to happen.
“We just hope, that’s all we can do.”
Further information on restrictions and the most up to date season dates can be found on the CFS website.
