2021–22 Australian bushfire season

The 2021–22 Australian bushfire season was the season of summer bushfires in Australia. The outlook for the season was below average in parts of Eastern Australia thanks to a La Niña, with elevated fire danger in Western Australia. Higher than normal winter rainfall has resulted in above average to average stream flows and soil moisture levels through much of eastern Australia. The outlook to the end of spring was also for above average falls over much of the country apart for Western Australia. The Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and southern New South Wales are expected to have a below normal fire potential as a result of vegetation still recovering from the 2020–21 Australian bushfire season. Areas of south eastern Queensland, northern New South Wales and northern Western Australia expect an above normal fire potential caused by crop and grass growth in these areas.

Western Australia
On 26 November, a large bushfire in Broome caused an emergency warning to be issued throughout the day.

On 8 December, a bushfire near Margaret River threatened homes over a large area through Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. WA premier Mark McGowan urged people to leave the area as soon as possible due to high fuel loads and dangerous conditions. The fire burned through more than 3200 ha by the following day. A second fire had also started further south near Yallingup damaging one house and threatening properties near Caves Road. The fires burned out an area close to 8000 ha of bushland and has resulted in the closure of many tourist sites along Caves Road.

On 26 December, over 250 fire fighters were battling a large bushfire near Wooroloo that was burning through some 155 ha of regional parkland and farmland in the first two hours and was threatening Karakamia, the Australian Wildlife Conservancy’s first sanctuary. One house and several sheds were lost and the fire was thought to have been deliberately lit by an arsonist. Another fire was burning in the south west to the north east of Maragret River in the Treeton and Osmington areas which burned out 100 ha.

On 6 January, a fire burned through 4 ha of bushland on Mount Clarence less than 1 km from the central business district of Albany. The fire threatened homes but was extinguished the same day.

A fire started burning on 11 January around Eagle Bay and Dunsborough with over 220 ha of bushland consumed in the blaze. Over 150 fire-fighters were needed to combat the blaze which left Eagle Bay and Bunker Bay isolated with plans to evacuate holiday makers.

Families were evacuated from their house when a bushfire started on 4 February near the south coast town of Denmark, Western Australia in the area of Shadforth and William Bay National Park. Over 2500 ha was burned out by the following day with 150 fire fighters and 16 aircraft combatting the fire. By 6 February, four homes were lost to the blaze with another being damaged, the fire had burned through 4700 ha Another fire in Bridgetown also claimed a house in Hester on 6 February. Another fire started burning near Bruce Rock in catastrophic conditions. By 7 February the fire reached a length of approximately 35 km.

Residents in Corrigin, Kulin and Kondinin were sheltered at home or evacuated when a bushfire moved through the area on 6 February burning 40000 ha of bush needing over 70 fires to try to contain it. Several sheds were lost to the blaze.

Victoria
On 1 January, a blaze started in the Melbourne suburb of Maribyrnong. Another fire that started in South Australia on New Years Eve crossed into Victoria on New Years day burning out forest and farmland. Areas around Poolaijelo, to the south-west of Edenhope had fire burning out of control causing the loss of thousands of sheep. Over 7000 ha of land was burned out.

South Australia
On 19 January, a blaze started in the state's south east near Lucindale. The fire burnt out of control in a pine plantation. One firefighter Senior Firefighter Louise Hincks was killed and another firefighter was seriously injured after a tree fell on them. On February 8 Senior Firefighter Louise Hincks was farewelled by more than 600 family, friends and emergency services colleagues, including many in uniform, attended her funeral at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre where her husband, parents, brothers, daughters and colleagues paid tribute