Australia’s bushfire season has started with a bang, with fire crews battling more than 50 fires over the weekend. Among the most serious incidents was a major grass fire near Bulahdelah — 90 km north‑east of Newcastle and 235 km north of Sydney — where flames came within 80 metres of the Bluebat timber mill and forced closures along the Pacific Highway.
The mill, which supplies feedstock for dry mills at Kempsey – one of two mills visited by Premier Chris Minns and Penny Sharpe before making their ‘captain’s call’ on the Great Koala Park, Tuncester and Stapleton, and also produces specialty hardwood timbers, narrowly avoided severe damage thanks to the combined efforts of waterbombing aircraft and the Rural Fire Service tankers.
Speaking exclusively to Wood Central, owner Andrew Hurford described the close shave. “A grass fire turned into a bushfire late last week,” he said. “Things improved in the late afternoon — it looked like things were behind us. But the fire returned with a vengeance over the weekend, with 42‑degree days and winds causing the fire to press the border of our mill.”
“We were saved by the fire bombing and the RFS tankers on site. They saved the mill from being further impacted. Only minor damage to some logs. It’s all put out, and business is resuming as normal.”
Andrew Hurford – who thanked the NSW Rural Fire Service for saving the mill over the weekend.
The close call comes after the latest Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for summer 2025–26 warns of heightened risk of fire across large parts of the country. Wood Central understands that large parts of western and southern Western Australia, central northern New South Wales, and widespread parts of Victoria — including the south‑west, western, central and north‑central districts and south‑west Gippsland — are all forecast to face increased fire danger.
The elevated risk is being driven by severe rainfall deficits across Victoria, high fuel loads in central northern NSW and the Geraldton Sandplains of WA, and persistent soil moisture shortages in regions including the Swan Coastal Plain, Jarrah Forest, Esperance Plains and Mallee. Long‑term rainfall deficiencies also persist in southern South Australia, Tasmania and western WA.
Rob Webb, CEO of the Australian and New Zealand Council for Fire and Emergency Services (AFAC), said the outlook reflected the combined expertise of fire agencies and climate scientists. “Australia’s climate and vegetation vary greatly, and it’s vital to have experts from our fire services working hand in hand with climate experts from the Bureau. They leave no stone unturned to provide the best possible information,” Webb said.
“Australia is a great place to be in summer, but no matter where you live or travel this season, everyone can play an important role in bushfire safety by being prepared and staying alert to warnings and advice. Your local fire agency is the perfect place to find out exactly how to stay safe this summer.”
The Bureau of Meteorology reports that rainfall forecasts for December to February are weak, with below‑average rainfall likely for northern WA and inland parts of the east. Above‑average sea surface temperatures around much of the coastline are expected to fuel storms and severe weather systems, while daytime and overnight temperatures are forecast to be warmer than average across most of the country.
La Niña remains active but is expected to be short‑lived, while the Indian Ocean Dipole is negative but forecast to return to neutral in December. Fire services will continue to monitor conditions throughout the summer, warning that vegetation can dry rapidly under the wrong conditions.
The Seasonal Bushfire Outlook was developed by AFAC in collaboration with the Bureau of Meteorology and state and territory fire agencies, including the NSW Rural Fire Service, Country Fire Authority in Victoria, Tasmania Fire Service, SA Country Fire Service, and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services in WA.
