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. region of New South Wales, 19 October 2013 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 . 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 , near
Port Stephens, following the
Hank St. bushfire 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. 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 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.
Aqua Satellite on 17 October 2013 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. 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. 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. 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. On 24 October, a pilot contracted by the
RFS died in a
fixed-wing aircraft accident while fighting a fire in rugged terrain near Wirritin, approximately west of
Ulladulla. ;January On 17 January, at least 50 fires were ignited in New South Wales by lightning strikes. The most destructive of these blazes burned in and around
Murraguldrie State Forest and impacted upon the communities of
Carabost,
Humula,
Kyeamba and
Little Billabong over a period of days; 5 houses and a number of non-residential structures were destroyed. Significant damage was also caused to local forestry, costing about
A$3 million to replace.
Queensland on 3 January ;December & January On 29 December, lightning ignited a fire on
Stradbroke Island that consumed over of bushland during a 17-day period. At least 850 campers were evacuated from Main Beach on 1 January and residents between
Gatumba St. and
Beehive Rd. were evacuated on 4 January after a fire near Myora broke containment lines. Significant damage was caused to power infrastructure and the majority of settlements on the island lost power, however no houses were destroyed in the blaze.
South Australia ;December On 21 December, temperatures of up to and strong winds caused a bushfire between
Culburra and
Tintinara to burn out of control. Over of grassland was burned and a hay shed was destroyed. ;January On 14 January, lightning ignited a number of serious fires across the state. The most destructive fire in terms of property loss ignited in inaccessible and difficult terrain north-east of
Port Pirie. During a 31-day period, the fire burned of scrub, forest and pasture and impacted the communities of Bangor,
Laura, Stone Hut and
Wirrabara; 5 houses, a timber mill, a number of sheds and 75% of the
pine plantation in Wirrabara Forest were destroyed and at least 700 head of livestock died. During a 16-day period, the fire burned of scrub, forest and pasture and impacted the communities of
Angaston,
Cambrai,
Keyneton,
Sedan,
Springton and
Truro; 4 houses and significant quantities of feed, water and fencing were destroyed. ;January The most destructive fire in terms of property loss during the Victorian season ignited on 14 January near
Pohlners Rd., Wartook, and burned into the
Grampians National Park. Over an 81-day period, the fire burned of scrub, forest and pasture and impacted the communities of
Brimpaen,
Halls Gap, Heatherlie, Heathvale, Laharum, Ledcourt,
Pomonal, Roses Gap & Wartook; 32 houses, 90 sheds, of fencing and of plantations were destroyed by the fire and at least 4,000 head of livestock died during the blaze and after. The largest fire during the Victorian season ignited on 16 January as a number of separate fires—the 'Goongerah complex' and 'Club Terrace' fires being the most serious—in mountainous terrain of the
Snowy River and
Errinundra National Parks in the
East Gippsland region. During a 70-day period, the smaller fires merged and burned of scrub, forest and pasture and impacted the communities of Bonang,
Goongerah and Tubbut; 9 houses, a number of sheds and of crops and pasture were destroyed, and 100 head of livestock died. The fire spread rapidly north and threatened 1,240 houses and 13,000 residents within the eventual footprint of the fire. At least 810 firefighters, supported by 15 aircraft, battled to contain the fire as it crossed the boundaries of 3 local government areas, and on 14 February the fire was declared under control. The coal
dredgers and
conveyor belts feeding the coal-fired generators were damaged by fire and were briefly shut down, and the fire also had a significant impact to the health of residents and firefighting personnel during its 45-day duration. Of the 28 firefighting personnel who required medical assistance, 26 were treated for
exposure to carbon monoxide; 14 from the
CFA and 12 from
GDF Suez. General practitioner practices in
Churchill,
Moe,
Morwell and
Traralgon reported an increase in consultations related to
respiratory conditions, including
breathing difficulties,
asthma,
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation, coughing or throat irritations. Between 9 February and 10 March, 46 calls related to respiratory problems were taken within Morwell and Traralgon by the Nurse-On-Call service; approximately 30 more than on the same period in years prior. Other destructive fires that ignited across the state on 9 February included; • A fire that ignited along
Dalrymple Rd.,
Gisborne South, and burned of scrub, forest and private property, impacting the communities of
Gisborne,
Gisborne South,
Riddells Creek and
Sunbury. 140 properties were damaged and 5 houses, 47 non-residential buildings, of fencing and of pasture and horticulture were destroyed. The fire was believed to have been deliberately lit. • A
suspicious fire that ignited at a number of separate ignition points along
Kaarima Rd. and the
Goulburn Valley Hwy.,
Wunghnu, and burned of scrub, forest and private property, impacting the communities of Bunbartha,
Numurkah and
Wunghnu. Between 250 and 300 properties were damaged and 3 houses, several non-residential buildings, of fencing and of pasture and horticulture were destroyed. • A fire that ignited in
Warrandyte and burned of scrub and private property, impacting houses along
Amersham Dr. and
Glamis St. within the suburb. Although small, the fire destroyed 3 houses and damaged a number of others. • A fire that ignited north-west of the intersection of ''Egan's Rd.
and Yarram-Morwell Rd.'', between
Jack River and Madalya, and burned of scrub, forest and private property, impacting the communities of
Jack River, Madalya and Staceys Bridge. At least 25 properties were damaged and 2 houses, several non-residential buildings, of fencing and of pasture and plantation were destroyed. • A fire that ignited along
Dunolly Rd., Emu, and burned of scrub and private property, impacting properties in the area and destroying a house and a shed. in the
Mundaring municipality of the
Perth Hills, completely destroying 57 houses and numerous non-residential buildings. A further six houses were damaged in the suburbs of
Mount Helena,
Stoneville and
Parkerville. ==Notes==