27 November 2025
The Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC) has today released its seasonal bushfire outlook for Summer 2025-26.
In the Northern Territory, Central Australia continues to face elevated fire danger, due to hot and dry conditions and substantial fuel loads. Repeated rainfall in the region over the last four years has stimulated regrowth of drought-tolerant perennial grass such as buffel, which responds well to limited rainfall.
Areas with substantial fuel loads in Central Australia include regions west of Alice Springs, north and south of Kintore Road, Tanami Road and the Plenty Highway, and south of the Barkly Highway near the Queensland border. Fire risk is also heightened around major and remote towns, including Alice Springs and Tennant Creek.
Between December and January, the Fire Danger Period remains in effect across the Barkly region and parts of the Alice Springs Fire Management Zone, including the Alice Springs Fire Protection Zone, Simpson East and West and Tanami North and South.
Central Australian residents should remain proactive by managing firebreaks, clearing around their properties and going through their bushfire survival plans with their households to ensure everyone knows what to do in an emergency.
In the Top End, bushfire risk is expected to continue to decrease with the onset of the wet season, presenting an opportunity for fire mitigation activities from crews and volunteers.
To read the seasonal outlook visit: here.
For fire ban information, bushfire warnings, and advice, visit Secure NT here.
Quotes from Bushfires NT Chief Fire Control Officer Brendon Magnoli:
"We're encouraging Central Australian residents to take proactive steps to prepare their properties as we head into summer - and this means managing firebreaks, updating bushfire survival plans, and clearing around homes."
"Repeated rainfall over the last four years has created challenging conditions for firefighters with the same areas burning more than once, so we want to ensure the community is prepared."
Quotes attributed to NT Fire and Rescue Service Deputy Chief Officer for Territory Operations Wayne Green:
"We're gearing up for a busy bushfire season in Central Australia, our focus is on ensuring operational readiness and fostering strong engagement with key stakeholders to coordinate efforts, share critical information and enhance community resilience."
"In support of this, we're also calling on landholders to prepare their properties by installing and maintaining firebreaks, which allow us to access properties when they're under threat from a fire."
