Introduction

Australia has always experienced bushfires. But the data shows something is changing — fire seasons are getting longer, hotter, and more destructive.

Chart 1: Annual Temperature Anomaly in Australia

Chart 2: How Hot Years Drive Fire Risk

Chart 3: Projected Future Fire Risk by State

Chart 4: Bushfire Seasons Are Getting Longer

Chart 5: Black Summer in Context — Worst Fire Years

Conclusion

The data tells a clear story: Australia’s fire risk is being reshaped by rising temperatures. The Black Summer of 2019-20 was not an anomaly — it was a preview. Planning for bushfire can no longer rely on the assumption that the past defines the future.

References

Bureau of Meteorology. (n.d.). Australian climate change monitoring. http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/change/

CSIRO & Bureau of Meteorology. (2015). Climate change in Australia. https://www.climatechangeinaustralia.gov.au

Acknowledgements

GenAI tools (Claude) were used for coding assistance and guidance during this assignment.