The summer of 2013–14 was at the time, the most destructive bushfire season in terms of property loss since the 2008–09 Australian bushfire season, with the loss of 371 houses and several hundred non-residential buildings as a result of wild fires between 1 June 2015 and 31 May 2016. The season also suffered four fatalities; two died in New South Wales, one in Western Australia and one in Victoria. One death was as a direct result of fire, two died due to unrelated health complications while fighting fires on their property, and a pilot contracted by the New South Wales Rural Fire Service died during an accident.

Climate summary and predictions

The season was predicted to have above average fire potential for most states including portions of the north west of Western Australia, the north west of the Northern Territory and large areas of central Queensland following below average rainfall and above average temperatures in these areas in the months leading up to the fire season. The year 2013 was the hottest on record in Australia, with the average temperature from September 2012 to August 2013 being calculated to be which is 1.1 °C (1.6 °F) higher than the 1961 to 1990 average.

Fires of note State Start date Deaths Injuries Res. houses lost Other structures lost Area (ha) Local govt. Impacted communities Duration Ref. NSW 10 September 2013 7+ 1 several 150 BlacktownMarsden Park NSW 28 September 2013 1 4 15 2,600 Central CoastCams Wharf, Catherine Hill Bay, Lake Munmorah & Nords Wharf 23 days Significant fire-weather/destruction on 17 October 2013. NSW 13 October 2013 2 several 180 HawkesburyWebbs Creek NSW 13 October 2013 4 33 6,600† Port StephensHeatherbrae, Raymond Terrace, Salt Ash, Tomago & Williamtown 10 days NSW 16 October 2013 5 several 55,000 Blue MountainsBell, Clarence, Lithgow, Mount Irvine & Mount Wilson 28 days NSW 17 October 2013 2 195 numerous 3,600 Blue MountainsFaulconbridge, Springwood, Winmalee & Yellow Rock 27 days NSW 17 October 2013 1 10 several 9,400 Blue MountainsMount Victoria 22 days NSW 17 October 2013 2 10 15,700 WollondillyBalmoral, Bargo & Yanderra 26 days NSW 24 October 2013 1 4,000 Queanbeyan–PalerangWirritin WA 12 January 2014 1 1 57 several 390 MundaringMount Helena, Stoneville & Parkerville 4 days SA 14 January 2014 24 5 several 35,000 Mount RemarkableLaura, Wirrabara & Stone Hut 30 days SA 14 January 2014 1 several 4,500 Murray BridgeRockleigh 3 days VIC 14 January 2014 1 15 Mornington PeninsulaDromana 1 day Vic 15 January 2014 1 32 90 55,100 Northern GrampiansBrimpaen, Halls Gap, Heathvale, Laharum, Pomonal, Roses Gap & Wartook 62 days Significant fire-weather/destruction on 16 and 17 January 2014. Vic 16 January 2014 9 several 165,800 East GippslandBonang, Deddick, Goongerah & Tubbut 70 days Significant fire-weather/destruction on 9 February 2014. Vic 16 January 2014 3 7 6,900 East GippslandBoundary Track, Fernbank, Fingerboards, Glenaladale & Mount Ray 67 days NSW 17 January 2014 5 several 12,000 Wagga WaggaCarabost, Humula & Kyeamba SA 17 January 2014 4 several 25,000 BarossaAngaston, Cambrai, Eden Valley, Keyneton, Sedan, Springton and Truro 16 days VIC 9 February 2014 18 several 22,900 Hume, Macedon Ranges & MitchellBeveridge, Bylands, Chintin, Craigieburn, Darraweit Guim, Donnybrook, Kalkallo, Kilmore, Mickleham, Moranding & Wallan 6 days VIC 9 February 2014 5 47 2,800 Macedon RangesGisborne, Gisborne South, Romsey & Sunbury VIC 9 February 2014 3 10 ManninghamWarrandyte VIC 9 February 2014 3 several 9,300 MoiraBunbartha, Numurkah & Wunghnu VIC 9 February 2014 2 several 2,900 WellingtonJack River VIC 9 February 2014 1 1 270 Central GoldfieldsBealiba & Emu VIC 9 February 2014 1000+ several 3,300† LatrobeMorwell 45 days

† – A series of separate fires in close proximity.

Fires by state or territory

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.

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 .

Another fire ignited in coal tailings from local mining operations near Ruttleys Rd., Doyalson, during September; the hot-spots were observed by the RFS several weeks before, but could not be extinguished before hot conditions on 17 October. 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

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. On the same day, two houses were destroyed and another damaged by a fire that ignited in the Webbs Creek area, west of Gosford.

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 second fire, ignited by powerlines arcing in high winds near Brownes Rd. and Lemon Tree Passage Rd. in Salt Ash, burned and destroyed four houses, a number of sheds, outbuildings, vehicles and boats. 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.

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. Significant damage was caused to the infrastructure of the historic Zig Zag Railway, estimated to have cost A$3–4 million; eleven engines and carriages and numerous structures for accommodation and administration were destroyed. 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.

The most destructive single bushfire in terms of property loss in the history of New South Wales ignited in the vicinity of Linksview Rd., Springwood, at about midday on 17 October. 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.

Also on 17 October, two other significant fires ignited; one near Mt. York Rd. in Mount Victoria and another near Hall Rd. in Balmoral.

Over 22-day period the 'Mt. York Rd.' fire burned of scrub and forest, the majority within the boundaries of the Blue Mountains National Park. 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. From 18 to 24 October, there was concern that the fire could enter the Grose Valley and impact on Katoomba and the lower Blue Mountains, however a containment line, constructed by specialized and experienced RFS Remote Areas Firefighting Teams in a narrow ravine, prevented the fire from entering.

Over a 26-day period the 'Hall Rd.' fire burned of forest within the Upper Nepean State Conservation Area and impacted the communities of Balmoral, Cordeaux-Dam and Yanderra; 2 houses were destroyed and another 2 were damaged. The fire had a significant effect on infrastructure, closing the Hume Motorway—creating a traffic jam reputed to have been in length—and disrupting electrical supply to the water filtration plant for the Upper Nepean Catchment, which services four dams of Sydney's Water Catchment. Also threatened were Cordeaux colliery, a gas pipeline and communications tower.

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. In addition, a fire near Bathurst burned through of pine forest and fires near Minjary claimed over of scrubland.

Queensland

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