Ink dries on new deal to better fight bushfires in NSW
The Rural Fire Services' aircrafts will be managed by crews in Australia, alleviating our reliance on international help.
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Bushfire news alerts
The latest news and updates on bushfires burning across Australia, featuring 9News reporters on the ground monitoring the situation as firefighters tackle the blazes.
The most common causes of bushfires in Australia include lighting strikes, trees falling on powerlines, arsonists, unintentional kindling of surrounding foliage during agricultural land clearing, dropped matches, cigarettes, sparks caused by power tools, farm machinery and controlled backburning escaping.
Eucalypt trees are synonymous with the Australian bushland and are what most Australians identify with when they hear the words "bushfire". The eucalyptus leaves contain highly flammable oils that have the ability to burn rapidly and extremely well in a fire.
'Buried in the ice is a warning': Alarm sounded on Australia's bushfire risk
As far as records go, the Black Summer fires were unprecedented in their scale and ferocity. But a new discovery tells a different story.
Australia
New AI satellite can spot bushfires 500 times faster
The Aussie researchers say the new space-based tech can spot growing blazes by smoke.
science
Energy provider fined millions after maintenance failures spark huge bushfire
The blaze scorched about 185 hectares of land, destroying sheds, fences and farming equipment.
Victoria
Fire crews bring South Australian bushfire under control
A bushfire burning in South Australia's Limestone Coast region has been downgraded.
South Australia
Volunteer WA firefighter killed in line of duty honoured by his local football club
Harry Stead, a volunteer firefighter who lost his life battling a blaze in Esperance has been honoured in a football 'tribute match'.
Western Australia
Fires tear through four hectares of bushland
Three grassfires burned across south-west Sydney today, causing a cloud of smoke to settle over parts of the city.
fires
Perth bushfire sparked by caravan blaze downgraded
A fire which threatened homes in Perth after a caravan burst into flames and the flames spread to bushland has been downgraded..
Perth
Coroner calls for major change after Black Summer fires
The report two years in the making calls for new rules for firefighting aircraft, better alerts and an overhaul of risk classifications.
national
At least one home lost as suspicious bushfire rages south of Perth
Residents in Western Australia's south-west remain on high alert as a fierce bushfire rages out of control.
Perth
Homes and lives came under threat in the City of Armadale
Residents of Bedfordale and Ashedon have been told to leave their properties or be prepared to stay to defend them.
bushfires
Victorian residents' close calls with out-of-control bushfires
More than 170 properties were threatened by the blaze, which burned 110 hectares and destroyed at least one building.
Victoria
Huge Victorian fire still burning even as weather conditions ease
A fire burning for a week in Victoria's west remains out of control despite light rain and cooler conditions.
Victoria
'This beast is a reality': Residents warned of catastrophic conditions
Strong winds and sweltering temperatures are expected to hit large parts of the state today, creating catastrophic fire danger for thousands.
fires
Victorians preparing for state's worst fire danger day in years
Tomorrow is 'likely to be one of the most dangerous days Victoria has experienced', Premier Jacinta Allan is warning.
Victoria
'Not safe to return': Residents warned of extreme fire conditions
An out-of-control bushfire west of Ballarat will is likely to be burning when Victoria is hit by a combination of wind and heat not seen in years.
Victoria
Dozens of homes under threat amid fire emergency in Victoria's west
Firefighters are continuing to battle the blaze in western Victoria that covers 13,000 hectares.
Victoria
Dozens of Victorian towns told to flee out-of-control fire
Authorities have extended warnings to encompass more towns as a devastating fire rages across western parts of the state.
Weather
Extreme fire danger warning for Western Australia, schools and parks closed
Firefighters across the state are bracing for dangerous conditions today.
Heatwave
Perth bushfire sparked by crow flying into power lines
The wall of fire threatened homes and residents were evacuated before 58,000 litres of water was dropped onto the fire from water bombers.
Perth
Victorian bushfires claim 44 properties as official count rises
As much as half of one town in the Grampians has been burnt to the ground, including the only school.
Victoria
Residents return to bushfire-ravaged town finding half of it destroyed
Multiple fires are continuing to burn out-of-control in Victoria following a day of catastrophic fire conditions.
Victoria
Five firefighters injured battling out of control blazes in Victoria's west
Hundreds of firefighters are on the ground as crews battle out-of-control blazes in extreme conditions.
Victoria
Homeowners hire hungry goats to reduce their bushfire threat
The next line of defence against bushfires could be as simple as the humble goat, if you ask Denny Woods.
nature
Prison for dad whose gender reveal party sparked deadly California wildfire
The couple set off a smoke-generating pyrotechnic device in a field and it quickly ignited dry grass on a scorching day.
Wildfires
Hazmat warning after firefighters dump sewage on bushfires
Residents have been told to 'maintain personal hygiene as a high priority' after properties were sprayed by contaminated water.
Western Australia
Whole neighbourhoods devastated by raging fires
Thousands of homes have been burnt down and hundreds of people remain missing in central Chile.
fires
Forest fire death toll passes 50
Authorities are now urging residents to evacuate as a wall of flames moves quickly towards more homes.
World
Prescribed burning could make Australian forests more fire prone, report claims
Scientists have questioned some of the long-established fire management strategies deployed by authorities.
Australia
Thousands of homes still without power across WA
According to Western Power, at least 4,000 homes and businesses are still without power after Significant thunderstorm and bushfire activity cut the power to around 33,000 people.
Western Australia
Two homes lost as bushfires continue to burn near Perth
More than 200 firefighters have been battling to contain three large bushfires in parts of Gingin, Bindoon and Chittering, about an hour from Perth.
Perth
At least one home lost in bushfires near Perth
At least one home has been lost as out-of-control bushfires continue to ravage parts of Perth's north-east.
Perth
Fierce bushfires rage near Perth as residents told to leave now
Lives and homes are under threat from fierce bushfires burning in Western Australia.
Western Australia
Teen accused of lighting Perth fires that caused over $10k damage
Five hectares of bushland were burnt up and the roof of a fast food outlet, believed to be a chicken shop, was damaged
Perth
WA family mourns volunteer firefighter killed battling blaze
Harry Stead is being remembered as "kind" and "always willing to help", after the 20-year-old died while fighting an out-of-control blaze on Boxing Day morning.
Western Australia
Volunteer firefighter dies while responding to WA bushfire
The tragedy occurred as firefighters responded to an out-of-control blaze in Esperance, Western Australia.
Western Australia
Bushfire threatens homes south of Perth
A bushfire warning is in place for residents in Western Australia's south west.
Perth
Slight relief for Perth while high fire danger remains across WA
Two properties were claimed by a fire in Perth's south, the DFES has confirmed.
Western Australia
WA man's 'blisteringly hot' dash to safety with 'flames on both sides'
Watching vision from inside the fire zone for the first time, he realised his house wasn't so lucky.
Perth
Grey clouds of smoke blanket Sydney as air quality drops
Bushfires burning in the state's north and wind conditions have covered Sydney and the Hunter region with thick cloud cover.
Sydney
Sydney to swelter today as record start to summer continues
Western suburbs will feel the brunt of the heat, with the mercury forecast to nudge 40 degrees in coming hours.
Weather
'Lives at risk' as fire generates its own thunderstorm
The blaze south of Narrabri has already ripped through more than 80,000 hectares, with some residents told it's too late to leave.
New South Wales
Bushfire shuts down major highway, threatens homes in Perth
A bushfire that broke out in Perth this morning closed down a major highway and threatened homes as it tore through parkland.
Perth
'Monitor conditions': NSW bushfire downgraded
It comes after the state endured days of intense heat.
New South Wales
NSW Ambulance expecting influx of calls due to heat weather
Most of New South Wales is expected to swelter today, as the state is issued with a second heatwave warning in two weeks.
national
'We'll rebuild': Bushfire guts small business, family home in NSW
Three bushfires raced towards homes in Kurri Kurri, Abermain, and Weston
national
Motorway partially reopened after truck fire caused evacuations
A major motorway has partially reopened after a truck burst into flames, sparking a grassfire that threatened homes west of Newcastle.
New South Wales
Extreme heat could cause power outages across NSW
The thermostat had already surged past 34C by 11am and is only set to get hotter, prompting an urgent warning from fire crews.
Weather
Australia's firefighting fleet boosted by 747 air tanker
The fleet of 500 aircraft includes a government-owned large 737 air tanker, capable of carrying 15,000 litres of water or retardant.
national
Twenty schools shut as scorcher heatwave raises bushfire risk
Dry lightning and searing heat are creating a potentially deadly combination in parts of NSW.
national
