Extensive fires in Australia’s northern spinifex deserts – investigating the 2023 ‘Black Spring’ and the influence of indigenous fire management

Abstract

Background: Climate change is increasing the incidence of extensive, severe fires in some regions. Extensive fires affected forested regions of Australia in 2019–2020 (Black Summer fires), attracting global attention. Australian deserts have experienced extensive fires for decades, following interruptions to traditional burning practices of Indigenous people. Unlike the Black Summer fires, desert fires receive little public attention. Aims: We report the extent and spread of fire in Australia’s northern spinifex deserts in 2023, a year of extensive desert fire. Using two case studies, we also explore whether large-scale fire management programs by Indigenous rangers influenced these fires. Methods: We used satellite imagery to collate fire extent and spread information across three northern spinifex desert bioregions (712,000 km2). Key results: In 2023, 294,393 km2(41.2%; versus annual average of 15%) burned, mostly in spring (September–November), following high rainfall. Fires sometimes spread rapidly, covering >25,000 km2in 5 days. Where large-scale fire management had occurred, fire spread was interrupted by areas burnt previously in prescribed fires. Conclusions: The deserts are prone to extensive fires after high rainfall, but large-scale fire management affects how fires spread. Implications: Large-scale desert fire management is relatively recent but shows promise for limiting the size and impacts of desert fires.