Australia has a history of severe bushfires. Such tragedies as the Ash Wednesday fires of February 1983 (71 deaths in Victoria and South Australia), the Tasmanian fires of February 1967 (62 lives, more than 1400 houses and buildings lost) and the New South Wales bushfires of 1994, place bushfires high on the list of Australia's natural disasters.

• THE BUSHFIRE THREAT
• WEATHER AND FIRE
• ANATOMY OF A FIRE DANGER DAY
• HIGH RISK WEATHER PATTERNS - Southeast Australia
• HIGH RISK WEATHER PATTERNS - New South Wales and southern Queensland
• HIGH RISK WEATHER PATTERNS - Western Australia and the Northern Territory
• THE THIRD DIMENSION - the vertical profile of a severe fire day
• PROTECTING YOURSELF AND YOUR HOME

When fire danger conditions become extreme, the Bureau of Meteorology issues Fire Weather Warnings. Warnings are broadcast on radio and television. In most States and Territories, fire authorities will declare a Total Fire Ban when they receive a Fire Weather Warning from the Bureau.

Contact your local fire authority for further information on fire safety.

Up-to-date weather information is available on radio and from Bureau of Meteorology offices.