For decades, Australia and the northern hemisphere have operated on a seasonal “timeshare”. When our winter set in, shared specialised aircraft and firefighting crews flew north to assist with the Canadian and American fire seasons.1 Then, when summer arrived in the southern hemisphere, those same Large Air Tankers (LATs) and personnel headed south to support our firefighting operations.1
Today, climate change is breaking that clock.
Research from UNSW Sydney shows that Australian and North American fire seasons now overlap for an average of seven weeks every year.2 At the same time, long-term studies published by the CSIRO confirm that Australia’s fire season has expanded by nearly a month since the late 1970s,3 starting earlier in spring and stretching further into autumn.
We’re already seeing this reciprocal global model falter in real time. During the devastating January 2025 wildfires in Los Angeles, the US reportedly declined Australia’s public offer of assistance because it coincided with our own peak summer fire season.2 Instead, they drew on resources from Canada and Mexico.2
While this might all sound like an abstract policy problem, bushfire experts warn there are some serious flow-on consequences for everyday Australians.
So what does this international resource squeeze mean in terms of our own future bushfire fighting frontline?
“It means that the comfortable assumption that a water bomber will always be available overhead during a bushfire emergency here in Australia may no longer be guaranteed,” explains Geoff Evans, co-founder of Disaster Relief Australia and former firefighter.
“The Royal Commission into the Black Summer bushfires was really clear about this. It just said very bluntly, in the event of a major disaster, do not expect to have a fire truck parked out in front of your house. It’s not going to happen. It’s that simple.”
Geoff points out that this resource scramble isn’t just an international issue either; it’s potentially a domestic one too. “The other thing we’re seeing is an overlap between bushfire seasons in north and southern Australia,” he explains.
Traditionally, the dry-season fires in the north would wind down just as the southern states began to heat up, Geoff says, allowing authorities to share equipment across borders. But when late-burning northern fires overlap with an early start to the NSW bushfire season or the fire season in South Australia, for example, firefighters Australia-wide may have to compete for a finite pool of firefighting resources.1
To understand what this changing landscape means for Australian neighbourhoods and communities, we asked Geoff Evans and Mark Dobson – active firefighter and disaster recovery expert – to share the local readiness steps that matter most when resources are under pressure. In this article, we’ll also explore how communities can become each other’s most vital line of defence against Australian bushfires.
What happens when the global squeeze meets your front porch
The pressure on shared international assets comes at a time when climate drivers are creating increasingly volatile local fire conditions. With meteorologists warning of record-shattering El Niño conditions for the 2026-27 summer season,4 combined with CSIRO data showing a long-term increase in extreme fire weather days across Australia,5 the demand for firefighting resources is peaking simultaneously around the globe.1
“Everyone has to be more proactive and more aware,” says Mark. “Because there’s a greater fuel load spread across Australia, the risk of bushfires is greater, meaning firefighting resources may be spread thinner.”
Adds Geoff: “For everyday residents living on the urban fringe or in regional communities, this means emergency response times may be impacted during peak fire events. The Royal Commission report spelled it out: In the event of simultaneous and cascading disasters across multiple locations, emergency resources will be stretched thin and focused on the preservation of life and critical infrastructure ahead of individual properties.”
This makes “relying on a last-minute rescue” a high-risk strategy, says Geoff.
“You need to be more self-reliant; understand the risks to you – things such as fuel load in your area, how prepared your house is,” he explains.
What ‘Don’t Wait for the Warning’ really means
In an era of resource pressure, official emergency channels can also become overwhelmed by rapidly evolving events, says Geoff.
The National Council for Fire and Emergency Services (AFAC) Seasonal Bushfire Outlook has pointed to elevated fire risk across multiple states due to fuel accumulation and dry soils.6 Under these conditions, Geoff warns, bushfires can sometimes move faster than automated SMS warnings can be generated or delivered.
“With resources stretched thinner than ever, the importance of having a bushfire survival plan is no longer just a recommended precaution; it’s an absolute necessity,” he says. “Waiting for an official emergency alert, a knock on the door that may never come, or the visible sight of smoke over the treeline can be one of the most dangerous decisions a household can make.”
Establishing clear household triggers ahead of time can also help remove panic from the decision-making process during a bushfire emergency.7 Some of these important prompts might include:7
- Setting a hard trigger to leave – Commit to going the night before or first thing in the morning whenever an Extreme or Catastrophic Fire Danger Rating is declared.
- Knowing exactly where you’re heading – Pick a specific safe spot in advance, such as a friend’s place in town or a local shopping centre.
- Always having a plan B – Know exactly what you’ll do if the fire shifts and your main exit is blocked.7
How to fortify your property against fire when resources are scarce
“Research has shown that something like 85% of homes lost during bushfires are destroyed by ember attacks rather than direct contact with the main fire front,” says Geoff.
“Embers can travel many kilometres ahead of a fire, blowing under roof tiles, entering wall vents, and igniting dry leaf litter in gutters.”
Adds Mark: “People have to be more independent and resilient, and the way to do that is preparation: preparing your property, assuming there will be an ember attack, trimming the bush and grass around your house, and having a clear exit strategy so you can leave your property and stock safely without risking yourself.”
To give a home the best chance of surviving without a fire truck in the driveway, property owners may wish to consider the following preparations:
Installing fine metal ember guards
Cover all building vents, weep holes and gutter gaps with metal mesh featuring an aperture of 2mm or less to help block flying embers.
Establishing a Static Water Supply (SWS)
Having an independent water source – such as a swimming pool, dam or water tank, paired with a petrol or diesel-powered fire pump,9 may help ensure you have water, especially when powerlines go down.
Mains water pressure frequently drops or fails entirely during major bushfire events, says Geoff.
“When everyone in the neighbourhood turns on the hose, the water pressure drops massively so often, you won’t be able to use your garden hose,” he explains.
Clearing ladder fuels
“You need to look at your yard and see how a fire might travel,” advises Geoff. That could involve:
- Removing continuous vegetation paths that allow ground fires to climb into tree canopies or reach house walls.9
- Clearing roof gutters and moving dry woodpiles away from external walls.9
- Keeping lawns mowed below 10cm.10
Adds Mark: “You might have a pretty fire-safe house, but if you have a woodpile against your back veranda for a fire pit or a wooden deck with some wooden furniture – even if you’re a long way from a fire front – these things can really increase the flammability of your home.”
How to become a bushfire-strong community
While prepping your individual household against Australian bushfires is vital, community-level resilience can create a far broader defence network, says Geoff.
“Time and again I’ve seen immediate neighbours become each other’s primary support system when external emergency support is delayed,” he notes.
“One of the things we saw in Black Summer is that more homes were saved by neighbours running up and down the street putting out ember attacks than by any other means.”
Proactive programs – such as the Country Fire Authority’s (CFA) Community Fireguard,11 the Australian Red Cross’s RediCommunities,12 and Fire and Rescue NSW’s Community Fire Unit13 – also encourage groups to get organised to weather emergencies together. Drawing on these frameworks and Geoff’s on-the-ground experience, here are some ways that you might start building your own local disaster defence network:
- Map neighbourhood resources – Identify who owns portable water pumps, generators or clearing equipment, and mark out any properties with accessible water tanks or swimming pools. “Maybe you know that two doors down there’s a pool, but do you have a pump, and do you have a hose long enough to reach that pool? Do you know the neighbour well enough?” adds Geoff. “These are the kind of extra considerations that can make a big difference during a bushfire crisis.”
- Establish communication chains – Create offline contact lists or street messaging groups to share real-time observations and confirm when households have safely evacuated.
- Support vulnerable neighbours – Identify elderly residents, families with young children, or neighbours with mobility challenges, and check-in with them during a disaster to ensure their evacuation plans are activated early.
The new safety net: Knowing how to prepare for a bushfire
The reality of overlapping global fire seasons calls for a shift in how Australia manages natural disaster risks.
While global governments grapple with finite firefighting resources, taking personal ownership of your property’s bushfire readiness, knowing your family’s evacuation triggers and working alongside your neighbours can all help turn uncertainty into practical preparedness.
“Planning is actually essential if you’re going to save lives,” says Mark.
For more expert tips to help you get bushfire ready, visit our you.prepared emergency content hub.
The content in this article has been prepared based on current government and emergency services guidelines and expert advice provided at the time of publishing. This information is subject to change. Please be sure to check for the latest information and always consider your personal circumstances regarding bushfire preparedness and response.
Where you have increased your cover or reduced your excess within 72 hours (or other period noted on your policy schedule) of a flood, storm, hail or bushfire occurring, cover will be limited to the amount that was effective prior to the change. Loss, damage or legal liability caused by, resulting or arising from flood, storm, hail or bushfire during the first 72 hours (or other period noted on your policy schedule) of your policy first being purchased is excluded unless certain conditions apply. Refer to the relevant PDS, TMD and your policy schedule for full T&Cs.
1. Source: SBS News – Could Australia’s overseas emergency commitment leave us short at home?, August 2026
2. Source: UNSW Sydney – Australia and North America have long fought fires together – but new research reveals that has to change, May 2025
3. Source: The Guardian – Australia’s bushfire season has grown by almost a month in 40 years, study finds, July 2022
4. Source: The Conversation – A record-shattering El Niño is almost here: Here’s what that means for the world’s weather, September 2026
5. Source: CSIRO – Extreme fire weather days in Australia have increased, July 2022
6. Source: National Council for Fire and Emergency Services – Seasonal Bushfire Outlook Spring 2026, August 2026
7. Source: Country Fire Authority – What to do when a fire starts, September 2026
8. Source: CSIRO – Bushfire best practice guide, n.d.
9. Source: Qld Government – Bushfire safety guide, n.d.
10. Source: Country Fire Authority – Preparing for bushfire season, September 2026
11. Source: Country Fire Authority – Community Fireguard, September 2026
12. Source: Australian Red Cross – RediCommunities, n.d.
13. Source: Fire and Rescue NSW – Community Fire Units, n.d.
