Download: Bushfire Historical Extents (FGDB, 847MB)

Abstract The Historical Bushfire Boundaries Dataset (version 4) represents the aggregation of jurisdictional supplied burnt areas polygons that date from the late 1890’s through to 2025. This release includes data from the Northern Territory for the first time. The burnt areas represent curated jurisdictional owned polygons of both bushfires and prescribed (planned) burns. Currency Date modified: November 2025 Data Extent Coordinate Reference: Geocentric Datum of Australia 1994 (GDA94) Spatial Extent North: -9° South: -44° East: 154° West: 112° Temporal extent January 1898 to 20 September 2025 Source information * Australian Capital Territory Parks and Conservation * New South Wales Rural Fire Service * Northern Territory Bushfires NT * Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service * South Australia Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources * Tasmania Department of Natural Resources and Environment * Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action * Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Please note that some of the above sources are responsible for the collection and distribution of data from multiple agencies. These agencies are identified at the attribute level. Attribute Accuracy: The accuracy of the data attributes within this dataset is reliant on each jurisdictional source and the information they elect to publish into their Historical Bushfire Boundary datasets. Data Completeness: The completeness of the data is reliant on each jurisdictional source and the information they elect to publish into their Historical Bushfire Boundary datasets. Known Limitations: 1. Version 4 of this National dataset contains information from the Northern Territory Government for the first time. The ‘as supplied’ data from the NT is currently represented as a separate feature class. More work will need to occur with NT government to ensure alignment of their data to the current National dataset. 2. Geoscience Australia is aware that duplicate data (features) may appear within this dataset. This duplicate data is commonly represented in the regions around state borders where it is operationally necessary for one jurisdiction to understand cross border situations. Care must be taken when summing the values to obtain a total area burnt. 3. The data within this aggregated national product is a spatial representation of the input data received from the custodian agencies. Therefore, data quality and data completion will vary. If you wish to assess more information about specific jurisdictional data and/or data feature(s) it is strongly recommended that you contact the appropriate custodian. Lineage statement Version 4 (2025): This version of the dataset aggregates and harmonises historical bushfire data from every jurisdiction (except the Northern Territory) in an identical technical process to versions 2 and 3 of this product. For the first time, data from the Northern Territory has been included in this release. It is contained as a separate layer within the geodatabase. The reason for this is discussed below in known limitations. Data dictionary ───────────────┬──────────┬────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Attribute name │Field Type│Description ───────────────┼──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── fire_id │String │ID attached to fire (e.g. incident ID, Event ID, Burn ID). ───────────────┼──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── fire_name │String │Incident name (if available). ───────────────┼──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ignition_date │Date │The date of the ignition of a fire event. Date and time are captured in jurisdiction local time and converted to UTC. ───────────────┼──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── capt_date │Date │The date of the incident boundary was captured or updated. Date and time are captured in jurisdiction local time and converted to UTC. ───────────────┼──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── extinguish_date│Date │The date a fire is declared safe (contained and under control). If available. ───────────────┼──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── fire_type │String │Binary variable to describe whether a fire was a bushfire or prescribed burn. ───────────────┼──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ignition_cause │String │Cause of fire. ───────────────┼──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── capt_method │String │Categorical variable to describe the source of data used for defining the spatial extent of the fire. ───────────────┼──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── area_ha │Double │Burnt area in hectares. Calculated field so that all area calculations are done in the same map projection. ───────────────┼──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── perim_km │Double │Burnt perimeter in kilometres. Calculated field so that all area calculations are done in the same map projection. ───────────────┼──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── state │String │State custodian of the data. NOTE: Currently some states use and have in their feeds cross border data. ───────────────┼──────────┼────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── agency │String │Agency that is responsible for the incident. ───────────────┴──────────┴────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Contact Geoscience Australia, [clientservices@ga.gov.au]