Fire experts gather in Broome to tackle northern Australia’s bush fire threat

From climate change to cultural burning, some of the country’s sharpest bush fire minds converged in Broome this week to forge new strategies for one of the world’s most fire-prone regions.

WA’s Emergency Services Minister Paul Papalia joined scientists, traditional owners, agency leaders, and meteorologists at the annual North Australia Fire Managers (NAFM) Forum to improve fire management across the tropical north.

Held over three days, the national forum highlights collaborative efforts in bush fire mitigation, including successful prescribed burning projects carried out in partnership with traditional owners in the Kimberley.

Each year, fires tear through up to 45 million hectares of land across northern Australia, more than six times the size of Tasmania, making coordinated fire strategies critical.

Minister Papalia said the Kimberley was the ideal location to host the forum, pointing to the region’s long-standing reputation for innovation and cross-cultural collaboration in land care and fire prevention.

“Northern Australia is one of the most fire-prone places on Earth, and it needs a fire strategy as unique as its landscape,” Mr Papalia said.

“The Kimberley is the perfect place to host this forum, home to proud Indigenous cultures, traditional owners with deep knowledge of country and a well-equipped emergency service.”

The forum also focused on escalating challenges, including rising temperatures, climate change, and the need for adaptive fire strategies tailored to remote and regional communities.

To support these efforts, the State Government has committed $3.1 million to expand WA’s Bush Fire Mitigation Branch, which leads hazard reduction and fire-preparedness across the state.