Spring and its warmer temperatures are just around the corner, but rain is dampening the fire risk for most of the country.
Soggy regions in eastern NSW and Victoria, where the vegetation is yet to recover from the 2019–20 fires, are below normal fire risk thanks to persistent and persisting rain.
Much of the rest of southern Australia, including Tasmania, South Australia, southern Western Australia as well as Queensland are all sitting on normal fire potential.
But there are a few places that are potentially in the hot zone.
Parts of Central Australia and northern WA have above-average fire potential going into spring.
Up in the Top End, significant fire events have taken place around Darwin recently as the NT approached the end of the northern dry season, according to Joshua Fisher, assistant chief fire officer Northern Territory Fire and Rescue Service.
Moving into spring, the risk shifts south.
"We've seen two consecutive years of above normal rainfall, particularly in the Alice Springs area.
"We've now got a really good continuous fuel load right across Alice Springs, which is why we've declared an above normal bushfire potential in that Alice Springs region.
"Last time we saw these sort of fuel loads was in 2011, where we saw 40 per cent of Central Australia impacted by fire over that spring and summer period," he said.
Don't be complacent
But the relatively relaxed fire outlook for many does not mean we should be complacent.
Southern Australia is one of the world's most fire-prone regions and deadly fires can occur even in a normal year.
Even in sodden New South Wales Rural Fire Service commissioner Rob Rogers warns, "Huge amounts of grassland that is growing out in certainly western New South Wales and once that dries out, that grass is gonna provide a a big risk for us".
He said that as the grass starts to dry out, potentially into summer, they could be looking at a it being a problem.
"For this period, we're just seeing normal fire season outlooks. But normal doesn't mean people be complacent because at the end of the day, a normal fire season can be pretty bad for anybody," he said.
In South Australia they are also keeping an eye on grass loads building up, particularly in the north.
"The message to South Australians is the same as ever," according to Mark Jones, chief fire officer of the Country Fire Authority.
"If you live in a bushfire-prone area, tidy up around your property. Take the cool wet spring and the late start to the season is an opportunity to prepare well and have a plan.
"A cool, wet spring is no excuse for complacency if you live in a bushfire-prone area."
With several months still to go until the hottest time of the year, authorities will be monitoring developments closely.
New fire danger rating system
Even though it is a relatively calm year, it always pays to keep an eye on the warnings.
From September a new Fire Danger Rating System is being rolled out around the country.
The new system has only four levels, which are consistent around the country and underpinned by new scientific methods that take into account the varying vegetation types and their fire potential.
