Causes of Bushfires

Arson

Burning off / debris

Smoking

It needs to be above 27 degrees Celsius and humidity below 22 percent for a cigarette to start a fire

Smoking is a really uncommon source of bushfire ignition

Fires that start by the side of the road are more likely to be ignited by burning pieces of carbon from car exhausts than a cigarette butt

Burning off is a regular source of bushfire ignition

Around half of all bushfires in Australia are either know to be deliberately lit or are considered suspicious.

Arson is what has caused a large number of bushfire in Australia and internationally

Campfires

Railway cause

Trains are surprisingly common source of bushfires.

Brake failure in trains can throw out a wall of sparks sometimes starting fires

Embers from campfires and campfires that aren't properly put out are bushfire hazard

Many popular campsites have moved away from open campfires, and provide fire rings to contain embers

Equipment use

Chainsaws, angle grinders, mowers, etc.

Using grinders or welding equipment outdoors is not permitted during a fire ban because of the sparks they throw

Children

Lightning

Children are categorized separately, as they are often implicated in starting fires

But usually they're considered to be out of curiosity rather than malice

It's the most common ignition source in remote areas

Positively charged lightning is far more likely to start a fire

Miscellaneous

Power lines, firearms, blasting, glass refraction, electric fences, etc.

Electric fences and power lines are common sources of ignition, but glass refraction is so rare it's almost a myth