Overview
- Fire crews and volunteers fought the blaze for about five days and now patrol the area to extinguish remaining hotspots.
- Authorities say roughly 14,400 hectares of forest, scrub and farmland burned and more than 100 homes and buildings were destroyed or heavily damaged.
- Investigators provisionally point to sparks from power lines at a wind‑park as the likely ignition source and three people have been arrested in connection with the blaze.
- The government has approved rapid emergency aid for residents and is using drones and four new satellites launched in May to speed early detection and suppression of small fires.
- Scientists warn that repeated burns and belowground smoldering will hinder natural regeneration, raise erosion and flood risk, and could keep blazes active underground for weeks or months.