Department for Environment and Heritage

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Kangaroo Island Fire Recovery

Fire RecoveryFire Recovery in Kangaroo Island national parks

Lightning strikes ignited multiple wildfires in early December 2007 on Kangaroo Island. 1200 people worked for over ten days to bring the fires under control. The total area burnt was 85, 000 hectares or 19% of the island.

Fire plays a major role in many of Kangaroo Islands ecosystems. It triggers critical natural processes vital to a balanced ecology and continues to shape the landscape - sometimes dramatically.

While the recent wildfires in December 2007 certainly affected some of Kangaroo Island's parks, areas were burnt at different intensities. There are many ‘islands’ within the burnt areas that escaped the full force of the fire. The natural process of regeneration has already begun.

Monitoring the response of flora and fauna after bushfires is a crucial part of the departments park and fire management programs. The recent wildfires provide an opportunity to learn more about the impact of fire and how ecosystems recover. Visitors to the parks will see landscapes normally obscured and vibrant contrasts of emerging shoots within burnt areas.

The following updates are provided to keep you up to date to learn more about the process of fire recovery.

January 2008