On Tuesday 12 February 2019, a state-wide total fire ban was declared as 33 bush and grass fires, nine of them not yet contained, burned across NSW. A bushfire broke out near the Bruxner Highway about four kilometres west of Tabulam, and the highway was closed between Bruxner Road and Tabulam Road, 11 kilometres to the east. The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Commissioner declared a bushfire emergency.

Strong gusty north-west winds pushed the fire across the Timbarra River to the south-west of Tabulam. Firefighters, supported by water bombing aircraft, worked to protect properties in the area as emergency alerts were sent to local residents. Tabulam Public School and Drake Public School were closed the following day to ensure the safety of students and teachers.

Evacuation centres were established at the Tenterfield Memorial Hall and the Bonalbo Bowling Club to provide refuge for residents who evacuated from their homes, and NSW RFS building impact assessment teams were deployed to assess property loss and damage. A recovery centre was set up at the Tabulam Hall to enable residents affected by the fire to access a range of welfare services.

An RFS Aboriginal liaison officer worked closely with Jubullum Local Aboriginal Land Council, and local representatives met NSW RFS crews to assess damage to the Jubullum Aboriginal settlement near Tabulam.

On 1 March, the bushfire emergency was revoked and the fire was officially declared out on 4 March. Eighteen houses and more than 50 outbuildings had been destroyed, a further 18 homes and 20 outbuildings had been damaged and 7,552 hectares had been burned. Despite the losses, more than 300 homes and other buildings had been saved.

A woman was charged with starting the fire after setting rubbish alight in her backyard during the total fire ban. After discovering the fire had escaped, the woman rang Triple Zero and unsuccessfully attempted to extinguish the flames with a backyard hose.