From October 1951 to January 1952, a number of fires burned across the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and New South Wales (NSW).
Approximately 5,000 fires burned 4.5 million hectares in western NSW.
- November, Pilliga area: 371,000 hectares of cypress pine forest and bush burnt
- November, Dubbo/Forbes: 266,000 hectares of grassland burnt
- January, Mangoplah (near Wagga Wagga): 330,000 hectares burnt.
The damage was estimated at over £6 million.
In the ACT, 10,000 hectares burnt, with fires bearing down on the urban areas of Canberra.
Eleven people died in NSW; two people died in the ACT.