During the period 15 October until 3 December, a bushfire damaged the Blue Mountains region; affected areas included Valley Heights, Warrimoo, Blaxland and Emu Plains. The conditions of a particularly dry spring allowed the fire to burn for approximately four weeks. Winds up to 100 kilometres per hour intensified the fire front.

The bushfire caused widespread damage to infrastructure, houses and buildings; a total of 1,500,000 hectares were burnt. 

Fourteen people died as a result of the fire. 

The damage bill was estimated at approximately £1,500,000.