Australia has begun a dangerous bushfire season marked by severe fires destroying 39 homes and the death of a veteran firefighter in New South Wales. Fires at Koolewong and Bulahdelah in NSW destroyed 20 homes. Tasmania’s Dolphin Sands blaze razed 19 houses. During the Bulahdelah fire, the firefighter suffered cardiac arrest after being hit by a tree and died on the spot. NSW Premier Chris Minns called it a "foreboding beginning" to the season. This sharp start breaks years of wetter weather but does not follow typical La Niña patterns due to global heating. Instead, December has seen heatwaves and dry conditions, worsened by rare warming over Antarctica. Professor David Bowman urged Australians to "expect the unexpected" and warned against relying on seasonal forecasts. He advised preparing a bushfire survival plan and staying alert. The national fire outlook highlights increased fire risks in parts of Victoria, NSW, and Western Australia due to dry soils and high fuel loads. Andrew Gissing from National Hazards Research Australia emphasized that all bushfire-prone parts must prepare, as dry soils and warm winds fuel fires. NSW Rural Fire Service's Ben Millington said expected rain did not arrive this spring, causing rapid drying, especially in central-west NSW. Former Fire Commissioner Greg Mullins linked the unpredictable fire conditions to climate change and noted extreme soil dryness in areas like Gosford. Mullins warned that risks can appear anywhere, even outside forecast zones, and advised residents in bushfire areas to plan now to protect their families and homes.