File:Fires and Smoke in New South Wales, Australia (MODIS 2019-12-17).jpg

English: The bushfire season in New South Wales started early this year and has already proven to be exceptionally fierce. On December 16, 2019, the New South Wales Fire Service (NSWFS) reported that approximately 5.3 million acres of land have been burned to date—an area roughly 1.5 times the size of the state of Connecticut. NSWFS also reported that 115 fires continued to burn, with 59 yet to be contained. Two fire bans were in place, one of the Northern Slopes and one for the North Western areas due to Very High Fire Danger.

The conditions over much of New South Wales were expected to be more favorable for fire-fighting on the afternoon of December 16, but an extreme heat wave moving from west to east across the country is expected to bring more hot, dry weather to the state this week, potentially spurring additional fires and fire growth. The heatwave has already given Brisbane, Queensland, a high temperature of 106.2°F (41.2°C) on December 16, tying an all-time record for that city. Brisbane sits near the eastern coast, north of the upper edge of this image. Forecasts predict that Penrith, New South Wales, a town located near the Blue Mountains and west of Sydney, may reach 115°F (46°C) by December 21.

Extreme heat is the most dangerous natural hazard in Australia, killing more people than any other natural hazard each year. It also desiccates vegetation, creating tinder-box conditions in which any spark can burst into a blazing inferno. Combined with low humidity and gusting winds, conditions become favorable for extreme fire danger.

More than 2,200 firefighters remain in the field battling these fierce blazes, fighting for containment both day and night. The NSW Rural Fire Service reports that it is the world's largest fire service, with 74,000 volunteer members. They provide emergency services to more than 95 percent of New South Wales and have been fighting this outbreak of blazes for months.

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired a true-color image of multiple fires burning in New South Wales. As in earlier images, copious gray smoke rises from the fires and is blown hundreds of kilometers away, creating hazardous air quality for humans and animals alike.