New satellite tool enhances Australia’s fire preparedness
Page last updated:14 October 2025
Image: This image depicts Fuel Moisture Content values over the Grampians National Park and surrounding farmland in May 2020. Areas of native vegetation have values from 50% to 100% moisture content and are coloured in orange, yellow and pale blue, respectively. Dormant fields and pastures have low moisture values, below 25% while the very dark blue areas have a moisture content of 150% - 300%, these indicate pastures where lush green grass remains at the end of autumn.
Geoscience Australia has launched a powerful new tool to support bushfire preparedness across the country: The DEA Fuel Moisture Content (FMC) product. Developed under the Digital Earth Australia (DEA) program in partnership with Australian National University’s Bushfire Research Centre of Excellence, this satellite-derived dataset provides insights into vegetation moisture levels, that is an essential factor in assessing bushfire risk.
“Vegetation moisture is a key indicator of fire behaviour and flammability risk,” said Cate Kooymans, Earth Observation Scientist at Geoscience Australia. “By delivering consistent, continent-wide data on fuel moisture, DEA FMC helps emergency services and land managers anticipate and respond to changing fire conditions with greater confidence and speed”.
The product offers 20-metre spatial resolution across the Australian continent and is updated weekly using Sentinel-2 satellite data. It is freely accessible via DEA Maps, DEA Sandbox, and the DEA Knowledge Hub, making it operationally ready for integration into fire risk assessment workflows, mitigation planning, and environmental monitoring.
While not a standalone safety tool, DEA FMC complements existing fire danger indicators and remote sensing tools. It has been developed in consultation with state fire agencies, environmental departments, and research institutions to ensure it meets real-world needs and supports national priorities in disaster preparedness and climate resilience.
“DEA FMC is part of a trusted suite of Earth observation products that support environmental intelligence and public safety,” Cate Kooymans added. “It’s a science-backed solution designed for Australia’s unique landscape and fire conditions”.
To learn more, visit the DEA Fuel Moisture Content product page or explore how DEA Fuel Moisture Content data can inform better decision-making for fire risk, land management and sustainability by visiting DEA Maps.