Collaborative fire planning at the Northern Deserts Fire Working Group

4 minute read

Last year over 30 rangers and Traditional Owners from six ranger teams came together in Fitzroy Crossing for the 2025 Northern Deserts Fire Working Group (NDFWG) – a fire planning meeting where Kimberley rangers and Traditional Owners (TOs) can get together and plan fire for the year ahead as a region.

Collaborative fire planning is a key tool for rangers – connecting different country together like a puzzle in this way gives everyone the big picture of fire in the broader Kimberley region, making for healthier country. By working strong ways together and making sure the right people to speak for country are present, rangers can plan more effectively for the upcoming field season and bring more good fire into country.

Rangers and TOs all agreed at the start of the meeting that they were most looking forward to listening to other groups talk about their experiences in the 2025 fire season to learn from each other's successes and challenges.

"[It's important to be] sharing our knowledge and most important thing is the right way countryman way of lighting fire, we want to learn right way fire knowledge from you all."

Malcom Uhl, Ngurra Kayanta Ranger

Each team yarned up to the group about the fire work they did last year, answering some questions around any training they did, how weather conditions effected their fire work and what collaborative fire they managed with other ranger teams or researchers and scientists.

The group had the chance to spend some time planning for the 2026 fire season, with everyone coming up with multiple fire plans recording what fire work they wanted to do, the resources they needed, and who else needs to be involved outside of their team.

Rangers and TOs came away from the meeting feeling excited to do more collaborative fire work with their neighbours, and report back to community about the couple days at NDFWG.

"Yeah I'm gonna tell them [young people] about this fire meeting, what we talked about and meeting lotta rangers, sharing our good ideas and ... learning about fire."

Melissa Sunfly, Ngururrpa Ranger

As well as the NDFWG being a key fire planning tool for Kimberley mob, it's also a chance for everyone to spend time together, connect up and share stories – which is just as important. Everyone is stronger together!

The NDFWG is supported by the IDA along with the Kimberley Land Council, Charles Darwin University and Environs Kimberley.

"From the start it was good, right through, exciting. We meeting 'nother people, 'nother rangers and families."

Lincoln Mosquito, Ngururrpa Ranger

Parna Ngururrpa Aboriginal Corporation

Parna Ngururrpa Aboriginal Corporation dedicated their country as an Indigenous Protected Area in 2021.

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Parna Ngururrpa Aboriginal Corporation Ranger Teams

Ngurra Kayanta Aboriginal Corporation

The Ngurra Kayanta Aboriginal Corporation are currently conducting consultations to dedicate an IPA over 1.9 million hectares of country which is situated in the Great Sandy Desert in the southern Kimberley. The area includes extensive spinifex-covered sandplains and dune fields, sandstone and siltstone ranges and isolated rocky outcrops.

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Ngurra Kayanta Aboriginal Corporation Ranger Teams

Karajarri Traditional Lands Association

Karajarri Traditional Lands Association (KTLA), Indigenous Corporation Number (ICN) 3333, was formed in 2002. Through the Karajarri Ranger and Indigenous Protected Area programs we manage more than 32,000 square kilometres of jurarr (coastal areas) and pirra (inland areas). Our people believe all forms of life and ecological processes, including the landscape, people, language and customs, are Pukarrikarrajangka — from the Dreamtime. Karajarri country is the source of spirit, culture and language for our people. We understand that it’s crucial to both look after our country and to create sustainable futures and opportunities for our people on country. The work of our Registered Native Title Body Corporate is directed by our cultural leaders and Karajarri Traditional Owners.

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Karajarri Traditional Lands Association Ranger Teams

Nyangumarta Warrarn Aboriginal Corporation

Nyangumarta Warrarn IPA rangers work on Country that stretches from the sands of 80 mile back all the way back through the Great Sandy Desert in the east.

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