During the summer of 2010–11, a relative lack of bushfires occurred along Eastern Australia due to a very strong La Niña effect, which instead contributed to severe flooding, in particular the 2010–11 Queensland floods and the 2011 Victorian floods. As a result of these weather patterns, most major fire events took place in Western Australia and South Australia. Some later significant fire activity occurred in Gippsland in eastern Victoria, an area which largely missed the rainfall that lead to the flooding in other parts of the state. September WA On 24 September 2010, a fire started west Walpole at the Boronia Ridge sub-division. The fire moved east toward the town and burned through the thick coastal scrub near the Walpole Inlet making access difficult for fire crews. FESA issued bushfire advice to residents of the surrounding areas. The fire was contained by the following day and 23 hectares of bushland was burnt out with no loss of homes. November WA On 30 November 2010, a fire began about 50 km South of Perth near the suburb of Karnup leading to FESA issuing an emergency warning for residents to take shelter and defend their homes on 1 December. By 2 December the fire had burnt through but had claimed no homes, and was brought under control by over one hundred firefighters. January WA On 10 January 2011, a fire began about 30 km south of Mandurah, near the suburb of Lake Clifton, leading to FESA issuing an emergency warning for residents to evacuate or to defend their homes on 10 January. A shed was burnt and flames were reported to be as high as a two-storey building. By 12 January ten homes hade been destroyed and the fire had burnt an area of approximately 2000ha, the fire was deliberately lit with investigators identifying nine ignition points. Another fire occurred South of Perth, North East of Parmelia on 19 January 2011 and burnt an area of 45 hectares. Challenger Avenue, between Warner Road and Parmelia Avenue were closed while up to 90 fire-fighters tackled the blaze. Another fire near the neighbouring suburb of Bertram was also contained. Both fires were thought to have been deliberately lit. February VIC On 1 February 2011, a combination of high temperatures and strong winds led to the outbreak of several fires in the Gippsland region of Victoria. While most were relatively small and quickly contained, the