Environmental ‘tragedy’ as fires burn through one-fifth of Northern Territory national park

More than 100,000 hectares burned in MacDonnell Ranges area, which has been declared a federal priority for threatened species conservation

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Large fires west of Alice Springs have burnt through 20% of the Tjoritja/West MacDonnell national park in what conservationists say is a nationally significant environmental “tragedy”.

The fires have been fuelled by a hot March, which followed three years of above average rainfall that has increased fuel loads in the semi-arid region.