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Bushfires Escalate Across Northern Territory and Queensland, Prompting Emergency Alerts Recent weeks have seen a surge in bushfires across the Northern Territory and Queensland, leading authorities to predict the worst fire season in decades. The rapid spread of fires, exacerbated by dry weather, has resulted in significant property damage, loss of lives, and the burning of thousands of acres. Queensland alone faced over 420 bushfires, with 60 still active. Road closures are frequent due to the fires, complicating travel and logistics. The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads has highlighted severe impacts on roads, but identifying alternative routes remains challenging due to the extent of the fires. The agricultural sector is beginning to feel the impact, with central and southern Queensland at high risk, particularly in the Western Downs, Gladstone, and North Burnett regions. Truck driver Danyelle Haigh shared her firsthand experience on social media, noting the necessity to backburn and use a water cart to protect her property from a fire sparked by lightning and fanned by winds. Haigh also reported that some fires were deliberately set. This crisis underscores the need for a national interstate freight route alert system, as emphasized by Western Roads Federation and the NT Road Transport Association. They argue that a national system would provide earlier warnings to interstate drivers, preventing them from nearing incident sites. Drivers are currently advised to remain cautious and adhere to updated traffic conditions and control measures.