As Western Australia’s Bushfire Rages On, New South Wales Firefighters Are Helping

Several towns around Western Australia are experiencing a renewed "horrendous" bushfire as specialists firefighters from New South Wales arrived to help other states.

Police, with the cooperation of detectives from the specialist arson squad Strike Force Vulcan, are investigating the cause of the Bridgetown bushfire that started around lunchtime Saturday, Feb. 5.

The 'horrendous' bushfire spread

ARGENTINA-PATAGONIA-FIRE — TOPSHOT - Flames from a huge forest fire are seen from Route 40, some 12 km from Paraje Villegas and 60 km south of Bariloche, Rio Negro Province, Argentina, on January 13, 2022. - Several sources of fire have been active for weeks in the Argentine provinces of Neuquen, Rio Negro and Chubut (south), where the flames have consumed thousands of hectares of native forest, amid adverse weather conditions, according to the authorities. FRANCISCO RAMOS MEJIA/AFP via Getty Images

The blaze from the bushfire continues to threaten the small railway town of Hester, while other fires continue to spread in the coast shire of Denmark and the Bruce Rock shire, East Perth.

Residents warned it was too late to leave because of the emergency warning that was placed for Babakin, Bilbarin, and Corrigin, in Western Australia's Wheatbelt about 200km east of Perth, according to The Guardian.

Stephen Dawson, Western Australia's emergency services Minister stated that, "We still have an active fire situation so we ask people to please be patient. It's an incredibly difficult time for everyone involved, for all the affected community, please know everyone in Western Australia is thinking about you," as published by West Australian.

As per ABC News, as of Monday, Feb. 7, it has been revealed that the fire has been spread through more than 60,000 hectares of bushland, sparking a widespread power outage for thousands of residents.

Furthermore, it has reportedly destroyed at least six homes and damaged businesses.

All residents within 500 meters of Hester's wood processing plant must be moved immediately on Sunday evening, Feb. 6, due to the spread of toxic substances by the wind.

Bridgetown County Emergency alerts have already been issued for areas in the Southwest, including Hester, Brook, and Bridgetown in Greenbushes.

Darren Klemm, Department of Fire and Emergency Services commissioner, stated that 80% of the fire is being tracked, however, as they're dealing with changing weather and a westerly influence in the wind, the northeast corner still presents problems, West Australian noted.

More than 200 people showed up at the evacuation center as Bridgetown Hospital was evacuated on Saturday night.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze and reinforced containment lines on Sunday evening as an out-of-control and unpredictable wildfire moved rapidly in a northeasterly direction.

According to ABC News, Des Hickey, Shire of Corrigin president stated, "We thought the two fires might link up and head towards the town, but the wind shift gave us a reprieve."

New South Wales Firefighter Specialists came for help

DFES Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Wade said that the specialist firefighters from New South Wales have arrived in Perth overnight to help combat the raging fire.

"Crews from Kimberley, Pilbara, and specialist incident management teams from New South Wales have arrived," he said, further saying that it's an "amazing effort," but that they have great work ahead of them.