Threat from huge bushfires eases as cool change quells summer heat

More mild temperatures have allowed firefighters to get the advantage over a massive blaze burning in Western Australia. 

A fire, burning for the past week in Western Australia’s South West, has finally been contained and controlled.

Lighting sparked the blaze near the town of Donnybrook, 210km south of Perth, before it flared up on January 10.

It was at times directly threatening lives and homes, destroying one property, badly damaging three others, and tearing through nearly 5900ha of bushland before being downgraded to a bushfire advice on Monday afternoon.

Only one home has been destroyed by the bushfire, but more damage assessments are being carried out.

That means there’s no longer a threat to lives and homes, with the fire rendered stationary; however, there is still a lot of smoke in the area.

Daily top temperatures under 30C and easing winds have been big factors in reducing the fire threat.

Emergency warnings had to be issued 28 times over the course of the disaster.

Eighty-one firefighters remain on the scene, strengthening containment lines and mopping up, while aerial support remains on standby in the event the flames break those containment lines.

Volunteer fire brigades from across the South West were called in to assist.

Damage assessment crews continued combing through the bushfire zone on Tuesday.

“There are also a couple of community members with minor burns to their hands,” Department of Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm said.

“They had elected to stay and defend and, through the course of those activities, had suffered those burns.”

Around 5895ha of bushland has been ravaged by the blaze.

Some 67 homes and businesses also remained without power as of Tuesday morning. It’s hoped those services will be restored early in the afternoon.

Firefighters are enjoying the reprieve from the summer heat and strong winds ahead of an expected increase in winds from Friday when temperatures across the region and up to Perth are expected to spike.

Donnybrook will experience temperatures in the mid-30s from Thursday.