Man injured defending WA bushfire as several homes lost

A father has been seriously injured and several homes destroyed by multiple bushfires in Western Australia.

A father has been critically injured, while several homes and sheds have been destroyed by multiple bushfires described as “some of the most ferocious” Western Australia has ever seen.

Four separate bushfires have been tearing through parts of WA’s South West and Wheatbelt regions over the past few days, but they have now all been downgraded from emergencies towatch and act alerts.

Department of Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm said rapid damage assessment for the Bridgetown blaze indicated there had been one house lost, as well as one shed on private property.

A blaze rips through Bridgetown in Western Australia. Picture: DFES/Evan Collis

At the shire depot, one shed, some equipment and a vehicle that was inside the shed has been lost.

Mr Klemm said the Timber Treaters business in Hester had suffered damage to about 90 per cent of the property.

Some sheds were also lost at the waste facility and transfer station operated in Bridgetown.

“Across the whole fire area, there’s been significant fencing damage as a result of the fire,” Mr Klemm said.

Been a crazy day fighting this bastard all day. 44 degrees 64km gusts not ideal. And out here ALL the people fighting the fire are volunteers. Very fast moving fire. pic.twitter.com/6sdvOZH6Ef

— Leigh Strange (@LeighStrange1) February 6, 2022

Damage assessment has also begun for fires at Shackleton and Cuballing.

Mr Klemm said there had been reports of fire impact to a piggery and sheds in Cuballing, although it was still early in the examination.

The effect of a blaze in Denmark remained at four houses lost and one damaged, Mr Klemm said, as well as four outbuildings lost and one damaged.

Multiple properties have been damaged.

Mr Klemm said authorities had determined the Denmark fire was not suspicious.

The Arson Squad is examining the Bridgetown fire, but authorities are not yet at the point of examining the Shackleton and Cuballing fires.

More than 60,000 hectares have been burnt in the fires and more than 1000 personnel have been combating or managing the bushfires.

Disastrous day for the Corrigin community today and tonight. Many houses and sheds lost. Atm 2/3rds of my farm has burnt with a few sheds and machines. I along with plenty of others are in the same position after this horrible fire. Hardest day of my life. pic.twitter.com/2d4AKMx4ZC

— Ashley Jacobs (@Ashley_Jacobs92) February 6, 2022

Mr Klemm said the weather conditions had been challenging.

“I don’t recall a time where we’ve had four level three bushfires occurring at the same time, as well as dealing with a state of emergency around a pandemic,” he told reporters on Monday.

“So it’s particularly challenging from a resourcing point of view.”

But pre-planning last week had ensured the state was prepared for difficult weather conditions, he said.

Just got home from corrigin from the biggest fire I’ve been to keep up good work all of crews still long way from over. Cheers for boys coming and taking over for the night shift. pic.twitter.com/YB7puG7sNr

— Stephen Keatley (@StephenKeatley1) February 6, 2022

Plumes of smoke billow through the air at Bridgetown. Picture: DFES/Evan Collis

Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said 36 firefighters from NSW had arrived in WA to help battle the blaze.

“These were some of the most ferocious fires that we’ve seen in WA,” he told reporters.

“The firefighters did a tremendous job to minimise the damage down in this region.

“The weather conditions will be milder today, but I want to emphasise that there is still a real threat to lives and to communities and to homes.

“I am asking the community to continue to heed the warnings from the emergency services, but I would like to exercise patience while they work to bring these very significant fires under control.”

Multiple schools in each area have been shut.