Hundreds of firefighters are preparing for an exhausting night on the front lines as major bushfires continue to threaten communities across southern Western Australia. Blazes near Wandering, Hopetoun and the Fitzgerald River National Park are putting lives and homes at risk throughout the South West and Great Southern regions.
Emergency warnings remain active for three separate fires, while several others are under watch and act alerts. Authorities have closed Albany Highway between Jarrahdale and Williams due to the Boddington fire. South Coast Highway is also shut between Jerramungup and Ravensthorpe as the Fitzgerald River fire intensifies.
The largest firefighting effort is concentrated inside the national park, where crews are working under the coordination of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
“It has been a big day and there is still a fair bit ahead of us,” incident controller Stefan de Haan said. He noted that firefighters are likely facing a long night as they battle unpredictable conditions.
A passing trough has brought gusty winds that are shifting direction rapidly, complicating containment efforts. “The fire is currently within our containment boundaries,” de Haan said. “But with the wind change, we made the decision to close the highway and issue the emergency warning.”
Earlier in the day, a senior emergency services official in the Great Southern region warned that the difficult conditions are expected to persist.
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