Authorities are still dealing with that bushfire emergency in WA’s mid-west about 200 kilometres north of Perth. Firefighters were able to protect three threatened communities overnight, but the danger isn't over with challenging weather conditions ahead.
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00:00Good afternoon Joe. Well the sheer size of this fire is again a not so subtle reminder
00:07of the magnitude that these fires can get to here in Western Australia. I can tell you
00:11now there's 73,000 hectares of bushland has burnt since Monday. We'll get an update on
00:16the exact nature of the fire in a second but I can tell you an additional 50 personnel
00:22have now been added to the fold so that brings to 250 firefighters currently fighting this
00:26fire and they're joined of course by fixed-wing aircrafts that were deployed again this morning.
00:33Now a couple of factors that the firefighters have to contend with here is the actual sort
00:37of scrubland that they're dealing with. It's a very low oak bush bushland that can burn
00:44very fast and very hot but working in their favour has been almost an absence of wind
00:49throughout the day which is certainly going to help the efforts as we move into the afternoon.
00:53WA's Fire Commissioner Darren Clem gave an update on the status of the fire shortly before.
01:00Containment lines have held firm in Cervantes and Wedge while sand dunes are protecting
01:06the grey community. The plan today is to continue back burning to consolidate these containment
01:11lines. While crews are using every tool available to bring this fire under control the situation
01:17is still very challenging.
01:20So Anthony, the Commissioner there mentioned those three communities, Cervantes, Wedge and Grey.
01:26So what can you tell us about how they're managing?
01:31Well we understand there's about 20 residents in the communities of Wedge and Grey and a few more in the town site of Cervantes there.
01:40Now they've obviously been given a lot of time to prepare for what may come ahead and no doubt they have their fire evacuation plans in place.
01:47There is also a community meeting here in Durian Bay in about half an hour from now.
01:52But I can tell you Joe that as is often the case with these bushfires the town of Durian Bay has sort of kicked into community mode.
01:59I was just in some of the shops here earlier and they're busy preparing meals for firefighters for the long night ahead.
02:04So some positives to come out of this so far Joe.
02:07And are there any people in the Durian Bay evacuation centre?
02:11There haven't been throughout the day. I understand overnight there have been a few come in so perhaps a few more will come in throughout the day.