Donnybrook Bushfire: Residents return home as fire 80 per cent under control

Emotions ran high at a community meeting in bushfire-stricken Donnybrook on Thursday, with locals teary eyed but relieved at news emergency crews have 80 per cent of the two blazes threatening lives and homes were under control. After three harrowing days, they will finally be able to return home. The South West community has been on tenterhooks since Monday, when a freak lightning storm struck WA 300,000 times and sparked several bushfires in the area. Two fires east of town have been burning at Emergency and Watch and Act level since, with more than 100 firefighters, emergency services personnel and aerial support on the front line. The biggest — near Noggerup and Mumballup — came dangerously close to a mulch and organic matter business, with firies acting swiftly to contain it. It comes just a week after Thomson Brook residents were forced to flee another blaze, which razed about 400ha. A handful of people spent a sleepless night at the evacuation centre set up at Donnybrook Recreation Centre, as a blaze near Noggerup east of town blazed a 4800ha path of destruction. Another fire near Beelerup has burnt 1100ha. They were able to breathe a sigh of relief at a community meeting at the evacuation centre at 2pm Thursday, where a crowd of 30 waited anxiously for updates from Department of Fire and Emergency Services incident controller Peter Norman, who was joined by South West Police Inspector John Bowman and Acting Shire CEO Kim Dolzadelli. They were told firefighters were hopeful with the weather conditions over the coming days, and DFES had reinstated access to most properties in the area. “Many people will be able to access their properties by COB today,” Mr Norman said. Fortunately, no lives or homes have been lost. However, residents will not know the extent of the damage until they gain access to their properties, with reports 150 sheep and one cow have been killed. Western Power confirmed 23 customers were without power Thursday afternoon. Mr Norman said concerns were high when the fire — which tore through pine plantations in the eastern incident area — came close to impacting Mumballup Organics, an organics farm that stocks potting mix, mulches, manures and soil conditioner. He said emergency services acted quickly to control that section of the blaze managing to contain it to the border in a feat of heroics. “The most significant part of the fires to date has been at the northern side of the eastern fire that got close to Mumbalup Organics farm,” he said. Mr Norman confirmed there was no property loss to date said the worst days — usually day one and two, Wednesday and Thursday — were suspected to be over. He hoped to be able to hand back control to the local fire brigades and DBCA by COB today should conditions remain as they are. “There are good days into tomorrow,” Mr Norman said. “There is a front coming in the east but we don’t expect it to impact here.” National Parks and State Forests affected will remain closed. South West Police Inspector John Bowman thanked everyone for their patience, particularly with the vehicle check points that were constantly being reviewed and amended. “Ten changes have been made to the checkpoints today alone,” he said. “The safety of responders, truck movements and community safety are all a priority — thank you for your patience.” Shire of Donnybrook acting CEO Kim Dolzadelli said there had been a “great team effort” involved in fighting the fires. “I’ve been in this situation before,” he said. “It never ceases to amaze me how people unite together in these situations. Emergency services are amazing... and all the government agencies involved. “From a local government viewpoint, all agencies have been a pleasure to deal with... great team effort. Hopefully the conditions will stay favourable and return to normal soon.” The Shire has opened the Donnybrook transit park free of charge to those impacted and 10 bays at Balingup Transit park. “We’re going to do whatever we need to,” he said. “We just want to make sure no one is left out... very trying times. “Our biggest asset it you — the community.” The evacuation centre has now been closed, but residents were told mulch on properties remained a concern and to “stay ready,” as embers could sit for a few days and then cause “combustion”. For the latest updates visit https://www.emergency.wa.gov.au/