Hectic : Veteran firefighter recounts gruelling fight to contain Gingin inferno
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A Gingin volunteer firefighter has told of the harrowing moment glowing embers rained from the sky igniting hundreds of spot fires as crews desperately tried to protect homes in Ocean Farms.
Gingin Volunteer Fire and Rescue captain Nikki Woods was deployed to Dingo Road on Monday night when flames rose above treetops in the most hectic spectacle the veteran has ever seen.
Gingin Volunteer Fire and Rescue captain Nikki Woods.
Credit:DFES
The crackling sound of dozens of pine trees burning echoed through the night as winds fanned the flames closer to crews, who rushed to put out spot fires springing up in the paddocks.
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Firefighters working to contain a dangerous bushfire threatening homes and lives north of Perth are bracing for scorching, windy weather.
The Red Gully blaze, which sparked on Saturday, has burned through some 9,500 hectares in the Gingin and Dandaragan shires.
Crews were able to strengthen containment lines on Thursday but remain wary of windy weather into the evening and a hot Friday when the mercury is tipped to exceed 40C. We re confident in some of our containment lines but there s a significant wind change coming in and that will put some pressure on, incident controller Sven Andersen told reporters.
Friday afternoon last big test as Gingin fires expected to burn for days
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Friday afternoon last big test as Gingin fires expected to burn for days
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A bushfire that has been burning for six days already north of Perth is likely to burn for another five days with Friday afternoon to be the “last big test”, the incident controller has said.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services’ Sven Andersen said Gingin residents were now being allowed back to homes in Seaview Park and Ocean Farms Estate, where the fire came within 1 kilometre of homes before firefighters beat it back.
Western Australia Fire Crews to Battle Hot Dry Weather
Firefighters have managed to slow the spread of a dangerous bushfire burning north of Perth. Still, authorities fear the upcoming extreme weather conditions will impede efforts to bring it under control.
The Red Gully blaze which has been burning since Saturday Jan. 2 now has a perimeter of more than 100 kilometres and destroyed over 9500 hectares in the Gingin and Dandaragan shires.
An emergency warning remains for local communities around the two shires, with major concerns for Ocean Farms Estate residents.
Authorities urge residents to enact their bushfire plans and evacuate immediately if safe to do so.
Bushfire warning downgraded for blaze north of Perth, but residents told to remain on high alert
FriFriday 8
updated
FriFriday 8
JanJanuary 2021 at 12:36pm
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The threat level for a bushfire burning in the shires of Gingin and Dandaragan north of Perth has been downgraded as some residents prepare to return to their homes.
Key points:
Some residents are being let back home after evacuating earlier this week
Brand Highway has reopened but several other roads remain closed