Firefighters in a remote part of the Pilbara currently battling an out-of-control blaze near a WA minesite have expressed their frustrations with an arsonist believed to have set a second fire while volunteers continued to battle the first blaze.
The original fire is believed to have started at Mount Nameless on October 8, and was brought under control by the Tom Price Fire and Rescue Service.
A second breakout fire forced the closure of the Western Turner mine site, forcing crews working along the access road to commence evacuation.
As firefighter resources stretched to their limit and temperatures begin to sit around the late thirties, a second fire was started near the intersection of Nanutarra Road and Nameless Valley Road on Thursday morning.
It is threatening a Rio Tinto mine site, and around 20 exhausted firies have been forced to battle the blaze for the second time in two weeks.
While the official cause of the fire is unknown, Tom Price firefighters took to Facebook to express their dismay with what they believed to be a firebug.
"It is very disappointing that someone has seen fit to set a fire along the Nameless Valley Drive on the north side, despite fire crews being stretched to their maximum," they posted.
"Because of this we are now very limited to other responses."
Firefighters urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
A bushfire watch and act alert is currently in place for the town of Tom Price and the Western Turner mine site as the bushfire threatens the Shire of Ashburton.
Emergency WA has advised residents to leave or prepare to actively defend their property as the fire burns in an area inaccessible to firefighters.
