The Shire of Augusta Margaret River has confirmed the emergency warning for the Augusta area was downgraded to a Watch & Act alert at around 5.30am on Tuesday morning following an exhaustive night of work by firefighters.
Sixty personnel from brigades in the Shire as well as crews from City of Busselton and the Department of Parks and Wildlife spent Monday night battling the huge blaze, which is believed to have broken out near the West Bay Caravan Park just north of Augusta townsite.
“[Firefighters] have now built containment lines around 90 per cent of the fire.” a Shire media spokesperson said on Tuesday morning.
“A number of the crews are currently conducting backburns to contain the remaining 10 per cent of the fire, which is burning towards difficult-to-access Karri swamp terrain.”
More firefighters are working on making smouldering trees and logs along Caves Road and Bussell Highway safe ahead of roads re-opening during the day.
“Once major roads are reopened, efforts will then move to the reopening of local roads to enable residents to return to their properties.”
The extent of damage is as yet unknown, and the Shire urged fire-affected residents to remain at temporary accommodation until they have seen their road advertised as re-open.
Rapid assessment officers from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services were due to arrive in the region on Tuesday morning to begin accessing properties and damage.
Nicky Lefebvre
I am a journalist, photographer and content creator based in the beautiful Margaret River wine region, covering all aspects of our community including local news, sport, entertainment and events, as well as providing a platform for our readers to share their voices direct from regional Australia.
I am a journalist, photographer and content creator based in the beautiful Margaret River wine region, covering all aspects of our community including local news, sport, entertainment and events, as well as providing a platform for our readers to share their voices direct from regional Australia.
