Department of Fire and Emergency Services crews bravely fought to extinguish a bush fire threatening lives and homes in Gelorup.
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Brigades from all over the South West – including Bunbury, Gelorup, Eaton, Australind, Capel, and Busselton – were called upon to fight the fire.
Twenty-two vehicles, assisted by helitacs and water bombers, were used to battle the blaze.
Some residents evacuated from their homes, while others stayed to fight off the flames.
Crews downgraded the fire warning to Advice around 3.40pm.
DFES gave the all clear on Sunday, February 3.
It was confirmed the blaze had been caused by sparks from an angle grinder on farmland.
Overall, approximately 80 hectares of farmland and bushland were burnt.
The fire caused $20,000 damage, with one donga and a shed destroyed.
Shire of Capel deputy chief bush fire control officer, and shire president, Murray Scott was at the fire front during the operation.
“The brigades talked and listened to each other. Once that happens, we’re right onto it,” he said.
“We made sure we fixed it up. Everyone that was involved was alright.”
Shire of Capel chief bush fire control officer Chris Scott thanked the brigades, firefighters, and residents whom provided assistance.
“You cannot question the volunteers’ endeavours/work-rates, they are all great,” he said.
“They certainly put their backs into it and they worked really hard, in heat and real bad conditions.
“People are starting to realise that we’ve got to help each other out. A lot of the residents had done their groundwork.
“Some ladies brought along sandwiches and drinks to say ‘thank you’ for saving their houses.”
Mr Scott said the region’s brigades and volunteers were of a high calibre.
“The volunteers and brigades know that this is the hardest time of the season,” he said.
“From my point of view, the response from the Shire of Capel and City of Bunbury firies was absolutely brilliant.
“At one point, we had 80 firefighters on the ground. DFES also came in with their Incident Control Vehicle and set that up at the control point, as well.”
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