Community invited to wash firetrucks to lend a helping hand to exhausted volunteer firefighters

The Denmark community can show their appreciation for the exhausted volunteer firefighters who helped save the town by washing their trucks on Saturday.

The Shire of Denmark is hosting a fire truck wash-up day at McLean Oval, with an open invitation for people to bring their car cleaning gear and help wash the firetrucks to give the volunteers a well-deserved break.

A bushfire that started in thick bushland on Friday scorched more than 2000 hectares and destroyed four homes west of Denmark over the next three days.

On Saturday, a significant breakout put the entire townsite of Denmark on high alert, with residents urged to leave or prepare to defend their homes.

But the breakout was stopped in its tracks.

As the smoke started to clear, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services revealed that local and firefighters had managed to save 53 homes.

“Fireys have done plenty of hard work over the past few days and one of the last jobs to do is cleaning the fire trucks and utes — we thought the community would like to help,” the Shire said in a statement on Wednesday.

People are encouraged to bring soft brooms, handheld vacuums or dust busters, car detergent, buckets and sponges.

There will be a sausage sizzle and a ‘thank you fireys’ guestbook available for people to sign.

Shire president Ceinwen Gearon and representatives from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services will speak to residents to help them navigate the bushfire recovery process.

The event will run from 9.30am to 12 noon on Saturday at McLean Oval on Brazier Street.