Firefighters praised as eight incidents raise alert

The Shire of Denmark’s bush fire brigade volunteers have been praised for their response to eight separate blazes which tested resources last week.

More than 100 firefighters fought the bushfires fanned by strong northerly winds similar to the conditions of last year’s May bushfires.

Last Tuesday, the Shire invoked Section 46 of the Bushfires Act prohibiting the lighting of fires and requiring all existing burns to be extinguished.

Volunteers were on high alert from Wednesday night through to Friday, with seven of the eight incidents coming from escaped private burns.

According to the Shire, five of the escaped burns came were dormant fires lit the previous week.

Two bushfires reached “watch and act” levels on Lights Road and Pates Road in the early hours of Thursday.

Shire of Denmark president Ceinwen Gearon praised volunteer firefighters and newly appointed chief bushfire control officer Lez Baines for his efforts in his first significant incident.

“We are very lucky to have an immensely dedicated group of individuals willing to volunteer their time to keep us all safe,” she said.

More than 100 residents signed up to the Shire’s SMS alert service in response to the fires on Thursday, taking the total number registered to more than 250.

Residents are urged to remain vigilant and look closely at the forecast not only for the day they plan to burn but also the days following.