Banjup Bush Fire 3 February 2014

Civil Emergency

The biggest civil emergency in Cockburn was a fire started by an arsonist in the early morning of 3 February 2014 in bushland between Nicholson Road and Taylor Road, Forrestdale. Fire fighters thought they had it under control but the morning's strong easterly winds reignited it and by 10:30 black smoke was pluming 100 metres high. At mid-day, the emergency services sent text messages to all mobile phones in the cell area advising everyone to evacuate now or die (our paraphrasing).

Fire Fighters and Helicopters

Fanned by 40 kph winds, flames travelling at 1,000 metres an hour reached Boronia Road by 3:00 pm and Liddelow Road around 3:15 pm burning hot and devastating everything in its path. 200 fire fighters battled against the flames and a dozen helicopters and fixed wing aircraft buzzed incessantly over the fire dropping water onto the fire front. Houses were so shrouded in smoke that pilots could not see them from above. Consequently, fire fighters on the ground with hoses had to work hard to save every house. Amazingly, all of the houses in Banjup were saved and no-one was injured, thanks to the great effort by all of the fire fighters.

However, of the vegetation on private properties and in the nature reserves, including splendid banksia woodland, only blackened tree trunks remained standing – everything else was turned to ash.

By early evening the fire was under control, having reached Tapper Road.

498 Hectares Burned

The fire fighters worked all through the night to prevent the fire from starting up again. Brigades from far and wide were called in to assist, from York to Bunbury. For the next 2 weeks they patrolled the area, extinguishing hot spots, including an extensive peat fire in the Buckingham Reserve.

In all, 498 hectares and about 60 private properties in Banjup were impacted by the fire.

Banjup residents thanked the fire fighters effusively for the astounding work they have done.

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The map shows the extent of the fire.