A heartfelt delivery to the fire front of an out-of-control bushfire in Northcliffe has helped put a smile on firefighters' faces.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Department of Parks and Wildlife posted on its Facebook page that several pallets of water bottles were delivered to the fire ground on Saturday decorated with messages of support on hand-written post-it notes from the local community and staff at Manjimup Coles.
The messages consisted of short statements like “you are the best” and “well done to everyone, you have done a great job”.
This isn’t the first display of community spirit shining through with firefighters also receiving snack packs made by children from Pemberton District High School earlier in the week. Inside each pack was an individual message of appreciation written by one of the students.
Michael Phillips, who is in Pemberton assisting with management of the fires, posted to the Department of Parks and Wildlife page that the gestures from the community had been extremely well-received by firefighters.
“It is little things like this that make our day,” he wrote.
“Thanks to the people of Pemberton and Manjimup for their support in helping us all get this situation sorted.
“And to our colleagues from Victoria, DFES, Police, SES, Main Roads and all the contractors who are assisting everyone with this one.”
Another bunch of hand-written notes from families evacuated from the fire zone were posted to the Northcliffe Visitors, thanking firefighters for their work.
Waterloo Volunteer Bushfire Brigade firefighter Kane Robinson said a carefully hand-written note from a young Northcliffe boy called Ethan caught Mr Robinson’s eye when he was on the fire front battling the blaze.
“To fire fighters. You are doing a good job fighting the fire in Northcliffe. We are depending on you. Good luck,” the note read.
Mr Robinson said deliveries of food and drinks were made to the fire frontline to keep the crews going as well as a “goodie bag” usually filled with muesli bars and nuts to tuck in their pocket while they worked.
Mr Robinson learnt Ethan, along with many families, had been evacuated to either Manjimup or Pemberton among uncertainty their town would remain standing.
This news comes as the first signs that firefighters had begun to tame WA's worst bushfire in 50 years came on Saturday afternoon.
At a public meeting at the Pemberton Mill Hall, people who were evacuated from Northcliffe were told they could go home.
That's despite the fact that the nearby bushfire, which has a perimeter of nearly 300km, is still considered potentially dangerous.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services issued situation report after the meeting saying that the blaze still posed a possible threat to lives and homes.
"The bushfire is not yet controlled ... it is currently stationary due to favourable weather condition," the report said.
Northcliffe townsite residents were told they could go home, as were residents of rural properties east of Northcliffe.
But the town is not yet open to the public, with roadblocks still in place.
Residents of nearby Windy Harbour, however, were told it's still too dangerous for them to return home.
A total fire ban is in place for the south of the state with the weather bureau forecasting temperatures in the high 30s and strong, gusty winds.
The Perth metropolitan area is among the regions at risk with lightning strikes expected on Saturday to the east of the Perth hills.
DFES Assistant Commissioner Darren Klemm said firefighters had been battling two major fires caused by lightning over the past week.
"With more dangerous weather on the way we are asking people across the state to be vigilent and ensure they are prepared in case further bushfires occur this weekend," he said.
The Northcliffe fire is the biggest in the South West since the Dwellingup fires of 1961. The perimeter of that fire is currently 300km. The perimeter of the fire near Boddington is 145km long.
More than 300 firefighers are battling those blazes.
While remaining on high alert DFES has downgraded its warnings for the Northcliffe and Boddington fires. The warnings are now classified as "Watch and Act" alerts rather than "Emergency Warnings".
The Northcliffe Nursing Post is closed. All patients and residents from the Pemberton Hospital have been relocated to Warren Hospital and Moonya Nursing Home in Manjimup. The Pemberton Hospital Emergency Department remains open.
One house and five sheds have been destroyed in this bushfire. It was started by lightning strikes on January 30.
The Boddington fire is moving slowly in an easterly direction at 100 metres per hour. It is not contained or controlled and firefighters are expecting easterly winds until Sunday morning.
Meanwhile in the City of Cockburn a bushfire in parts of Wattleup, Hammond Park and Success flared up again on Saturday afternoon with DFES issuing a warning that lives and property were risk.
The bushfire, which is out of control and unpredictable, is burning towards Hammond Park.
Eighty firefighters are battling this blaze. Its cause is suspicious.
In WA there is a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to someone being convicted of arson.
For information on preparing for bushfires visit www.areyouready.wa.gov.au.
