Total fire ban compliance plea after blaze's devastating consequences
Authorities urge people to adhere to total fire ban warnings one year on from a man's "stupid, thoughtless, dumb act" to set alight a pile of leaves and leave it unattended.
A year on from a damaging blaze on a total fire ban day in Western Australia's Great Southern region, authorities are warning failure to comply with restrictions can have catastrophic consequences.
The bushfire in a national park near Denmark started on January 2, 2025 and tore through about 200 hectares of vegetation.
A WA man was fined $2,000 in September after he was charged with failing to take reasonable care to avoid lighting a fire that destroyed property.
The Perth District Court heard the 76-year-old had been helping clear a Bow Bridge rural property, 430 kilometres south of Perth, and had set alight a pile of leaf litter.
A WA man was sentenced in the Perth District Court in September in relation to a bushfire that started in January. (ABC News: Cason Ho)
The man said he saw it fizzle out and then moved on to work on a broken lawnmower, but a few moments later the fire had spread to nearby grass.
He attempted to extinguish the blaze, later with the assistance of others at the property and the local fire brigade.
During questioning by police, the man made full admissions and referred to what he did as a "stupid, thoughtless, dumb act".
In sentencing, Justice Laura Christian said he had not intended to cause damage to bushland or property, and the incident continued to haunt him.
Challenge for crews
Outgoing Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) Great Southern superintendent Wayne Green said responding to fires on total fire ban days was particularly challenging for crews.
Wayne Green says residents should familiarise themselves with what is allowed on total fire ban days. (ABC News: Kyle Pauletto)
"What happens on those days is the fire behaviour is that extreme, it's likely that our resources aren't going to be able to have an impact on extinguishing that fire," he said.
"We have to wait until conditions change and are more conducive to putting our firefighters, whether they're volunteers or career, onto those fires."
Map of total fire bans in places in WA on December 15. (Supplied: DFES)