Kimberley bushfire: Relief on way as emergency services 'at mercy of gods'
kiwijims said
05:03 AM Oct 14, 2016
A fresh team of firefighters is on its way to Western Australia's far north to relieve exhausted crews battling an enormous blaze that has burnt across the heart of the Kimberley.
Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) incident controller Lee Vallence said there were currently about 50 people on the ground fighting the fire.
"We've had temperatures in the high 30s and low 40s with blustery easterly winds, so it's made firefighting efforts very hard," he said.
We are at the mercy of the gods at the moment. Being inaccessible, we can only do limited suppression work," Mr Vallance said.
John Cheeseman, who has been fighting the blaze from Gibb River Station, described the situation as "chaotic".
"It's the biggest fire I've ever seen up this way," he said.
"There's a strong wind and it's pushing the fire every other direction.
A fresh team of firefighters is on its way to Western Australia's far north to relieve exhausted crews battling an enormous blaze that has burnt across the heart of the Kimberley.
Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) incident controller Lee Vallence said there were currently about 50 people on the ground fighting the fire.
"We've had temperatures in the high 30s and low 40s with blustery easterly winds, so it's made firefighting efforts very hard," he said.
We are at the mercy of the gods at the moment. Being inaccessible, we can only do limited suppression work," Mr Vallance said.
John Cheeseman, who has been fighting the blaze from Gibb River Station, described the situation as "chaotic".
"It's the biggest fire I've ever seen up this way," he said.
"There's a strong wind and it's pushing the fire every other direction.
K.J.