Published on Friday, 17 February 2023 at 8:50:55 AM
From Monday 6 February to Monday 13 February 2023, Shire Pastoralists, Staff, Bush Fire Brigade members and Strike Teams from Exmouth, Kalbarri and Geraldton battled a blaze in the Shire’s north, which burned an area fifteen times the size of the Carnarvon townsite.
In an incredible display of neighbourly support, Pastoralists from Doorawarrah, Hill Springs, Minilya, Boologooro and Manberry Stations gathered on Cooralya Station to cut firebreaks with heavy machinery and monitor from the air. The pastoralists were soon joined by Shire staff, Coral Coast Helicopter Services and Gascoyne River Bushfire Brigade volunteers and vehicles to assist with backburning containment lines.
The North West Coastal Highway was closed during the day of Thursday 9 February as the fire cleared a path up to the edge of the bitumen, and the Highway was reopened at 7pm that evening. During this time the Shire provided water to vehicles stopped at the south end of the closure.
On Saturday 11 February, Strike Teams from Exmouth, Kalbarri and Geraldton provided some back up to the team, and together, ended the reign of fire at 1pm on Monday 13 February.
While over 30,000 hectares of scrubland was lost to fire, the crews were there to ensure that the Cooralya, Boologooro and Manberry homesteads were protected, and the fire did not continue north towards Minilya Homestead or Minilya Roadhouse.
The Shire of Carnarvon extends a sincere thank you to the Department of Fire & Emergency Services for their support. Furthermore, to our Pastoralists - the hours they put in, their knowledge of the land and their determination is amazing and made all the difference.
To the eleven Shire of Carnarvon staff who jumped from sweeper trucks to fire trucks, lawn mowers to back burners, and grading roads to grading crucial fire-breaks as flames licked at your elbows… You all get Employee of the Month.
Please be patient with our crew at the Shire while they now catch up on their day-to-day duties that had to be put aside so that they to attend to this emergency.
Further Information:
P | (08) 99410000
E | shire@carnarvon.wa.gov.au
📸: Burn Map via Landgate Firewatch Pro.
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