The most ferocious fires seen in WA, four of them ranked level four bushfires, wiped out 60,000ha across WA with Denmark recording the heaviest losses with four houses.
On Monday property owners queued outside the Shire of Denmark for State Emergency Services-issued permits to enter the restricted area.
Many were seeking to be reunited with family members who had stayed to defend their properties or to check on livestock.
About 35 per cent of the Denmark township is believed to have evacuated, mostly to Albany, on Saturday afternoon.
One woman reported it was the hardest decision of her lifetime to evacuate the family farm on Saturday with the dog leaving her husband to defend the property.
In keeping with Denmark’s community spirit, locals have stepped up to assist people whose houses were razed and with affected livestock.
One family has moved into the home of retired farmers in Denmark while the elderly couple has returned to the family farm.
Another couple living in a rental property which was burnt out are seeking alternative accommodation in the squeezed local rental market.
William Bay Bobcat, owned by Luc Longley and operated by Ben Norrish, is offering free clean-ups for people affected by the fire.
Altogether 2150ha was burned out in the blaze which started at the corner of Bayview Rise and McLeod Road and quickly spread in all directions.
One man spoke of seeing smoke from Greens Pool about 9.30am on Friday morning to return to his Panorama Road property to find the fire out of control.
A wall of flame was soon jumping 10m above the karri trees.
On Saturday, apart from all local emergency forces being on hand, 150 career firefighters were brought in to control the blaze.
On Monday a crew of 40 were checking for overhead hazards such as trees and poles and extinguishing smouldering debris ahead of allowing people back into the restricted zone.
Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson, visiting Denmark on Monday, called for residents to be patient and praised the ‘magnificent’ job done by fire crews everywhere.
Though no official cause has been given for the blaze, police confirm it was not deliberately lit. Apart from the four houses lost another four outbuildings were lost or damaged in the Denmark fire.
Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm also in Denmark on Monday said he could not recall a time when four level three bushfires had raged at the one time in WA.
On Saturday afternoon 1700 properties were without power with a complete blackout on Saturday in the Denmark shire.
Rain early on Sunday evening had hastened the downgrading of the fire. Crews were walking roads on Monday checking trees which might have to be cut down if they were deemed to be a danger.
Aircraft had been moved around WA due to the varying capability of fixed winged aircraft and helicopters.
A 737 Fireliner dropped the distinctive red retardant over the blaze on Saturday.
Aircraft were on the move from Friday to Sunday.
Farm dams were made available for refilling waterbombers including Steve and Karen Birkbeck’s big capacity dam on South Coast Highway.
Community members and groups, along with Supa IGA supermarket, have provided food for the hundreds of crew who arrived in Denmark at the weekend.
This article appeared in the Denmark Bulletin, 10 February 2022.
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