Patricia Gill, Denmark Bulletin
Firefighters battled steep terrain and near-inaccessible bush initially resorting to backpack sprays to contain a deliberately lit fire on Mt Hallowell at the weekend.
The fire on the northern side of the mountain was reported about 5.30pm on Friday night and was started by teenagers whom Denmark Police say are known to them and have been dealt with.
Realising the fire – which was burning in grass and getting near to scrub – was out of control, the youngsters alerted 000 for help. The site of the fire was on the edge of the Bibbulmun Track and near a cave and brought under control about 10.30pm on Friday night.
Two crews stayed on to monitor it overnight. Two helicopter water bombers were called and on Saturday saturating the area to prevent the likelihood of outbreaks with the blaze mopped up that day. Thereafter, it has been patrolled but this was expected to cease on Tuesday.
Firefighters slogged through, at times, thigh-deep bush to reach the blaze. Though only burning 600sqm, the big challenge for crews was in reaching the fire with a water hose.
Eventually 400m of hose was dragged into the bush with both a truck hydrant and a fire appliance used to pump the water.
Chief fire control officer Lez Baines said initially it was thought that pumping the water uphill would not be possible.
He described the job of volunteer firefighters as extremely difficult and challenging.
He said the issue with the fire was that it was burning in a northwest direction downhill towards houses and in in a south-west direction, heading uphill.
“As a fire heads uphill, if you do not stop it, it will intensify,” he said.
Hard work neutralises Mt Hallowell threat
Resorting to crew on foot with backpacks was an old fashioned method of fire fighting.
They had worked in the evening when lack of light made walking difficult with tripping hazards.
Mr Baines said a positive of the emergency had been that no machinery was used through the bush.
Where the water hose had been dragged in, the Shire of Denmark would ensure the bush was regenerated as soon as possible.
Parts of the Bibbulmun Track were closed and have now been opened.
Fire hoses would remain in place until Tuesday and there were no longer any warnings in place.
This article appeared in the Denmark Bulletin, 23 February 2023.