High fire danger conditions, temperatures in the thirties and strong winds are hampering firefighter efforts to contain multiple blazes across the West Coast today.
Around 20 bushfires are currently active in the area, many classified as “complex”, including fires at Yellowband Plain, Canning Peak and Mount Donaldson.
Combined, the fires have already consumed 70,000 hectares of remote wilderness.
Parks and Wildlife Incident Controller Nic Deka said one fire front was advancing toward Pieman Heads earlier today.
“This morning, fires were expected to approach within 900 metres of the shack community at Pieman Heads, however recent fuel reduction burns appear to have reduced the risk to these properties,” he said.
Assessment teams have reported no damage to structures at either Pieman Heads or Sandy Cape, with the only property loss so far being a hut along the Overland Track.
Officials will conduct additional impact assessments once weather conditions improve, Deka said.
State Fire Commander Jeremy Smith said 26 remote area firefighters from New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Queensland have been called in to assist with the fire response.
“New South Wales firefighters have also arrived with facilities to set up the Tullah basecamp, which can facilitate up to 100 personnel,” he said.
An emergency warning remains active for Sandy Cape and surrounding areas, with multiple watch and act alerts still in effect across the region.
