SAES crews rush to fires in the west
SAES crews rush to fires in the west
10 December 2021
A mobile kitchen from The Salvation Army Emergency Services Western Australia Division is loaded onto a semi-trailer early today for transporting to bushfires in Margaret River, south of Perth, to support firefighters and people needing to evacuate their homes.
Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) crews were dispatched this morning to the fronts of uncontained bushfires around the popular tourist area of Margaret River, south of Perth in Western Australia.
As well as supporting fire crews and other emergency services battling the fires in the field, teams also set up in evacuation centres.
The Army’s Public Relations Secretary for WA, Warren Palmer, said a team of seven, made up of crews from Perth and Bunbury, was dispatched to Margaret River, about 280km south of Perth. The set-up includes a catering truck, utility, mobile freezer, and other equipment for an initial deployment of five days.
Warren said it was hoped to recruit other volunteers from the area to have 12 people on regular shifts for the deployment. "It is still unclear at this point how many people we will likely be serving, but what we do know is that they will start in the provision of dinner around 5pm [WA time] today," he said.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) in WA indicated that 150 firefighters continued to battle the blaze as it approached the small township of Karridale. More than 5000ha of bushland had been burnt, but no reports of property loss.
Warren said the township of Margaret River, as the most populated town in the fire’s path, was on high alert. Residents and campers in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park in the path of the fire had been evacuated.
The DFES reported the fire was fast-moving in several directions and not yet under control or contained. However, the situation had eased from yesterday and forecast lower temperatures and rain would help, but the main concern was the wind fanning the flames.
DFES Commissioner Darren Klemm described the situation in the area as "extremely serious" with the terrain and thick forest in the area making it difficult for firefighters to get access.
Queensland flooding
On the other side of the country, Queensland continues to clean up after heavy rain and flooding.
In the town of Inglewood, the Army’s Strategic Emergency and Disaster Management (SEDM) team continues to provide financial and practical assistance to people affected by the floods at the government-coordinated Community Recovery Centre.
National Recovery Specialist Major Sue Hopper, who has headed up the SEDM team at a recovery centre in the town, said about 90 people a day had sought assistance after floods went through the area last week, destroying property, fences, crops, and stored harvest. Sue said some residents were still without power.
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