Rick Wilson (O'Connor, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

In my time as the member for O'Connor, I've seen serious bushfires on many occasions, but last weekend my constituents faced an unprecedented challenge, with four major fires spread across the south coast, the South West and the south-central Wheatbelt. On Friday and Saturday we saw out-of-control blazes threaten the southern towns of Denmark and Bridgetown, leading to communities evacuated and homes and property destroyed. A cool change on Sunday morning relieved the pressure and gave firefighters desperately needed relief. However, the cool change was so welcome in the south-western towns was still 12 hours away in the central Wheatbelt, where temperatures rocketed to the low 40s accompanied by strong northerly winds. Fires in the Wickepin, Narrogin, Corrigin and Bruce Rock shires got away on Sunday morning and raged over many kilometres, destroying sheds, houses and, most devastatingly for farmers, their precious livestock. While the cool change alleviated conditions on Sunday evening, hot conditions today and tomorrow will be challenging. With many areas of smouldering bush, there's the possibility fires will escape containment lines.

At times of crisis we see the very best of our communities, and last weekend was no exception. From the firefighters at the fire front, to the shire presidents, councillors and staff who organised the evacuations, to the neighbours who helped begin the clean-ups and the often very grisly task of destroying livestock, to the Western Power crews who are working frantically to restore many kilometres of powerlines and restore power, and, indeed, to everybody who played a part in the enormous effort over the weekend: I thank you for your amazing service and wish you all the best over the next few days.

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