Black Sunday fires: blaze is contained but residents warned to...

Black Sunday fires: blaze is contained but residents warned to be vigilant

Narelle Towie, AAP From: PerthNow February 08, 2011 12:00PM
Perth Bushfires


UPDATE 7.21pm: A MAN believed to be a police officer is under investigation for using an angle grinder that sparked the destructive bushfires in the Perth hills.

Authorities have determined that sparks from the grinder started the fire that quickly spread and took out dozens of homes in the bush-fringed suburbs of Roleystone and Kelmscott on Sunday.

A total fire ban was in place at the time.

The West Australian newspaper reports the off-duty police officer was using the grinder on a trailer at the front of his home along the Brookton Highway.

Police says they've spoken to the man but no charges have been laid at this stage.

He could be charged with carrying out an act in the open air that causes a fire, an offence that reportedly carries a maximum penalty of 12 months jail or a $25,000 fine.

The investigation comes after many bushfire evacueesspent another night in emergency accommodation anxiously waiting for the fire zone to be declared safe.


Related Coverage
Pictures: Family homes destroyed by bushfires
Aerial shots: Roleystone homes destroyed
Pictures: Massive bushfire in Perth's northeast
Pictures: Black Sunday bushfires in Roleystone

Fires and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) incident controller Gary Kennedy told thousands of people at a community meeting in Armadale that ember attack was still a real threat to properties.

He saidthe fire zone remained dangerous because of falling power poles and trees.

Thebushfires that have now destroyed 72 homes and damaged 32 are contained and under control but residents are still on alert as conditions in the suburbs of Kelmscott and Roleystone remain unpredictable.

FESA have downgraded the bushfire after bringing the blaze under control just after 6.30pm but are warning residents that a fire is still burning and that conditions are changing.

In a statement FESA issued a watch and act warning for Roleystone and Kelmscott.

"The bushfire is contained and under control, however people need to remain vigilant due to strong easterly winds in the area," the statement said.

"There is a possible threat to lives and homes as a fire is burning and conditions are changing."

Some residents are being allowed back into the scorched areas to see their homes but it could be at least two more days before some families evacuated from Kelmscott-Roleystone can return, with fire authorities fearing the blaze may flare again.

The blaze burned out-of-control for more than 32 hours and has devastated 440 hectares of land.

Senior police today warned that anyone who tried to enter the fireground to access their properties may be arrested.

Police also announced that once the area was safe enough to be reopened, they would station officers in the fire zone around-the-clock to ensure looters stayed at bay.

- with Nicole Cox, Phil Hickey, AAP