Farmer killed fighting West River bushfire near Ravensthorpe on WA's south coast
A farmer was killed fighting a bushfire near Ravensthorpe on Monday. (Supplied: Belinda Mcharg)
In short:
A farmer has been killed in a bushfire in West River on Western Australia's south coast.
The farmer died on Monday afternoon while fighting the blaze — one of two emergency-level bushfires in the state on the first day of summer.
Meanwhile, three volunteer firefighters suffered burns in another bushfire in Wagin.
A farmer has been killed while fighting a fast-moving bushfire on Western Australia's south coast.
Police said a man in his 60s, believed to be a local resident, was operating a front-end loader to establish a firebreak on his property in West River near Ravensthorpe on Monday afternoon.
His vehicle became engulfed by flames and he died at the scene.
A kangaroo flees the West River bushfire near Ravensthorpe. (Supplied: Richard Hannington)
WA Premier Roger Cook described the death as "devastating" and said it would have a lasting impact on the "tight-knit community" of Ravensthorpe, more than 500 kilometres south-east of Perth.
"A fire is a traumatic event for any community but when it is combined with a loss of life, that is devastating," Mr Cook said.
Roger Cook described the death as devastating. (ABC News: Courtney Withers)
"This is a desperately sad situation and our hearts go out to that gentleman and his family.
"This is just another reminder of just how quickly things can turn and how quickly we can have a loss of life, it is a very sad day."
Smoke billows from a fire in a paddock west of Ravensthorpe on Monday afternoon. (Supplied: Richard Hannington)
Firefighters were still battling the blaze on Tuesday morning as it continued to pose a possible threat to lives and property, with several warnings in place.
Three injured in separate fire
Meanwhile, three people were injured while fighting another fire in Wagin, more than 200km south-east of Perth, on Monday.
Two men in their 60s and a woman in her 30s were believed to be inside a fire truck in a field when it was overrun by flames.
The trio, who are volunteer firefighters, were taken to the local hospital and treated for burns.
It is understood one of the men suffered burns to his back and may require surgery in Perth.
The blaze, reported on Monday evening, is still not under control.
Shire of Wagin president Phillip Blight said the crew may have been caught out by changing winds.
"What happens is you get the slightest gust of wind and it changes the fire direction," he told ABC Radio Perth.
"And all of a sudden the parameters in front of the firefighters change in the blink of an eye."
'Tough times' for community
Local MP Peter Rundle said his thoughts and prayers went out to the family and friends of the farmer who died.
Peter Rundle says the Ravensthorpe community will band together. (ABC News: Keane Bourke)
He said Ravensthorpe had been through "tough times" recently, with nearby mines shutting down and the community store being closed, and the man's "tragic" death would only add to that.
"People in the regions look after each other and they spring into action when they can … they put their arms around each other,"he said.
"As a community they will work together firstly to contain the fire obviously, and then look after that family especially."
A trailer on fire on a property in West River, west of Ravensthorpe, on Monday afternoon. (Supplied: Richard Hannington)
In a statement, the Shire of Ravensthorpe said it was devastated by the man's death.
"Our thoughts are with his family and friends, and also all emergency services still working on the fire," it said.
'Treacherous' conditions
The fire, in the locality of West River and West Fitzgerald, was declared an emergency just after 3pm on Monday and was producing ember attacks ahead of the fire front.
At the fire's peak, about 100 firefighters and water bombers were battling the blaze, but were hampered by gusty northerly winds.
The West River region, home to large-scale crop farms, is in the middle of the annual grain harvest.
Detective Inspector Rhonda Alexander said there had been "significant damage" to crops.
She said farmers were confronted with very hot and dry conditions.
"What they had to initially try and extinguish … was just no match for what they were confronted with," she said.
She said the cause of the fire was unknown but did not believe it was suspicious.
Detective Inspector Rhonda Alexander says crops have been badly damaged by the blaze. (ABC Great Southern: Rhys Jones)
The bushfire has burned about 5,000 hectares.
DFES Incident Controller Stephen Petersen described conditions on Monday afternoon as "treacherous".
"It was hot, gusty winds — crews were under a lot of pressure and a lot of heat,"he said.
Stephen Petersen says people in town of Ravensthorpe are devastated. (ABC Great Southern: Andrew Chounding)
"It will hit this community very, very hard."
Police will investigate the man's death and prepare a report for the coroner.
Visit Emergency WA, call DFES on 133 337, follow DFES on Twitter or listen to ABC Local Radio to stay up to date.
Loading