Fires threatening homes
At least one house was severely damaged and others were under threat in Esperance last night while firefighters also fought a blaze at Boddington.
In Esperance, about 50 firefighters and four fixed-wing water bombers worked to contain a bushfire that started at the back of Pink Lake.
It was reported to authorities about 12.30pm and at 9pm the Department of Fire and Emergency Services kept residents on a watch and act alert.
Esperance Shire president Malcolm Heasman said one home on the south side of Eleven Mile Beach Road had been severely damaged, while other residents had lost machinery and outhouses.
"There is certainly roof damage and damage to the side of the house, but it could have been a lot worse," he said.
"A lot of the people we have come across have defended and they have done a good job, I am very impressed by their preparedness."
Efforts to control the blaze throughout the day were hampered by 40C heat and strong winds.
One firefighter was treated for heatstroke.
Resident Enoch Bergmann stayed to protect his Barook Road home while his wife packed up and left with their baby. He said the fire was across the road from his property when the wind changed.
"When it became clear that the wind had changed and we were out of danger I grabbed a shovel and helped some other mates down the road putting out spot fires," he said.
"The fire was powering in and if the sea breeze hadn't come in when it did we would have had our hands full. It could have got pretty wild."
By 6.30pm, the fire had burnt through about 500ha.
The Pink Lake blaze was one of two that threatened homes in Esperance yesterday, with another fire burning through 15ha of bush in the Sinclair area earlier in the day.
DFES Services regional officer Gavin Wornes said the first fire caused about $10,000 damage to one property and put a school on alert for evacuation.
Residents in Boddington were also on alert last night as a fire threatened lives and homes in the Golden Hills Estate and Randford.
Firefighters who were protecting houses in the estate were battling 8m-high flames.
A relocation point was established at the town oval.
