Police probe Wooroloo bushfire that destroyed a home on New Year’s Day
Police are seeking dash cam vision from anyone who may have been travelling on Great Eastern Highway near Wooroloo on New Year’s Day as they investigate whether a bushfire that destroyed a home, along with 800 hectares of bushland, was deliberately lit.
The fire, which was reported just after 2pm on Wednesday near Carter Road, quickly blazed out of control and threatened the nearby Acacia Prison.
The house and its outbuildings destroyed by the bushfire while its owners were overseas. Credit: 9 News Perth
About 150 firefighters were called to extinguish the fire, battling high winds and temperatures close to 40 degrees.
Hundreds of people were without power overnight, and at the time, Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said it was concerning that this was the area’s third fire in weeks.
Strike Force Vulcan, a special WA Police squad tasked with investigating fires, has been unable to determine the cause but hopes the public will assist with any information or vision from the area around the time of ignition.
After one home was lost, Department of Fire and Emergency Services commissioner Darren Klemm said the home was unoccupied at the time, its owners overseas.
“Another five non-residential buildings, which include sheds, greenhouses and machinery that was within those sheds have also been destroyed,” he said.
“Other properties within the vicinity of these have been saved.”
On New Year’s Day, firefighters were contending with 62 separate incidents across the state, including an out-of-control blaze near Albany that forced people to evacuate.
