On the weekend of 5 and 6 February 2011, two major bushfires affected metropolitan Perth. One fire occurred in the suburbs of Roleystone and Kelmscott, south-east of Perth, while the other happened in the suburbs of Red Hill, Herne Hill, Millendon, Baskerville and Gidgegannup in the north-east.

The Bureau of Meteorology had issued a Fire Weather Warning and  a Total Fire Ban was declared for all the fire-affected areas prior to the commencement of the fires.

Seventy-one homes were destroyed and an estimated 39 homes damaged by the Roleystone fire, which was started accidentally by angle-grinder sparks. Approximately 440 hectares were burned at Roleystone and 1,100 ha burned at Red Hill. Approximately 517 families were evacuated and at least 12 people were hospitalised.

On Monday 7 February 2011, the Western Australian Premier declared the bushfire-ravaged areas of Roleystone, Kelmscott and Red Hill, natural disaster zones.

The Insurance Council of Australia estimated the preliminary 2011 damage at $35 million.