A fire, thought to have been sparked by machinery, started at around 2.30pm on Tuesday 19 February in a pine plantation off Radiata Road near Southampton in the Shire of Donnybrook- Balingup. It was escalated to an emergency alert just after 7.00pm as it spread initially to the west-northwest in Donnybrook-Balingup and Nannup shires in WA’s south-west, 215 kilometres south of Perth.

By that evening, more than 100 firefighters from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, Bush Fire Brigades, the Parks and Wildlife Service and Forest Products Commission WA were fighting the fire, supported by water bombing aircraft. Firefighters worked throughout the night to contain the fire. Several homes were saved, and the fire was later downgraded to a ‘watch and act’.

An evacuation centre was set up at the Nannup Recreation Centre for anyone fleeing the fire, which threatened many homes, holiday accommodation and farms. A number of roads were closed.

By 21 February, weather conditions had moderated, enabling up to 200 firefighters, who continued to be supported by aircraft, to establish containment lines. However, Balingup Primary School was pre-emptively closed on 21 February due to the ongoing threat.

In total, the fire burnt 3,336 hectares including 1,765 hectares of pine plantation estate. Four timber harvesting machines were destroyed, as well as five outbuildings.