Throughout late January and February, several dry thunderstorms crossed the Goldfields–Esperance region in WA’s south-west, with associated lightning starting numerous bushfires.
By Friday 22 February, as firefighters were experiencing extreme fire behaviour due to high temperatures and variable winds, a multi-agency incident management team had been established in Esperance to manage the fires in partnership with local fire brigades.
Weather conditions at the Esperance complex bushfires deteriorated and significant additional resources from across WA were mobilised to assist firefighting efforts. On 25 February, an out-of-control fire threatened lives and homes in parts of Boyatup and Howick, about 100 kilometres east of Esperance.
On 28 February, temperatures were unusually hot in parts of the region and Kalgoorlie in the north experienced 44.9°C, its hottest February temperature on record. Nine large fires were still burning out of control in the Goldfields–Esperance region, four of them close to Esperance and the highways leading to the town.
Significant Aboriginal heritage sites were threatened by several of the fires. Where safe to do so, Indigenous Elders helped protect these sites from damage by walking in front of earthmoving equipment, conducting tracking and mitigation operations.
The long weekend of 2–4 March saw an influx of tourists to the area. Increasing concerns about public safety led to a number of national parks and camping sites in the region closed. Information on these closures was broadcast widely through various media channels, as well as through accommodation facilities, local residents’ networks and electronic roadside signs.
The influx of visitors also caused a scarcity of accommodation for firefighters. The Australian Defence Force responded, erecting temporary accommodation in Esperance for up to 300 people working on the fires.
In all, over 300 personnel from DFES, the Bush Fire Brigades, the Parks and Wildlife Service, the State Emergency Service, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and local governments were actively involved in fighting the fires.Numerous other personnel assisted in the incident management team and in the regional and state operations centres.
By the time they were extinguished in March, the Esperance complex bushfires had burned approximately 315,000 hectares and had a total perimeter of 1,500 kilometres. Despite the extent of the fires, no lives were lost, and buildings destroyed by the fires were limited to outbuildings and sheds.