Community Fire Information Update Norseman West Complex Bushfire, Thursday 9th of January 2020 – 1700hrs

 The alerts have been downgraded to an Advice level due to providing essential support to the firefighting effort and to support communities impacted. favourable weather conditions. Bushfire area status  Patchy rain throughout the night has reduced the fire behaviour however has Today the fires have burnt over 486.698.14 hectares caused some access issues creating challenges for firefighters. This means vehicles may get bogged resulting in delays in creating and strengthening containment  Balladonia – Area 129,430.12 ha and Perimeter 309.36 km lines, until surfaces dry out.  Norseman – Area 197,883.98 ha and Perimeter 324.04 km  Dundas West – Area 49,772.42 ha and Perimeter 115.79 km  Note: The Londonderry, Bedonia and Cave Rock bushfires are now contained and  Dundas East – Area 21,976.94 ha and Perimeter 98.95 km have been handed back to the local shire.  Peak Charles – Area 33,076.88 ha and Perimeter 151.47 km  Londonderry – Area 12,281.65 ha and Perimeter 104.9 km Weather outlook and bushfire risk  Wylie Scarp – Area 42,276.15 ha and Perimeter 172.11 km  The temperatures will be around the low 20’s for the next two days with east to south easterly winds from 10-25kms/hr with gusts to 40km/hr, RH’s from 65 to Road closures 90%, however the vegetation is drought stressed and highly flammable.  For more weather information go to Bureau of Meteorology website: Eyre www.bom.gov.au As a result of the Balladonia bushfire breaching containment lines yesterday and impacting the Eyre Highway in several places, the highway will remain closed. Although weather conditions have eased, the fire is not yet contained. Roads will only be What fire-fighters are doing re-opened when it is safe to do so.  Personnel from Bush Fire Brigade volunteers, Career and Volunteer Fire and

Rescue Service, DFES, Forests Products Commission, and Parks and Wildlife Service PLEASE NOTE: are concentrating efforts on: Travellers from - DO NOT drive to border until o Strengthening containment lines, confirming the safety of roads, and mopping up / patrolling the Balladonia and Norseman fire areas. the Eyre Highway is announced as open because there is no accommodation, o Building and strengthening containment lines at the Dundas fire. supplies are limited, the conditions are very hot and the border is without shade or o Undertaking hazardous tree assessment along roads and highways and shelter. managing any identified risks. This work needs to be undertaken before roads can be re-opened. Quarantine Inspections o Patrolling the fires that have been contained Travellers from South Australia are advised that 100% quarantine inspections will o Liaising with the CBFCO for the Shire’s Dundas and Esperance. be made at the SA/WA border.  State Emergency Service Volunteers, St John Ambulance officers and volunteers, Department of Communities, Main Roads, Local Government, Independence Nova The Coolgardie-Esperance Highway is only accessible to people with a Restricted mine site, volunteers from Maps WA, and WA Police and SA Police are also Access Permit. Community Fire Information Update Norseman West Complex Bushfire, Thursday 9th of January 2020 – 1700hrs

 Permits will only be issued to people who can demonstrate one of the o There are many straying and potentially injured animals on the following: roads at night. o they are travelling north to /Coolgardie or beyond, south to o Smoke from the bushfire will accumulate on the road at night. Esperance or beyond o have a legitimate reason such as resupply Last vehicles through Vehicle Control Point locations will cease at 1800hrs to o live in the townsite of Norseman, or within the Restricted Access allow travel time. area. The following roads remain closed  Restricted Access Permits can be obtained daily in Norseman (55 Prinsep Street), Salmon Gums Vehicle Control Point and  The (was closed due to flooding) is now open but only intersection Vehicle Control Point along Coolgardie-Esperance Highway. up to the Northern Territory border.  Permits issued only during hours of 7am and 6pm.  Eyre Highway at the quarantine checkpoint at the /  Travel permitted from the hours of 5am to 7pm. South Australian border, 12kms east of Eucla, is closed to west bound  Drivers must be able to provide proof of residence or destination traffic. arrangements in these locations for Permit approval.  Eyre Highway between Norseman townsite and Caiguna

 Permits will not be issued to anyone with intentions to travel east on Eyre  Wattle Camp Track between Wattle Camp and Balbinya Homestead Highway  Balladonia Track / Road  Gora Track Checkpoints  Parmango Road between Balladonia Roadhouse and farming land north  Vehicles wanting to go East of Norseman will not be permitted to go past east of Esperance the checkpoint at Gibson (south of Salmon Gums). Other travellers can proceed to Salmon Gums and obtain permits.  Telegraph Track between Coolgardie-Esperance Highway and Eyre  Restricted Access Permits are issued only during hours of 0700hrs (7am) Highway and 1800hrs (6pm) from the following:  Balladonia Eastern Boundary Track to Point Culver. Balladonia Eastern o in Norseman (55 Prinsep Street), Boundary starts approximately 60 kilometres east of the Balladonia o at the Salmon Gums Vehicle Control Point and Roadhouse off the Eyre Highway o the Goldfields Highway intersection near Kambalda Vehicle  Trans Access Road. Control Point along Coolgardie-Esperance Highway.  Hyden-Norseman Road between Marvel-Lock Forrestania Road and the  Drivers must be able to provide proof of residence or destination Norseman townsite. arrangements in these locations for Permit approval.  Travel is permitted between 0500hrs (5am) to 1900 hours (7pm), because Community Fire Information Update Norseman West Complex Bushfire, Thursday 9th of January 2020 – 1700hrs

 Spargoville Road between Coolgardie-Esperance Highway and Burra Rocks o wash hands before preparing cooked or raw foods and immediately after Road. handling any raw meats or eggs. Prepare raw produce separately from fresh foods and wash all food preparation areas and utensils thoroughly after use  Burra Rock Road, south of Nepean Spargoville Road and Burra Rock Road o wash and dry your hands thoroughly after going to the toilet or washroom, between Cave Hill Road, Burra Rock Junction and Widgiemooltha. handling pets or animals and before and after eating or drinking  Lake King-Norseman Road. o use an alcohol-based gel if hand washing facilities are limited  Peak Charles Road.  Please refer to https://www.emergency.wa.gov.au/ for the latest public o avoid contact with people who have gastro symptoms. information messaging regarding road closures. o if you experience signs or symptoms of gastro such as nausea and/or  People are urged to stop taking back tracks and unsealed roads in an endeavour vomiting, diarrhoea or fever, report to the nearest First Aid post. to avoid the road closures because this is very dangerous. We recommend o If you experience any medical issues, present yourself to the local hospital or against relying on mapping applications to find alternative routes as they may medical centre. be inaccurate and unsafe. COMMUNITY MEETING  Note: DFES is using hire vehicles to transport essential supplies to fire-fighters

and the public may mistake these as non-fire related vehicles. A community meeting will be held tonight at The Esperance Recreation Ground, Black Street at 7pm Current Warnings  Bushfire Advice - in Salmon Gums, the southern part of the Dundas Nature Community support Reserve, Dundas, Buraminya, Norseman, Higginsville, Widgiemooltha,  The Disaster Response Hotline has been opened to receive calls for assistance. Londonderry, Burra Rock, Victoria Rock, North Cascade, including the Norseman The Disaster Response Hotline number is 1800 032 965 townsite, Higginsville mine site, Peak Charles National Park and Fraser Range in the SHIRES OF COOLGARDIE, DUNDAS, ESPERANCE and WIDGIEMOOLTHA Stay Up to Date  Bushfire Advice - near the Balladonia Roadhouse on the Eyre Highway and  DFES information line 13DFES (133 337) surrounding areas including Caignua, Point Culver, , and Buraminya in  Emergency WA Website: www.emergency.wa.gov.au the SHIRES OF DUNDAS and ESPERANCE  ABC Local Radio Health and Hygiene The next update may be issued at 1700hrs (5pm) Thursday 9 January 2020  St John Ambulance have established first aid posts at Prinsep Street, Norseman.  The WA Department of Health advises to:

o drink plenty of fluids such as plain water (ensure the water is from a potable source that is safe for drinking) or oral hydration drinks Community Fire Information Update Norseman West Complex Bushfire, Thursday 9th of January 2020 – 1700hrs

Community Fire Information Update Norseman West Complex Bushfire, Thursday 9th of January 2020 – 1700hrs

Balladonia fire viewed from Eyre Highway on Wednesday 8 January 2020.

Community Fire Information Update Norseman West Complex Bushfire, Thursday 9th of January 2020 – 1700hrs

Balladonia Fire from the air on Wednesday 8 January 2020.

Balladonia Fire Hop-over looking East – Wednesday 8 January 2020