TIMELINE: A minute-by-minute chronology of the disaster

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Evening – Significant thunderstorms were noted in the Dwellingup area.

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

6:00 AM Residents preparing to leave for work in Waroona reported a smell of smoke.
6:30 AM Two lightning strikes caused fires 1.2 kilometres east of the Murray river were detected by P&W staff on the LandGate Fire Watch website (fire 68 and fire 69). The Parks and Wildlife (P&W) Perth Hills District Officer performed the role of incident controller (IC) until around 9pm.

6:45 AM First response from Dwellingup. Decision to attack Fire 69 due to safety concerns on Fire 68.
6:58 AM Spotter plane became airborne.
7:25 AM P&W spotter aircraft confirms two small fires about 1km apart. The fires were 3ha and 6ha in size.
7:30 AM Two fires reported at Lane Poole Reserve and the adjoining State forest by spotter aircraft. Trucks and loader were dispatched from Dwellingup. Work centre coordinator from Jarrahdale started getting resources available for 0745 hours start.
8:15 AM Spotter aircraft reported the fire was 8 hectares in size. Fire Rate of Spread was 50-100 metres per hour.
9:30 AM The objectives were to contain both fires to the east of the Murray River and west of Murray Road.
11:30 AM Fire 68 jumps over Murray River.
11:43 AM Fire 69 contained.
12:00 PM Fire 68 800m east of Murray River.
1:30 PM Fire grown to 160ha, the closure of Nanga Road ahead of the fire was authorised by the IC.
4:05 PM Resources sent to protect Alcoa mine site in Wagerup.
7:00 PM Fire 2800ha in size with a forward rate of spread of 1.5-2km/hr. Pyrocumulonimbus (PyroCB) activity with lightening was widely observed. Fire was 13km from Waroona.
7:12 PM Fire crossed Nanga Road, 4km east of Samson Brook Dam.
7:30 PM Fire crossed Alcoa belt line, east of Samson Brook Dam.
9:10 PM Waroona is reported to be under sustained ember attacks coming from the fire.
9:36 PM Fire was well across the South Western Highway and heading west through farmland.
11:30 PM The fire is reported by P&W to be within 1km of the Waroona townsite.
11:58 PM Main Roads reports South Western Highway shut from Coronation Road to Uduc Road.

Lightning struck tree at the origin of the fire. Arrow points to fresh scarring on the trunk. Photo: Peter Moore, Parks and Wildlife, Dwellingup.

Thursday, January 7, 2016

12:00 AM The fire had covered 35kms and reached 12,000ha in area. The First Incident Support Group meeting is held via teleconference. Vehicle control points established on South Western Highway.
12:22 AM 22 trucks on site to respond to fire south of Waroona. Wind gusts 80km/h, fire 3m high.
4:54 AM Fire reported as being 5km from Forrest Highway.
5:53 AM Fire reported as being 1km from Forrest Highway.
8:09 AM 30 people evacuated from Preston Beach by boat. One shed reported as damaged Preston Beach.
9:00 AM Fire moving towards Wagerup, possible threat.
11:00 AM Fire activity around the Wagerup refinery to the north east of Yarloop generated spotting activity. A separate transformer fire broke out at Cookernup.
12:34 PM Lightning observed in the fire area.
12:54 PM Yarloop reported as contained.
3:56 PM Main Road notes that CMT 2pm meeting advised fire heading south – Yarloop and Harvey under threat.
5:00 PM Water Corporation reports no water in Yarloop or Preston Beach.
6:30 PM Fire reported to be near the power lines 1-2km north and east of Yarloop and displaying moderate behaviour. Strike force of 16 personnel and five appliances deployed from lower south west region of Harvey.
7:06 PM Wagerup Refinery gas plant reported as being under imminent threat of fire.
7:16 PM Fire crossed the South Western Highway and entered Yarloop.
7:20 PM Localised very strong wind event in the Yarloop area. Fire behaviour rapidly escalated, triggered by the sudden arrival of a strong easterly wind estimated at around 80km/hr. Yarloop township reported seriously impacted by fire
7:51 PM Priority message. Need Peppermint Grove Road shut immediately. 50m flame height in pine plantation. Fire unstoppable and will jump highway.
8:29 PM Lake Preston is reported as coming under attack from the fire. Fire reported as having jumped Forrest Highway 2.5km north of Coronation Road.
9:21 PM Yarloop Hotel was reported to be on fire followed by the hospital, fire station and multiple houses.
9:42 PM Yarloop fully impacted by the fire. At this time the fire station and police station are on fire.
11:47 PM The fire was already 4km south west of Yarloop.

Friday, January 8, 2016

12:00 AM The Yarloop Strike Team leader makes contact with other volunteer fire crews. Throughout the night the Strike Team and Volunteers extinguish fires around Yarloop properties, door knocked residents, responded to 000 calls and respond to reported injuries and missing persons. Fire crews are unable to relieve and assist the Strike Team and Volunteers during the night given the hazardous conditions. 70-80 people gathered at town recreation centre and were advised to make their way to recreation ground.
1:46 AM Fire reported to be jumping Forrest Highway near Myalup.
3:29 AM Report of fire burning between Lake Clifton and Myalup.
4:19AM Approximately 100 residents reported taking refuge at a local oval in Yarloop.
7:50AM Harvey ordered to evacuate.
8:40AM Crews withdrawn from Yarloop and deployed to Harvey, backed up by volunteers.
12:36PM Reports that 100 people from Preston Beach cannot get out.
1:15PM 60 residents in private transport commenced evacuation from Yarloop to Pinjarra under escort.
2:00PM Aerial food drop to Preston Beach complete.
2:07PM Fire reported as having progressed into Cookernup.
4:38 PM Report of a fire 5-8km south of current maps.
10:45 PM Fire is reported as 5km out of Harvey.

Saturday, January 9, 2016

Pyrocumulonimbus cloud observed from Dwellingup at 11.34am on January 7. The upper part of the plume appears to be under a westerly wind influence. Photo: Steve Gunn, Parks and Wildlife, Dwellingup.

1:30AM Fire moving towards Harvey at a slower rate.
4:50AM Preston Beach warning downgraded to watch and act.
11:30AM Community meeting at Waroona Recreation Centre.
2:00PM Community meeting at Murray Leisure Centre.
4:32PM Advised Harvey fires are spot fires.

Sunday, January 10, 2016

1:16PM Road closures in Forrest Highway from Pinjarra Road to Myalup Beach Road, Old Coast Road from Old Bunbury Road to Forrest Highway and South Western Highway from Greenlands Road to Uduc Road.

Monday, January 11, 2016

Early Morning – Waroona townsite ceased being under Emergency Warning.

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

6:25AM Main Roads re-opens Forrest Hwy in both directions from Mandurah to Bunbury.

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Waroona-Yarloop fires - one year on: Timeline of the Waroona-Yarloop bushfire's destruction