WA man apologises live on air for starting out-of-control fire
A man who started an “out-of-control” fire in Perth’s outer suburbs has apologised on live television, thanking those who rushed to the scene.
The man, who was identified as James, sparked the fire in grass on the side of Karnup Road in Baldivis, 46 kilometres south of Perth’s central business district on Thursday afternoon when a wheel bearing came off his boat trailer.
“Basically [I was] coming down the road and the wheel bearing collapsed,” he told Nine reporter Kamin Gock on Friday.
“And it started a small fire and it was, with the winds, I just couldn’t put it out.
“Then it just took off to the other side of the road. Then I rang up triple-0 and yeah, before I knew it, it was out-of-control.”
The first alert for the fire was issued at 12.38pm. The blaze spread north-east due to strong winds and burned through paddocks and rural properties. An emergency level status was in place throughout the night, but was downgraded to watch and act alert level on Friday morning.
The fire has burned through about 1,200 hectares, the ABC reported.
Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) Superintendent Ray Buchan said the fire was categorised as an accident.
“It’s been confirmed that the fire was caused by a wheel off a trailer and sparks from that trailer dragging on the ground started that fire,” he said.
“So we’re classing that as accidental.”
The watch and act warning is in place for parts of Mundijong, Hopeland, Oldbury, Mardella, Serpentine, Baldivis, Wellard and Cardup in the City of Kwinana, City of Rockingham and Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale.
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