Two teenagers were arrested with lighting the fire in Champion Lakes that threatened hundreds of homes, killed livestock and caused peak hour chaos on Monday afternoon.
The pair of 14-year-old boys allegedly started the fire just before 4pm on a semi-rural block on Mustang Rd.
According to police, the pair attempted to extinguish the fire but failed, and called triple zero for help at 3.37pm.
Canning Vale Fire and Rescue was the first unit on the scene at 3.43pm. They reported back that strong winds were whipping up flames and the fire was spreading at an alarming rate.
A call was sent to source aircraft, and four bombers (608, 611, 614, and 615) responded within 15 minutes.
The fire jumped the highway, putting properties in Gosnells, Southern River, Champion Lakes, Camillo and Forrestdale at risk.
An Emergency Warning was issued to the surrounding areas with local residents told to flee to safety.
And the Tonkin Highway was closed and cars evacuated – many directed by police to turn around and drive the wrong way down the highway to escape the fast-moving fire.
Over 45 units – many from north of the river – worked into the evening to extinguish the bushfire.
By 9.30pm, the fire was contained and controlled and the warning was downgraded to Watch and Act.
But seventeen units continued to patrol the area on Tuesday, with reports of a flare up near Verna Street at around 9am.
A Watch and Act was reissued at 10.20am as the fire burned out of control again, and residents living near the fire in Gosnells and Southern River asked to prepare to leave.
Firefighters and aircraft worked all day on Tuesday to get the ‘unpredictable’ fire under control.
Aircraft had to be grounded at one point after a drone was spotted flying nearby, and a warning was issued to the public.
“Drones near bushfires risk lives – let emergency crews do their job safely,” DFES said.
The fire has reportedly caused extensive damage to over 150 hectares of bushland and private farming area.
There have also been unconfirmed reports of minor structure damage to farming outbuildings and death of an unknown number of livestock.
The two 14-year-olds were arrested at the Armadale Police Station and have since been charged with one count each of ‘Wilfully Light Bushfire’.
While the Champion Lakes blaze still burned out of control on Tuesday, both boys appeared in the Perth Children’s Court where one immediately pleaded guilty.
His lawyer said he’d been trying to light a camp fire that got away from him when an aerosol can was thrown in.
He tried unsuccessfully to kick the fire out with sand, and then made the call to 000, before guiding firefighters to the source of the ignition.
Both boys were granted bail.
All photographs – Matt Brennan Images
