Bushfire - Gunbarrel Highway

Our local news tonight had Fire authorities warning that this summer could be one of the worst bushfire seasons for the Eastern and Southern states of Aus. since 1994. Hope they are wrong. Bob.

Alan when we were out there with Desert Discovery we had fires all over the place. The main camp was on evacuation standby the day before I got there and we had fire watches on 2 nights. When heading out towards Lake Christopher we saw a spinafex fire start from a reignition and within 10 minutes it was a raging inferno. As we drove around the Rawlinson Range along the Gunbarrel Hwy we were being chased by fires and at one stage fire was either side of us up to the track.

Fortuantely the fires abaited in the 2nd week I was at camp.

The TO's have been doing a great deal of prescribed and otherwise burning all through the Gibson & GVD areas. Literally everywhere we looked we saw fires.

Revised ADVICE issued at 2:55pm.

It says more or less the same thing.

I'm not sure how the DEC are monitoring it....

Latest advice from 9:50am, slightly changed, now mentioning the Gary Highway as well.

"The fire is burning north and south of the Gunbarrel Highway near Everard Junction. It may impact on the Gunbarrel Highway and Gary Highway over the next few days, north and east of Everard Junction."

Slight update @ 2:25pm

"The fire is burning north and south of the Gunbarrel Highway near Everard Junction. It may impact on the Gunbarrel Highway and Gary Highway over the next few days, north and east of Everard Junction."

No change in the advice, however the cause has changed:

CAUSE:
The fire is suspected to have been caused by a re-ignition of a prescribed burn conducted jointly by DEC, Central Desert Native Title Service and traditional owners.

Here's a 2 day old Satellite picture of it.



From NASA - HERE

A Hi-res picture (sort of) is available for download.

Worst may be over:

@10:45am
ALERT LEVEL:
A bushfire ADVICE remains in place for people travelling on Gunbarrel Highway
in Gibson Desert Nature Reserve in the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku.

The fire is no longer threatening the Gunbarrel and Gary highways however, warmer conditions expected in the next couple of days may again cause the fire to flare-up.

It's still going.

Extracts from latest advice at 11am:

The fire is burning along the Gunbarrel Highway near Mt Beadell but is no longer
threatening the Gary Highway.

The fire is burning in remote spinifex country and is estimated to have burnt 1.4 million
hectares.

Still going, a week and a half later.

ALERT LEVEL:
A bushfire ADVICE remains in place for people travelling on
Gunbarrel Highway in the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku.

The fire is burning east of the Gunbarrel Highway, north of Mt
Beadell. The fire is burning in a westerly direction and may
impact the road in a few places during the day.

2:00pm update.

ALERT LEVEL:
A bushfire ADVICE remains in place for people travelling on
Gunbarrel Highway in the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku.

The fire is burning north of the Gunbarrel Highway, west of
Lake Breaden. The fire is burning in a southerly direction
towards the highway and may impact the road in a few places
during the day.

Gunbarrel Highway to Warburton now closed due to the fire!!
Presumable this means the Heather Highway as well.

ALERT LEVEL:
A bushfire ADVICE remains in place for people travelling on Gunbarrel Highway in
the Shires of Ngaanyatjarraku and Wiluna.

The Gunbarrel Highway has been closed due to the possible impact of fire in the
next few days. There is no threat to lives or homes. Although there is no immediate danger you need to be aware and keep up to date if you are travelling through this area.
WHAT TO DO:
- Stay alert and monitor your surroundings.
- Watch for signs of a bushfire, especially smoke and flames.
ROAD CLOSURES:
The Gunbarrel Highway has been closed from Carnegie Station to Warburton until further notice. For more information contact the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku on (08) 8956 7966 or the
Shire of Wiluna (08) 9981 8000.

Bush Fire All Clear.

ALERT LEVEL:
An ALL CLEAR has been issued for people travelling on Gunbarrel Highway in
the Shires of Ngaanyatjarraku and Wiluna.

The bushfire continues to burn in remote country and is no longer threatening the highway. DEC will continue to monitor the fire and may need to re-issue warnings if the threat returns.

The danger has passed but you need to remain vigilant in case the situation changes.