Geraldton bushfires: String of ‘highly suspicious’ bushfires raging along Geraldton-Mount Magnet Road

A string of “highly suspicious” bushfires burning along a major regional road are being investigated by police and fire investigators after they prompted a “watch and act” warning from emergency services. Four fires were reported along Geraldton-Mount Magnet Road and one along Brand Highway in the space of about half an hour on Saturday afternoon, police say. The “watch and act” alert has been downgraded to “advice” for people in or near Geraldton-Mount Magnet Road between Northern Gully Road South to the east, Lovers Lane to the west, and extending approximately 8 kilometres north from Geraldton-Mount Magnet Road in parts of Ambania, Durawah, Eradu, Mullewa, North Eradu, Northern Gully, Tenindewa, Wicherina and Valentine. Firefighters along with farmer response units battled the ferocious blazes, managing to bring them under control by 8pm on Saturday. Wind gusts up to 44km/h made the job more difficult. Emergency services were alerted to the fires about 3.30pm along the major road, with Geraldton-Mount Magnet Road closed in both directions between Moonyoonooka Store and Mingenew-Mullewa Road and motorists urged to exercise extreme caution and seek alternative routes. Police and fire investigators will work to determine the cause of the fires as firefighters respond to another blaze which started nearby, about 35km away just south of Geraldton. The bushfire started near the intersection of Brand Highway and Rudds Gully Road and was moving in a north-easterly direction. It is now controlled but not yet contained, and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services has issued bushfire advice, telling residents to stay alert and monitor their surroundings. Although there is no immediate danger, DFES has advised residents to keep up to date in case the situation changes.