Geraldton firefighters contain 440 Roadhouse scrub fire, deemed suspiciously lit

A fire that broke out next to the 440 Roadhouse north of Geraldton on Saturday afternoon has been deemed suspicious. A spokesperson for the Department of Fire and Emergency Services said they received a triple zero call a short time after 3pm on Saturday concerning a scrub fire on Chapman Road in Drummond Cove. More than a dozen firefighters were sent to the blaze, 50m south of the 440 Roadhouse, including Geraldton’s volunteer fire rescue service and the Waggrakine Bushfire Brigade. They first arrived on the scene at 3.30pm as the fire grew to about 250m by 250m and was contained to the western side of the fire grounds. Firefighters were able to contain the fire and bring it under control by 4.12pm ande it was extinguished by 6pm. DFES said the cause of the blaze was suspicious and have handed over the investigation to WA Police.