Fire crews enjoy brief respite

Cooler weather overnight has brought relief for fire crews fighting a bushfire at Wicherina, east of Geraldton.

The fire, which started about two days ago, has burnt out about 800 hectares in a nature reserve.

About 25 volunteers, co-ordinated by the City of Greater Geraldton, have been working on rostered shifts for the past two days and nights, building containment lines.

Department of Fire and Emergency Services district officer coastal fire Gordon Purvis said the blaze posed no immediate threat to property or life.

“The weather is helping a bit at the moment,“ he said.

“The fire is quite placid because of heavy dew overnight, but we’re expecting it to crank up as the temperature rises.”

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For DFES updates on the fire, click here.

Mr Purvis said the sandy and boggy terrain made it hard going.

“It’s very sandy and boggy and very difficult to move around,” he said.

“The only machines that can work in there are the dozers. The loaders really struggle.”

Mr Purvis said the cause of the fire was not known.