A bushfire near Boddington, located 150 kilometers south of Perth, Western Australia, burned for over 10 days and reached an emergency level warning on Christmas Day. The incident resulted in property destruction, extensive land damage, and forced resident evacuations.
Impact on Local Residents
Ray Farmer, a fourth-generation farmer in Boddington, reported the loss of two family-built heritage cottages on his property. One of these structures was constructed in 1972 and contained antique furniture and other items. Mr. Farmer also incurred losses totaling 600 hectares of pasture, approximately 600 kilometers of fencing, and the majority of his hay crop. He indicated that insurance would cover a portion of the fencing damage, but a full recovery is expected to take years. Mr. Farmer, 80, remained on his property during the fire to attempt to defend it. His wife, Brenda Farmer, described the experience and stated relief that their sons' residences were not affected.
Neighboring farmer Simon Kelsall received notification from volunteer firefighters on Christmas Day that the fire was projected to reach his property within 50 minutes. The Kelsall family stayed on their farm to combat the blaze, successfully preserving their home. However, Mr. Kelsall estimated that 95 percent of his farm was impacted, with only one and a half paddocks remaining unburnt. The damage included fallen or burnt trees and compromised fencing. He noted that these fires occurred during a period when farmers typically conclude the harvest season. Mr. Kelsall has not yet quantified the total cost of the damage.
Broader Community Impact
The bushfire advanced to within 2 kilometers of the Boddington townsite. Over 80 residents were directed to an evacuation center, with some utilizing temporary sleeping arrangements in the car park. The fire ultimately consumed more than 4,000 hectares of land. Additionally, essential power and water infrastructure in the affected region sustained damage.