Overview
- Emergency alerts in Geraldton were progressively downgraded after Monday’s extreme heat and wind, with some residents told they can return cautiously as advice warnings remain.
- DFES confirmed one house in Waggrakine was destroyed, and incident managers said crews defended roughly 600 other properties from ember attacks.
- Strike Force Vulcan and local detectives have launched inquiries into suspected deliberate ignitions around Geraldton, while the causes of other blazes are still being assessed.
- On the south coast, a farmer in his 60s died when his front-end loader was overtaken by flames near West River, with police preparing a report for the coroner and stating the fire is not being treated as suspicious.
- Hundreds of firefighters and aircraft were deployed, power was cut to thousands, schools and roads closed, and authorities condemned private drone flights as they urged communities to follow remaining warnings as conditions ease.