Add Category
One of the wettest winters on record hasn't been enough to extinguish one of Western Australia's longest-running fires, which is burning underground south of Bunbury.
It has been more than six months since Dalyellup residents were evacuated from their homes when the fire started in suspicious circumstances in March.
The blaze continues to burn underground through decomposing organic matter, known as peat.
More than a million litres of water have been put on the fire in recent months by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services.
Bunbury has also seen its wettest winter ever.
More than a million litres of water have been put on the fire. (ABC South West: Bridget McArthur )
Concerns for bushfire season
South West Superintendent Andy Wright said it was a concern the fire was still burning ahead of the approaching bushfire season
"After the rain that we've had, to say that we're surprised would be an understatement," he said.
"That's not been enough to extinguish the fire. So here we are today, after all that rain, hoping that we can assist in putting that out."
Superintendent Wright said swamp was close to the Dalyellup community, and it was predominantly those residents authorities were concerned about.
"Because any sort of southerly wind will push that fire back through the swamp towards the residents again," he said.
DFES South West Superintendent Andy Wright says he's surprised the fire is still going. (ABC South West: Bridget McArthur)
"As that peat burns, and it burns back to the surface … with all the fuel that's still in the area, that becomes an ignition risk for us."
Efforts to extinguish the blaze continue, and it is currently contained and controlled.
The fire has burnt through 250 hectares.
Longest fire ever?
An advice warning is still in place for the fire, which is about 1.5 kilometres from homes in Dalyellup.
It's believed to be the longest-running bushfire warning in WA history.
Superintendent Wright said the six-month anniversary was a milestone he hoped not to reach.
"It's the longest fire I have personally fought, it's just not a title I was hoping for," he said.
"It's not something to celebrate."
In other parts of the world peat fires like these have lasted years. (Supplied: WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services)
Peat fires can burn for years
University of New South Wales bushfire researcher Allan Spessa has studied peat fires in other parts of the world, like Indonesia, where they're more common.
He said they were long lasting and difficult to put out.
"Peat fires are actually a global problem," he said
"Peat fires can burn for a very long period — months, even years.
"Once they're ignited and smouldering a peat fire can burn for a very long time, despite extensive rain, weather changes or even firefighting attempts.
The fire is burning through peat underground and is difficult to put out. (ABC South West: Bridget McArthur )
Dr Spessa said the rainfall was not actually hitting the smouldering fire.
"It may be draining off into other areas, it may be collected in some of the swamp areas that you see, but the actual burning seam of carbon is underneath all that," he said.
Dr Spessa said warmer, drier temperatures could lead to peat fires becoming more common across Australia.
'It's still a tinder box'
Locals in the Bunbury suburb said they were unaware the fire was still burning months on from when they were evacuated from their homes in March.
Craig North said he would like to see more back-burning nearby to protect residents and communication with locals about what was going on.
Craig North packed up his dog and evacuated when the fire first started six months ago. (ABC South West: Bridget McArthur )
"I thought it was all gone because we have had that many heavy rains," he said.
"It's still a tinder box … and I am a little bit concerned. Now we're coming up to fire season, probably we have to be notified more regularly than before.
"This is our house, this is our livelihood and if this gets burnt down it's not easy to replace."