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A farmer has died after his vehicle became engulfed by a bushfire in southern Western Australia, police said.
Emergency services responded to a fire threatening several homes at West River, near Ravensthorpe, at around 2.20pm on Monday.
The man in his 60s was building a firebreak with a front-end loader when his vehicle was overwhelmed with flames. Police said he died at the scene.
WA Premier Roger Cook said it was a “desperately sad situation” that would leave a “lasting impact” on the tight-knit local community.
Experiencing a fire is traumatic for any community, and when it results in the loss of life, the impact is profoundly devastating. Our thoughts and condolences are with those affected during this difficult time.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services warned thick smoke was still blanketing the South Coast Highway and there remained a threat to lives.
WA Police said the fire was not being treated as suspicious.
Parts of the state are under a total fire ban.
A home was lost in the West Australian regional town of Geraldton on Monday as more fires burned out of control.
Detectives are investigating whether arsonists lit some of the fires that also claimed sheds and cars, and threatened hundreds of other properties, including an aged care facility.
WA Emergency Services Minister Paul Papalia said: “That is appalling behaviour, totally unacceptable and [police] are going to be focused on identifying the culprits and bringing them to justice.”
He also criticised drone operators flying their aircraft near the blaze.
Adding to the concerns, there have been reports of individuals flying private drones near the fire site. This is a particularly troubling situation as it poses risks to emergency operations and public safety.
“This is ridiculous behaviour, incredibly dangerous and can impede, if not endanger, the firefighting crew in those aircraft and potentially result in loss of life and infrastructure,” Papalia said.
In NSW, fires were burning in the Goulburn River National Park and the Hunter Valley region, following hot, dry conditions on Monday that sparked dozens of fires.
On Monday, more than 500 firefighters and incident management personnel were deployed around the state.
— With additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press
