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Bushfire destroys Katanning home as it rips through WA’s Great Southern region
ABC Network
Posted 9 Feb 2020
At least one home was lost in a bushfire which descended on the Western Australian town of Katanning on Saturday. The fire tore through farmland as it approached the town of more than 3,500 people in WA’s Great Southern region in the afternoon. There were also reports farming machinery, sheds and infrastructure were lost in the blaze.
The fire was sparked by lightning on Friday but as temperatures reached more than 40 degrees Celsius in the town on Saturday, strong winds pushed the fire to emergency level. Thick smoke hit the town around 4:00pm as fire crews and locals prepared homes along the town’s western edge. At the peak of the fire, 300 fire fighters and a water bomber were used to tackle it.
About 300 people stayed in an evacuation centre in town on Saturday night as an emergency warning was in place. A watch and act alert remains in place for the fire, but conditions have eased on Sunday.
Adrian Richardson runs the co-op in Katanning and helped fight the blaze with the local volunteers. His crew managed to stop the blaze on Friday night before it intensified again on Saturday. “It was even worse on Saturday because the wind got up and it just wasn’t going to be held anywhere,” Mr Richardson said.
“It took off and virtually surrounded Katanning, when you’re behind it and all you can see is a huge ball of smoke and a red glow that’s heading straight for the town, you begin to wonder what you are going to find when you get to the other end of it.
“Luckily, it’s only got to the edge of the town and gone around it, more so than straight through it.”
Mr Richardson also said the local supermarket had lost power and a lot of food had spoiled, so he opened his co-op on Sunday to make sure people had access to fresh food. “We’re going to have the store open for as long as people need us,” he said.
“We’ve also sent out several pallet-loads of water and supplies for the emergency service people still working on the fire and a lot of the town was evacuated and they need to be fed, so we’ve had emergency services in here picking up drinks and stuff for them. “Not everyone has been able to get back home because of roads being closed.”
Katanning-based state MP Peter Rundle said it was remarkable more homes were not lost. “The effort from firefighters and locals was tremendous,” he said. “Their work and the aerial support saved the town from more damage. Luckily it appears no-one has been seriously hurt, which is the main thing.”
More than 100 sheep did not survive the blaze. It was one of three major bushfires burning in the region on Saturday.
It was devastating to see the sheer size of the bush fires burning in the eastern states of our country. However, they were far away and I don’t think many of us understood just how frightening the fires were to our fellow Australians living in those fire zones.
That all changed when we faced our own fire disaster on our own doorstep. The emergency was started by a lightning strike, and with perfect weather conditions, the fire threatened homes, buildings, livestock, and farms over a huge area. In fact, one home was lost within the Katanning townsite itself and many farm houses and buildings were in the firing line.
Residents were ordered to evacuate their homes in town and assemble at Kobeelya. Many headed out of town however, only two roads, the Katanning-Nyabing Road and the Great Southern Highway towards Broomehill were open to traffic. All other roads out of town had been closed.
Thanks to a concerted effort by farmers, volunteer and career fire-fighters from all round the south-west, DFES, and so many other agencies and volunteers, damage was kept to a minimum. Fire fighting units from all round the Great Southern and the South West responded to the call. There was also several water-bombing aircraft and a flying water tanker assisting in the efforts.
We thank ALL of our volunteers and career people for their wonderful courage and service.
It was another case of what the Australian spirit is all about!
As the fire is now part of our history, I would like to add your photos, your stories, and your experiences to this page.
If you have photos or stories you would like to submit and share please complete the form below…
Or you can email me at arthurtodd@lostkatanning.com
or call into the Old Railway Station office in Austral Terrace.
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OTHER FIRES
THE KATANNING ARSON CASE.
AN ARREST MADE.
The West Australian
19 April 1894 – P6
(FROM OUR KATANNING CORRESPONDENT.)
An official enquiry into the circumstances under which an attempt at arson was committed at the old Railway Hotel, Katanning, took place on the 10th inst., before Mr. W. K. Adam, R.M. The jury consisted of Messrs. R. M. Fonceca (foreman), F. E. Piesse, and O. Murray. Mr. A. E. Piesse watched the case on behalf of the Commercial Union Assurance Company.
The jury having been sworn, and having also inspected the scene of the fire, the first witness called was Minnie Cathleen Martin, who deposed that on the night of the 3rd inst. she was sleeping with Mrs. Knox in the building. Mr. Knox was absent on business. She was awakened by Mrs. Knox at about 2 am.
The room was full of smoke; they partially dressed and went into the kitchen to see if the fire proceeded from the fire there. It did not, the whole house was full of smoke. They both ran up to rouse Mr. Butler of the Katanning Hotel, witness’ stepfather. He came down at once and discovered the fire to be in an unoccupied bedroom, two doors from where they were sleeping.
Mr. Butler got water at once and succeeded in putting out the fire after some trouble. It was then seen that it was the work of an incendiary, and witness described the appearance of the room, as already published.
Mrs. Knox’s evidence was materially the same as that of the preceding witness, with the additional mention of the house dog, which was in their room, and seemed very dull, never barking during the night.
James Butler deposed to being called up as stated above and gave a detailed account of the circumstances surrounding the putting out of the fire. He had a considerable amount of furniture in the house, including bedsteads and a bagatelle table. He knew nothing about any insurance on the building; did not report the matter that morning, as the police were absent.
T. J. Knox deposed to renting the building from Mr. Butler. He used it as a general store. He was absent at the time of the fire and returned the following day. The place was locked, his wife being absent, but on finding her she acquainted him with the details of the fire. He noticed the dog; in his opinion it seemed as though it had been dosed.
Elijah Bell deposed that he was the son of Richard Bell, formerly landlord of the Railway Hotel. He used to manage for his father, the building and out-buildings were insured for £700. He did not know the name of the company; Mr. Piesse was the agent. The policy was in his father’s name, he thought. He first heard of the fire on Thursday the 5th inst., from the Rev. Mr. Philipps.
A. E. Piesse deposed to being agent for the Commercial Union Assurance Company. The hotel and out-building were insured for £700. The annual premium was something over £12. and would fall due on April 21st.
This closed the evidence, during the delivery of which the jury questioned continually and showed painstaking efforts to elicit some fact which might throw light upon the affair, without avail, however. Mr. Adam briefly summed up, and the jury, without leaving their seats, returned a verdict of attempted arson against some person or persons unknown. The affair seemed likely to remain an unsolved mystery, and for some days things were in status quo, until on Saturday the 14th inst from information received, constable Connor procured a warrant and arrested Elijah Ball, on the charge of arson.
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DISASTROUS FIRE AT KATANNING.
COOK’S KATANNING HOTEL DESTROYED.
ONE CHILD BURNED TO DEATH.
NARROW ESCAPE OF FAMILY AND LODGERS.
HEROIC BATTLE WITH THE FLAMES.
The West Australian
25 January 1897 – P5
Katanning, January 24.
A great fire occurred here last night. Cook’s Katanning Hotel was totally destroyed, and one life was lost. The building was the property of Messrs. F. and C. Piesse and was covered by insurances to the extent of £1,000. The stock and furniture and valuables, the property of the lessee, are an entire loss, the value being £700.
Shortly after the arrival of the Albany train at about 11.30, the passengers at supper and the townspeople on the platform were aroused by the alarm of fire, and, rushing out, found the back portion of the hotel on fire. Mr. A. E. Piesse, manager for Messrs. F. and C. Piesse, and the employees of the firm were almost at once on the scene, working desperately to prevent the spread of the fire, and they were assisted nobly by all on the ground. Willing hands worked most valiantly in removing the stock and rousing the inmates.
Mrs. Cook and her three children were asleep when the fire broke out and were quickly rescued. Messrs. Moody and Dartnall, surveyors, were also asleep in the front bedrooms and escaped just in time. Mr. Chipper, however, lost all his possessions.
There were three children in the room where the fire originated. The eldest rushed out and gave the alarm, and the first comer, a man named Diment, dashed in and pulled out one of the children, who was asleep in a perambulator. A baby six months old, the child of a servant, Maggie Keenan, perished. It was probably suffocated, but the remains were burnt to a cinder.
An iron safe and the majority of the books and papers were saved, but the electro-plate, paper money, and other valuables were utterly destroyed. The hotel was a wooden building lined with pine and burned fiercely, threatening a detached iron building having under its roof five bedrooms and stables. This building was saved by the strenuous efforts of Phillip White and Michael Cronin, aided by willing, energetic water carriers from the tanks and wells of the Messrs. Piesse.
The wind, fortunately, was from the north-west and light, otherwise Piesse’s’ store, buildings, and chaff shed, containing about 400 tons of hay, most certainly would have been destroyed.
The warmest praise is due to the train passengers, who worked unsparingly till the train started. More people than usual were in town, owing to a large sale in the afternoon. Everyone did his best, forming a wonderfully efficient salvage corps. Mr. Cook and the family have lost everything, including clothes, as did also the servants. The cause of the fire was a candle left alight in the servant’s room on the dressing table near a window, the top sash of which was open, and the wind veering round puffed the curtain on to the flame. The result was immediate ignition, and with no one at hand to extinguish the flames they quickly spread.
Piesse’s aerated water factory, 30 or 40 feet south of the hotel, narrowly escaped. Numberless determined attempts were made to save property and were very successful except where the fire had too firm a hold. Constable Foulkes rendered invaluable assistance.
The screams of the mother trying to rush into the burning room to attempt to save her child were heartrending, and she was only restrained by force. She became wildly hysterical and had to be removed to the telephone room at the railway station, where her screams and moans were plainly heard at Wagin, giving residents almost the first news of the catastrophe.
Since the fire upwards of £6 in coin have been recovered from the building.
The greatest sympathy is felt for the sufferers and was substantially expressed in various ways.
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BUSH FIRES
Great Southern Herald
16 February 1916 – P4
Bush fires have been very prevalent here during the past week. On Thursday last a fire started during the morning west of Mr. F. W. Bilney’s homestead. A very strong wind was blowing and in a short time the fire came in right up to the house. There was no one about with the exception of Mr. and Mrs. Bilney, and they had a very anxious time.
Luckily the homestead sheds, which are full of grain, and the haystack, were saved, but they lost about 1,500 acres of grass.
The fire continued on in a northerly direction and swept the country for miles, many small paddocks being burnt. The last place to be attacked being Mr. Robert Stevenson’s. He lost over 2,000 acres, including about 270 acres of splendid stubble. Luckily, he had all his grain carted (about l,300 bags). The stack was only about half a chain from the stubble, which had yielded up to 25 to 30 bushels to the acre and this, by dint of great exertions, was saved.
Around Balgarrup Mr. A. E. Warburton had a very anxious time. He lost a large amount of stubble and grass. North-west of Kojonup a large fire has been burning for days, and a great deal of damage has been done to grass and stubble. Mr. T. Pearson had his haystack burned.
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Fire at Katanning.
MOURITZ BROS. WORKSHOP ABLAZE.
Tambellup Times
13 April 1918 – P4
Early Wednesday morning Katanning was awakened by an alarm whistle from the mill, and on investigation it was found that the workshop adjoining Messrs Mouritz Bros, garage was blazing. A number of helpers were soon on the scene, and with water obtained from the forge tanks and the police quarters the fire was held until Mr. Frearson, of the Water Supply Department, arrived and, by making use of the scheme water, soon had the flames extinguished.
The damage was confined mostly to the portion of the workshop where the fire commenced, and although severe enough, nothing in comparison to what might have been. A band saw machine and power lathe with the intermediate gearing were badly damaged, together with the wooden pulleys on the shafting, in addition to a quantity of stores, etc, piled on shelving.
The fire broke through an adjacent window and scorched Mr. Thomson’s motor car, but happily, all the other cars, of which there were six or more, were removed before the fire reached them.
It is thought the fire originated in a bale of flock which was against the wall between the two damaged machines. The property was insured in the Commercial Union Fire Assurance Company, Limited, and it will be a matter of adjustment to estimate the damage incurred.
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KATANNING FIRES.
DISTRICT RAVAGED.
Western Mail
19 February 1925 – P7
Katanning, Feb. 11.
One of the worst fires in the history of the district started at noon to-day. Commencing at Boyerine, the fire, sweeping before a strong easterly wind, passed through the Moojebing, Woodanilling, and Norratoonda areas, and entered the township of Katanning on the north and west sides. The fire advanced on a front of over 20 miles, and is burning for six to eight miles along the west side of the railway lines.
Farms in the track of the fire have been burnt right out. Many miles of fencing have been destroyed, haystacks burnt, and sheep and cattle consumed by the flames. Among those who have suffered considerable damage are E. H. Wilhulm, Luke and Robert Bell, Tom Garstone, William Pemble, Radford, W. M. Baker, Munroe, and Eli Quartermaine.
Most of these men have lost almost everything. Wilhulm was taken to the local hospital suffering from severe burns, and it has been reported that George Dennis lost his life in the fire.
From the hill outside Katanning eight haystacks can be seen burning. Reports that have filtered in from farmers whose holdings were on the fringes of the track of the fire tell of the great efforts made to confine the outbreak to as small an area as possible.
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FIRE CALL
Great Southern Herald
25 July 1952 – P1
A fire in the wood shed the rear of the King George Hostel was quickly under control on Monday afternoon and little damage resulted. Members of the Katanning Volunteer Fire Brigade responded the call with their promptitude. Although the engine was on the scene and hoses run out under five minutes of when the siren sounded, The outbreak had already been controlled and members had only to douse smouldering remnants of the fire.