Source : Perth Now news
A woman has been charged after allegedly lighting a bushfire, which threatened homes in Perth Hills and triggered delays in every terminal at the city’s airport.
Police allege the 41-year-old woman visited a firebreak at Holmes Rd and Whistlepipe Court in Forrestfield between 1.30pm and 1.40pm on Thursday, October 29.
There, she allegedly used a mobile heat source to set multiple fires along the firebreak.
According to WA Police, the Kalamunda resident was arrested a day later on Friday and has since been charged with four counts of wilfully light or cause to be lit a fire likely to injure or damage.
She is expected to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on Saturday.
The fire on Thursday spread rapidly and threatened to destroy homes in the nearby Perth Hills.
Residents in Forrestfield, Kalamunda and Lesmurdie were told to stay inside as the fire spread, with some areas being warned it was too late to leave.
“There is a possible threat to lives and homes as a fire is burning in the area and conditions are changing,” the Department of Fire and Emergency Services warned at the time.
Thick plumes of smoke and fire could be seen near residential homes, with locals horrified by the rapid spread of the flames.
“It just came up really quickly,” resident Kris told 9News.
“We didn’t see anything at all and next thing my husband said ‘I think there’s a fire starting’.”
The flames were so intense it also caused power outages ta Perth Airport, causing delays for bag check-in and flights to be grounded, with departures delayed.
The airport’s services were operating as normal by Thursday evening.
