19-Year-Old Charged Over Kalamunda Bushfire

A 19-year-old man has been charged with breach of duty after Western Australia Police alleged he threw a firecracker into dry grass, igniting a bushfire that scorched more than 25 hectares of native bushland in Kalamunda early Thursday morning.

The incident occurred just after midnight on Temby Avenue in the bushland east of Perth Airport, as the area marked the transition from New Year's Eve celebrations. Police stated that the firecracker sparked the blaze, which rapidly escalated due to dry conditions and rising temperatures. By Thursday, the fire had spread westward, prompting a major response from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, including multiple ground crews and aerial support. Officials described the fire as contained but not yet controlled, with firefighters working through the night to prevent further spread toward nearby communities.

The bushfire threatened properties in Maida Vale, Forrestfield, and Kalamunda, leading Emergency WA to issue an initial warning that was later downgraded to a watch and act alert as conditions stabilized. More than 2,000 homes in the affected areas lost power, disrupting residents amid the holiday period. To support those...