Threatened home saved

A Busselton home was threatened by a bushfire which tore through 12ha of land on St Andrews Lane on Monday.

It took 40 firefighters two hours to contain the blaze, which was believed to have started from smouldering peat underground after a fire last month.

Busselton Shire Council ranger and fire services co-ordinator Tim Wall said the house was saved by its building protection zone which reduced the amount of fuel close to the building.

However, he said leaves in the gutters could have easily ignited and destroyed the house.

“The flames were on top of the house by the time we got to the fire,” he said.

“One ember into there would have been a different story.”

Mr Wall said a change in wind direction could have threatened 10 houses in the area but the quick response from firefighters prevented widespread damage.

But, he said, firefighters could have been slowed down by “rubber neckers” who had driven to the fire for a closer look, blocking the route for emergency services.