Bush fire at Banjup, Western Australia – February 2014.

Posted on by

More horrific bushfires around the Perth/Fremantle area recently (Banjup to be more precise). I was on my way to shoot a winery when I observed the early smoke of what became a raging fire. I spent a while photographing the fire – the pilots of the helicopter and plane water-dumpers/water-bombers appear fantastically skilled, and also very courageous; thankfully, damage to human and home was minimal.

 

A bushfire rages at Banjup, Western Australia.

Banjup-Bushfires-2AM-005092
Copyright Andrew McInnes. All Rights Reserved.

 

A bushfire rages at Banjup, Western Australia.

Banjup-Bushfires-2AM-005089
Copyright Andrew McInnes. All Rights Reserved.

 

A bushfire rages at Banjup, Western Australia.

Banjup Bushfires 2AM-004519
Copyright Andrew McInnes. All Rights Reserved.

 

A bushfire rages at Banjup, Western Australia.

Banjup Bushfires 2AM-004549
Copyright Andrew McInnes. All Rights Reserved.

 

A bushfire rages at Banjup, Western Australia.

Banjup Bushfires 2AM-004771
Copyright Andrew McInnes. All Rights Reserved.

 

A bushfire rages at Banjup, Western Australia.

Banjup Bushfires 2AM-004559
Copyright Andrew McInnes. All Rights Reserved.

 

A bushfire rages at Banjup, Western Australia.

Banjup-Bushfires-2AM-004980
Copyright Andrew McInnes. All Rights Reserved.

 

A bushfire rages at Banjup, Western Australia.

Banjup Bushfires 2AM-005126
Copyright Andrew McInnes. All Rights Reserved.

 

A bushfire rages at Banjup, Western Australia.

Banjup Bushfires 2AM-005125
Copyright Andrew McInnes. All Rights Reserved.

 

Police road block as a bushfire rages at Banjup, Western Australia.

Banjup Bushfires 2AM-005153
Copyright Andrew McInnes. All Rights Reserved.

 

Police road block as a bushfire rages at Banjup, Western Australia.

Banjup Bushfires 2AM-005135
Copyright Andrew McInnes. All Rights Reserved.

Thanks for swinging by and looking at my images. See you next time I post 🙂

Bush Fire – Photo Essay

Posted on by

I recently observed, from afar unfortunately, a light-crude oil tank fire (and explosion) on Galveston Island which got me to reflecting on a rural fire on and around a ranch we were visiting in King County, Texas in March 2008, and also to ponder the horrific Texas fires of 2011.

 Here is my photo-essay of this ranchland fire.

The source of the fire ©Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.

 

Black and gray aluminum and steel is all that remains ©Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.

 

Still early in the progression ©Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.

 

Closing the road ©Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.

 

An emergency responder watches as fire strengthens ©Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.

 

Intensifying ©Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.

 

First attempt to inhibit the fire and restrict it to the short side-of-the-highway grass ©Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.

 

Fire "jumped" the breaks beyond the grass and is now fueled by abundant juniper ©Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.

 

Loud and hot - and spreading rapidly ©Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.

 

What was a calm day is now locally very windy as the fire continues to rampage ©Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.

 

Super hot and travelling quickly as the juniper bushes whistle then explode ©Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.

 

Tumultuous - it soon became very dark and very orange ©Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.

 

Visibility satisfactory for now ©Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.

 

Soon there would be numerous vehicle crashes due to limited visibility ©Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.

 

Fire-fighting helicopter heading to nearby earthen water tank to refill before returning to the fray ©Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.

 

Reinforcements - this plane flew in from Oklahoma to combat the fire ©Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.

 

Fire retardent being deployed ©Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.

 

Orange glow from the fire below as the plane circles for another retardent-drop run ©Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.

 

View from the homestead as night descends ©Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.

 

Serenity - night has fallen and the homestead is spared (long exposure) ©Andrew McInnes. All rights reserved.