Four Emergency level bushfires burned over one weekend in Western Australia in February 2022. With roughly 30% of WA agricultural land, most farmers are prepared for fire at any time. But when one comes, they rely heavily on volunteer farmers and locals who form the  Bush Fire Brigade.

On February 6, 2022 near the small farming town of Narrogin, extreme wind and heat, coupled with a powerline spark in a dry pasture paddock, resulted in a massive fire. Only one house was lost but the impact on livestock and farmland will affect farmers years into the future.  

Content warning this feature contains stories of animals in distress

Guests:

Angus Armstrong

Mike Burges

Tammy Freestone

Michael Lange

Credits:

Producer: Leith Alexander

Executive producer and sound design: Sarah Mashman

Engineering: Tegan Nicholls

Theme music: Oliver Beard

Additional music: Blue Dot Sessions

Management team: Abe Killian and Sime Knezevic

Made in co-operation with: Harvey Community Radio, Western Australia

This episode was made on the Wiilman and Wadjuk Countries of the Nyoongar Nation and the lands of the muwinina people from Country around nipaluna. These lands were never ceded.

From the Embers Season 2: Phoenix is supported by The Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas, The Paul Ramsay Foundation, Monash University’s Fire to Flourish program and The Minderoo Foundation Fire and Flood Resilience Initiative – and broadcast across Australia via the Community Radio Network