DIGITAL IMAGE - BEDDING AT ARMADALE ARENA FOR BUSHFIRE VICTIMS

Bedding laid out for people affected by the Roleystone Kelmscott Bushfire. People who had either lost their home or could not get to their home due to road blocks spent the Sunday and some the Monday night at the Armadale Arena. By the Tuesday night everyone had found somewhere more comfortable to sleep. The green sleeping bag in the front row is part of the History House collection. The image was taken by Archer Images who were commissioned by the Armadale Arena to record pictures of what was occurring at the Arena on 8 February 2011.
On the morning of 6th of February 2011 a bushfire was accidentally started by an individual using an angle grinder outside, during a total fire ban. Sparks from the angle grinder set nearby dry grass on fire. High easterly winds caused this scrub fire to quickly turn into a bushfire. Over the course of the rest of the day the fire spread westerly out of Roleystone and, down the hill and into Kelmscott. Residents in the path of the fire were ordered to evacuate immediately. Many families lost their homes. 71 homes were destroyed with another 30+ badly damaged. Residents were evacuated to the Armadale Arena on Townley Street which was turned in to the emergency evacuation centre. Most residents spent the night there and it was a few days before they were allowed back into the area to see if their homes had survived.
The Armadale Arena remained a one stop resource centre for victims of the bushfire for 2 weeks after the event.
This bushfire is now regarded as one of the worst in WA history due to the loss of homes. No one was killed during the bushfire.
For further information see the Birtwistle Local Studies library