| 2016 Waroona-Yarloop bushfires | |
|---|---|
| Date(s) | 5 January – 22 January |
| Location | Shire of Harvey Shire of Waroona |
| Coordinates | 32°53′24″S 116°11′24″E / 32.89000°S 116.19000°E 32°53′24″S 116°10′12″E / 32.89000°S 116.17000°E (approximate ignition point) |
| Statistics | |
| Burned area | 70,000 hectares (170,000 acres) |
| Impacts | |
| Deaths | 2 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 5 |
| Structures destroyed | 181 with 166 in Yarloop |
The 2016 Waroona-Yarloop bushfire started in the east in the forests of the Darling Scarp before reaching the Swan Coastal Plain and continued westwards until it reached the Indian Ocean. It started as a lightning strike that caused two fires in the Lane Poole Reserve state forest near Dwellingup, Western Australia on 5 January 2016 and then burnt close to Waroona and then through the historical town of Yarloop, destroying it, before continuing southwards towards the outskirts of the town of Harvey and westwards to Preston Beach. Around 70,000 ha (170,000 acres) of land was burnt, two people died and at least 166 buildings were destroyed in Yarloop alone with only ninety buildings surviving. In total 181 buildings and structures were lost with the total cost of fighting the fire and the cost of the damage and the loss resulting estimated at $155 million.