As firefighters battle to contain a bushfire tearing through forest in WA's south, pictures captured from the fireground show the intensity of the flames.
An emergency warning remains in place for a large swathe of the state's famous Margaret River wine and surfing region.
Fighting the fire during scorching temperatures has been made all the more difficult by the unique landscape — part of what makes the area a visitor drawcard.
The cave system throughout the area means authorities have been wary to bring in heavy machinery.
The fire has scarred about 6,000 hectares of land since it began on Wednesday.
On Thursday, the intensity of the fire ramped up for a few hours in the middle of the day — the fire commissioner Darren Klemm said it tripled in size.
While there have been no houses lost and no loss of life, there are fears the environmental impact could be severe.
A thick layer of ash coats the ground at the Boranup end of the fire flank, which authorities allowed ABC journalists into on Friday afternoon.
The air is heavy with the smell of smoke, with crews entering to both fight the fire and perform safety checks on areas already razed.
For major tourist routes like Caves Road, the road will need to be walked three times on separate days before it can be opened, to check for danger from falling trees.
Fire crews were carefully making their way down smoky roads to fill up with water at a truck parked on Caves Road.
Through the haze, red and blue lights flash as crew after crew arrives.
Volunteer firefighters from nearby brigades like Rosa Glen, and farther afield like Wanneroo, in Perth's north, have travelled to the fireground to help.
Near the turn off to Conto campground, logs are still smouldering — but the tops of the trees are green.
Authorities say it is an indicator of just how fast the blaze swept through this area.
The signage for Lake Cave is completely gone, a nearby tourist drive signpost peeling from its backing.
Further south near Arumvale, trees along the road are burnt, but firefighters stopped the blaze coming too close to a nearby home.
Light filters in through the trees, beams shining down on black foliage and debris.
With cooler weather today — even a speck or two of rain — it has been an important time for the firefighters to consolidate their work.
Shoring up the edges of the fire has been vital, particularly the southern and eastern edges, to stop it jumping Caves Road.
But authorities warn the danger is far from over.
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2021-12-10 09:01:31Z
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