Fruit growers in the areas of Gingin and Chittering, north of Perth, are facing a lengthy recovery process following a bushfire that devastated nearly 3,000 hectares in late January. The fire resulted in the destruction of two homes and inflicted serious damage on other properties. Tony Maddern, a former firefighter and orchard owner in Gingin, recounted the day of the fire, highlighting the significant impact it had on his property. The fire scorched a vast portion of his mango, passion fruit, avocado, and citrus crops, along with 80 percent of his farm's infrastructure. The destruction of crops meant a substantial loss of income for the Madderns.
Five months after the fire, the recovery challenges include repairing burnt and melted irrigation systems and dealing with the scorched trees. Out of 4,500 mature Kensington Pride mango trees, only 1,200 are expected to bear fruit this season. Despite the setbacks, there is hope for recovery, based on the limited depth of burns on the tree trunks and the survival of some trees, attributed to preventative watering the night before the fire.
The resilience of mango trees to fire damage, observed in past incidents, offers a glimmer of hope for the future. However, the path to full recovery is anticipated to be a slow one, contingent on time and favorable weather conditions.
Source: abc.net.au