Emergency services
Fire fight over ‘hostile takeover’ of local brigades
A country revolt is brewing over a state government “hostile takeover” of rural fire brigades, under legislation before the Queensland parliament this week.
- by Cameron Atfield
Latest
‘A ticking time bomb’: Family’s plea on battery fires after their home is charred, pets gone
Jim and Maria lost their pets and a lifetime of memories as a result of a lithium-ion battery fire. Victorian firefighters are battling one such fire every day.
- by Rachael Dexter
Three things I love: St John Ambulance WA paramedic Matt Didcoe
Each week, WAtoday reaches out to the Perth community to find out three things people love the most about our coastal capital.
- by Matt Didcoe
Graphic content
Brisbane
‘I was yelling at residents to get out’: Neighbour helps rescue people from New Farm blaze
On Saturday morning, when Iain heard an explosion, he ran down the street. Four people were on a balcony desperately trying to escape an intense blaze.
- by Cloe Read
‘I’m lucky to be alive’: WA teenager who fell down cliff speaks out
Robert Reeves, 16, was hiking at Sixty Foot Falls with four of his friends when he fell 10 metres down a cliff face.
- by Sarah Smith and Holly Thompson
Updated
Perth
Dramatic rescue of teen boy who fell from cliff in Perth’s south east
A Perth teenager has been winched to safety on Tuesday afternoon after plummeting 10 metres down a cliff face in Perth’s south east.
- by Rebecca Peppiatt
Updated
Perth
Young boy airlifted to hospital after Lesmurdie Falls rescue
A primary school-aged boy believed to be younger than 10 was airlifted to Perth Children’s Hospital after a fall at Lesmurdie Falls.
- by Cameron Myles
Breaking
Roads
Traffic chaos as Kwinana Freeway southbound closed near Berrigan Drive
Police said at about 2pm a motorcycle collided with a truck travelling in the same direction.
- by Daile Cross
Updated
WA
Man airlifted to Perth hospital after ‘suspected drowning’ in Cervantes
Emergency crews including the RAC Rescue helicopter rushed to Corunna Road in the coastal town over a suspected water incident about 1.30pm.
- by Heather McNeill
Exclusive
Fire
Hack attack sparked months of delays for firefighters
A 2022 cyberattack that hobbled the fire service’s dispatch system delayed crews rushing to burning buildings and forced them to use a manual back-up scheme for eight months.
- by Rachel Eddie
When Samuel Johnson woke up in emergency, he had one thought
The narrator of the observational series Paramedics got a first-hand look at the work of medicos after he was hit by a car.
- by Bridget McManus