Fire Causes ‘Apocalyptic’ Skies
However, emergency warning downgraded
Authorities are treating a bushfire in the Perth Hills, which has blanketed the city with smoke, as suspicious. Up to 150 Parks and Wildlife Service firefighters along with volunteer bushfire brigades were on Sunday night working to control the blaze in Mundaring in the Hills. A watch an act warning was issued for people in and near areas of the Mundaring Shire and the City of Kalamunda, but it was cancelled after 6:30pm (local time). Authorities said there was no longer a threat to lives or homes, but that there was a lot of smoke remaining in the area. “Although there is no immediate danger you need to be aware and keep up to date in case the situation changes,” a fire warning said. Parks and Wildlife Service Swan Region manager Benson Todd earlier said fire crews would remain onsite overnight.
He said he was expecting another busy day for crews on Monday. Many people took to social media throughout Sunday to report ash falling from the sky in several suburbs in the Hills, with some describing the scene as “apocalyptic”. Drivers were warned to be careful because there was a lot of smoke in the area.
The fire was reported at 8:30am on Sunday and had burnt 3,000 hectares by the evening.
The Department of Parks and Wildlife said they had identified two ignition points that they believe were set by an arsonist. Perth was expecting a deluge to drench the city from late on Sunday, but authorities were not counting on it to help extinguish the blaze.