Bushfire emergency warnings issued for Perth hills and WA’s south-west
Burning embers were likely to be blown around homes under threat from a bushfire that was raging on Monday morning amid searing temperatures in Western Australia.
Authorities warned that an ember attack was likely from a fire in the Perth hills, where firefighters were battling to save homes in Warrigal Estate.
Residents were told it was too late to leave but the blaze was now contained and controlled.
“Homes in Warrigal Estate may be under threat by embers and you should leave if it is safe to do so,” the Department of Fire and Emergency Services said in its latest warning just after 8am AWST.
The warning covers people and homes in the area bounded by Government Road, Old Northam Road, Forge Farm Riding School, Liberton Road and Jason Street in parts of Wooroloo, Chidlow and Gidgegannup.
An evacuation centre is open at Mundaring Arena on Mundaring Weir Road in Mundaring.
There were 100 firefighters monitoring and mopping up the blaze, which was reported at 3.41pm on Boxing Day and burnt 164.5 hectares.
An emergency warning was also in place for a fierce bushfire threatening homes in the Augusta-Margaret River shire, about 300km south of Perth.
Winds were strengthening in the area and, while the fire was contained, it was not yet controlled.
People have been urged to leave Treeton and Osmington if the way was clear, or to shelter in their homes if they cannot leave.
The warning was increased from the watch-and-act level on Sunday afternoon due to weather conditions and the fire growing on heavy fuel loads.
There is an evacuation centre at the Margaret River recreation centre.
The warnings came as the state endures a spell of hot weather, with Perth recording maximum temperatures of 42C and 43C on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.