Updated
A bushfire emergency is threatening lives and homes across six southern Perth suburbs from Baldivis to Serpentine, with the city’s main freeway situated within the fire zone.
Key points:
- The fire is moving fast in north-east direction, being fanned by strong winds
- The Kwinana Freeway is located within the emergency warning zone
- Several rural properties appear to have been impacted by the fire
The fire began around midday in scrub land east of the Kwinana Freeway, near the Karnup Road interchange, in Baldivis.
A large semi-rural area being impacted is bounded by the Kwinana Freeway to the west, Mundijong Road to the north, Wright Road to the east and Karnup Road to the south.
Strong winds are fanning the fire, extending the emergency warning area across the suburbs of Baldivis, Mardella, Mundijong, Hopeland, Oldbury and Serpentine.
People in this area are being told they are in danger and need to act immediately to survive.
Fire authorities say there is a threat to lives and homes and people in that area should leave if the way is clear.
The bushfire is out of control and unpredictable, and moving fast away from the freeway in a north-easterly direction.
Watch and act and advice level warning areas have also been established ahead of the fire front, covering a huge part of Perth’s south-eastern suburbs.
The total area on alert expands almost 25 kilometres north-east from the ignition point in Baldivis to as far as Byford.
It is burning through paddocks and appears to have impacted some structures on rural properties, including a horse riding school where several panicked horses could be seen in helicopter footage.
It has also jumped the Serpentine River.
At least three water bombers are fighting the fire, including a large Georgia Peach aerial crane leased from the US.
Local resident Ray Wilson said strong winds were fanning the blaze.
“We have a lot of dry grass in the area,” he said.
“With this wind and the fuel that we’ve got here, if you have a look around there a lot of growth in this area.”
Topics:
wa,
First posted