Residents on the southern outskirts of Perth have been ordered to flee from a bushfire that threatens lives and homes.
The evacuation orders are in place for residents in an area bounded by Wattleup Rd to the south, Cockburn Rd and the coast to the west, Gemma Rd and Russell Rd to the north and Power Ave to the east in parts of Henderson and Wattleup in the City of Kwinana.
Residents are being told they must act immediately to survive. An evacuation centre has been set up at the Success Regional Sports Centre at 359 Hammond Rd, Success.
The bushfire started in grassland at the intersection of Rockingham Rd and Lussky Rd in Hope Valley.
It is moving slowly in an east, north easterly direction and is not contained or controlled.
If the way is clear, residents must leave now for a safer place and not wait, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) said.
Residents who cannot leave must take shelter in their home in a room away from the firefront and with access to two exits and water.
All doors and windows should be shut. Evaporative air conditioners should be off but water should continue to run through the system.
A watch and act warning is in place for people south of Russell Rd to Wattleup Rd in Wattleup and people south of Cockburn Rd to Gemma Rd in Henderson and people north of the Rockingham Rd and Cockburn Rd intersection in Henderson, Hope Valley, Naval Base and Wattleup in the Kwinana and Cockburn council areas.
This means people who have a plan to leave or are unprepared should leave now.
DFES said those who plan to defend their homes should make final preparations to do so, but mains water could not be relied upon and independent water supplies should be used.
Residents from affected areas who are not at home have been advised not to return.
