An out-of-control bushfire burning in the Perth Hills that has already destroyed 71 homes is “extremely volatile”, with a wind change on Wednesday expected to worsen conditions.
A firefighting Boeing 737 aerial tanker from New South Wales was being flown west to assist with efforts to battle the blaze which had ripped through 9,000 hectares by Wednesday morning and triggered a smoke warning after ash fell in the Perth CBD – about 30km from the fire front.
While high humidity levels overnight allowed fire crews to make headway, Western Australia’s fire commissioner, Darren Klemm, said gusty winds expected in the afternoon could place more homes in danger.
“Milder conditions have allowed us to complete some tracking, particularly on the southern flank of the fire. We’re still having difficulties with the tracking on the northern part of the fire and that is a concern ahead of some difficult conditions today,” he said.
Klemm urged residents in the Shady Hill’s estate to evacuate immediately or prepare to defend their homes.
“There’s particular concern today for late this afternoon for the area of Shady Hills Estate, we’re going to see gusts to 70km/h in that north-west corner of the fire there. Really difficult terrain, really steep terrain and, you know, the message to the people in Shady Hills Estate and in the outskirt of Bullsbrook is they need to enact their bushfire plan and consider whether they need to evacuate now out of that area.”
People in a 25km stretch west from Wooroloo to the Walyunga national park north-east of Perth were told it was too late to leave.
The commissioner confirmed that as crews assessed fire-affected areas, the official toll of homes destroyed climbed overnight had climbed from 56 to 71. The fire on Wednesday morning sat just west of the large towns of Ellenbrook and Aveley, where thousands of homes have been built in recent years.
The City of Swan mayor, Kevin Bailey, said the thick smoke had complicated efforts to control the blaze overnight, despite more favourable conditions.
“Flying has been difficult because of the very thick smoke that’s sitting at low level … this has been a fire in very tricky terrain. Flying conditions have been very difficult, but look, the crews both air and ground have done an absolutely amazing job,” he said.
“This is probably the first real fire of this magnitude that the city has had in its entire history… we always felt that it was imminent one day, and we’ve been very fortunate and we haven’t had a loss of life anywhere.”
Six fire fighters have so far suffered minor injuries.
On Tuesday, McGowan briefed the prime minister, Scott Morrison, on the fire which has an 80km perimeter and raged overnight through the town of Wooroloo. The shires of Mundaring, Chittering, Northam, and the City of Swan have been impacted.
Residents subject to the state’s snap five-day Covid lockdown were also told to disregard the stay-at-home direction and to leave their properties if they believed they were under threat. This advice included close contacts of the quarantine hotel security guard who has tested positive and anyone else who had been instructed to self-isolate.
McGowan, while providing a coronavirus update on Tuesday afternoon, said Western Australia was battling “two different kinds of emergencies”.
“It is going to be an extremely challenging day for everyone involved,” the premier said. “Please do everything you can to keep you and your family safe and look after each other.”
McGowan said WA’s Department of Fire and Emergency Services had advised “they have lost 80% of all properties in the rural area of Tilden Park in Gidgegannup”. Council documents show there are at least 33 properties in Tilden Park.
Western Power had advised about 2,750 homes and businesses were without power due to the bushfires burning in Wooroloo, Bailup and Gidgegannup.
“We are currently securing another large aerial tanker from NSW to assist. It should be here in Western Australia later today. I’ve also briefed the prime minister on this situation and also on the Covid situation this morning,” McGowan said.
“A number of homes have been lost and the morning winds are predicted to turn from easterly to north-westerly. Weather conditions are extremely volatile.”
The WA police commissioner, Chris Dawson, warned residents of Perth and other areas under lockdown to “do whatever you need to do to protect your life and those of your immediate family”.
“Let me be clear. I urge people to stay informed and prepare themselves,” Dawson said. “If you are under threat, leave your property and go to suitable premises. Do not stay in the property if you think you have to obey the Covid-19 rules.”
The DFES deputy commissioner of operations, Craig Waters, said that residents should not feel compelled to follow Covid lockdown orders. “They need to do whatever they need to do to look after their own safety and the safety of their loved ones,” Waters said, adding that anyone who had been under specific self-isolation orders who goes to an evacuation centre should let authorities know and wear a mask.
People in Perth’s CBD and coastal suburbs were reporting ash landing at their homes up to 35km from the blaze.
Operations at RAAF Base Pearce – which is in the path of the fire – were suspended and preparations were being made to evacuate. An evacuation centre was established at Brown Park in Swan View.
– Additional reporting by Australian Associated Press
