Firefighters are battling to contain a bushfire raging in Margaret River in Western Australia’s south-west with hopes milder weather conditions will help them bring the blaze under control.
The fire in Leeuwin-Naturaliste national park has burned through 5,200 hectares, including karri trees, since it started on Wednesday morning in Boranup, WA.
The blaze was “reasonably steady overnight” but remained uncontained and uncontrolled, a Department of Fire and Emergency Services spokesperson said on Saturday morning.
Firefighters had reportedly secured the northern end of the blaze and were set to move southward, with a particular focus on the area around Caves Road.
It was burning in an easterly direction, with more than 150 firefighters on the scene.
An emergency warning remained in place for people in the national park bounded by Mammoth Cave Road to the north, Caves Road and the park boundary to the east, Grace Road and Bridle Trail to the south and the coast to the west.
People in the area were urged to leave immediately. If they could not, they were told to shelter at home in a room with two exits and water, such as a kitchen or laundry.
There were concerns for a missing Perth father of three, Jordan Marshall, who was last seen in Margaret River. A car linked to him has been found in the area.
Operators of campsites, wineries and accommodation providers told the ABC they had been forced to close because of the blaze.
Western Australia’s emergency services minister, Reece Whitby, said it was unclear how businesses would be affected by the fire long term.
“The advice to tourists and potential holidaymakers to the region is to stay away from the area of the fire,” he said.
An evacuation centre was set up at the Margaret River Recreation Centre. The cause of the fire is still unknown. The bushfire started near the intersection of Caves Road and Calgardup Road in Boranup, almost 300km south of Perth.
Watch and act and advice warnings were in place for other parts of the Augusta-Margaret River shire.
Bussell Highway had been closed between Forest Grove Road and the Brockman Highway due to heavy smoke in the area.
A second uncontrolled blaze was being fought in nearby Yallingup, south of Margaret River, earlier in the week. It has since been downgraded.
