Out-of-control WA bushfire threatens homes and lives

An out-of-control bushfire that has already destroyed a service station remains a threat to lives and homes on Perth's northern fringe.

A firefighter battling a blaze in Yanchep, Western Australia.

A firefighter battling a blaze in Yanchep, Western Australia. Source: DFES

Residents of a small coastal town north of Perth have been told to leave if the way is clear as an out-of-control bushfire bears down on them.

The blaze is moving west after an early morning wind change, and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services is advising people in Guilderton to head north if the way is clear.
Fires in WA.
Fires in WA. Source: Emergency.wa.gov.au
The fire has already destroyed a home and a service station in Yanchep and burned through 5000 hectares since Wednesday.

An emergency warning has also been extended to residents in Two Rocks, Neergabby, Gabbadah, Seabird, Wanerie, Breton Bay, Yeal, Beermullah, Muckenburra, northern parts of Yanchep, Wilbinga, Caraban, and Woodridge.

It is not safe for people in Seatrees and Breakwater Estates to leave and people there should take shelter, DFES said.
An emergency warning is in place for people in Two Rocks, Breakwater and Seatree Estates, as well as the northern parts of Yanchep.
An emergency warning is in place for people in Two Rocks, Breakwater and Seatree Estates, as well as the northern parts of Yanchep. Source: DFES Incident Photographer Lewis van Bommel
A watch and act alert is in place for other parts of Yanchep and Eglington.

One home in Yanchep has been razed on the property next to a service station destroyed in the fires, incident controller Andy Hinton confirmed on Friday.

The Vaz family shared their devastation at losing the service station on social media.

"We are anxiously waiting to be able to see the remains of what once was the backbone of Yanchep," they wrote.

"For three generations, we were doing our part as a local business to help build Yanchep to what it is today."

Some other outbuildings have also been damaged, the fire service says.
Firefighters desperately need a drop in temperatures but the mercury is set to hit the low-40s in the area over the weekend.

Temporary evacuation centres have been set up at Gumblossom Community Centre in Quinns Rocks and Granville Civic Centre in Gingin.

Several roads, schools, childcare centres and the Yanchep National Park have been closed, while hundreds of Western Power customers are experiencing outages.

An all-clear has been given for residents in the northern parts of Roleystone in the City of Armadale after a bushfire there was extinguished.


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2 min read
Published 14 December 2019 7:18am
Updated 14 December 2019 7:30am


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