A terrifying out-of-control bushfire has put residents on high alert as they are warned that it s too late to leave and told to barracade themselves inside.
Several areas south of Perth including Spectacles, Orelia, Medina, Naval Base, Postans, Kwinana Beach and Hope Valley in the city of Kwinana have been issued an emergency bushfire warning that lives and homes are under threat.
The rapidly spreading fire is moving at a rate of 1km every hour, leaving exhausted firefighters unable to control it.
West Coast Eagle star Tim Kelly shared to Instagram that his family home was under threat from the Gosnells fire, sharing terrifying images that showed the blaze creeping onto his property.
Crews in Western Australia work through the night against three emergency level fires two in the greater Perth area and one in Geraldton with two of the blazes now downgraded to watch and act level.
Bushfires threaten lives, homes in Perth s southern suburbs and Geraldton
SunSunday 3
updated
SunSunday 3
JanJanuary 2021 at 10:41pm
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Crews in Western Australia are fighting three dangerous fires, two in the greater Perth area and one in Geraldton.
Key points:
Fires in Gosnells and Geraldton have been downgraded to watch and act
The Gosnells fire forced the evacuation of a retirement village
Blazes are burning to the south and south-east of Perth s greater metropolitan area, with one forcing the evacuation of a retirement village and the other moving through a rubbish tip causing hazardous fumes.
Residents in Perth s southern suburbs have been warned it is too late to leave their homes as a bushfire continues to burn out of control in Kwinana, with deadly fumes from a rubbish tip filling the air.
Large Air Tanker supporting firefighters at the City of Kwinana bushfire, in Perth, Western Australia.
Photo: Facebook / Department of Fire and Emergency Services WA
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) has issued an emergency warning for suburbs in the City of Kwinana including parts of The Spectacles, Orelia, Medina, Naval Base, Postans, Kwinana Beach and Hope Valley.
Lives and homes are under threat in an area bounded by Anketell Road to the north, McLaughlan Road to the east, Thomas Road to the south and out to the coast.
“It s moving through some bushland mostly but it s headed towards some heavy infrastructure,” district officer Adrian Hamill told the ABC. The fire has also spread to a rubbish tip in the area which is burning and filling the air with hazardous material. Residents on Beard Street to the north, Rockingham Road to the east, Thomas Road to the south and the coast have been warned that it’s too late to leave their homes and hazardous fumes are in the air.
Screenshot/emergency.wa.gov.au
Fires are burning in Perth s outer city suburbs. Image from the state government s emergency website shows fire and storm warnings.