Hundreds of residents across Western Australia have been told it’s ‘too late to leave’ as four out-of-control bushfires rage across the state.
Locals in Skeleton Rock, Mount Holland, Marvel Loch and Parker Range, west of Perth, were given a ‘too late to leave’ alert on Friday night, amid a 1,000ha fire.
There were also two out-of-control fires in the state’s southeast, with residents in Reef Beach told it was too late to leave.
‘You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. There is a threat to lives and homes,’ the warning said.
The fire was moving fast in a north-easterly direction, with about 300ha burnt so far.
Residents of nearby Bremer Bay and Boxwood Hill were warned to leave now.
Locals in Narrikup in the state’s south were urged to evacuate, as a blaze moved fast in a north-easterly direction, according to Emergency WA.
And at Arthur River and Wedgecarrup, southeast of Perth, there was yet another ‘too late to leave’ warning, as an uncontained fire burned in a southeasterly direction.
Four out-of-control bushfires areraging across Western Australia on Friday night
‘You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. There is a threat to lives and homes,’ the warning from Emergency WA said
The fresh warnings after a busy day for firefighters in the state, with a fire at Northam threatening lives and homes earlier on Friday
The fresh warnings came after a busy day for firefighters in the state, with a fire at Northam threatening lives and homes earlier on Friday, since downgraded to a watch and act alert.
A 36-year-old man has since been charged with arson in relation to the fire and is being held in custody ahead of a court appearance on Saturday.
Northam is in the midst of a severe heatwave, with the mercury hitting 42C on Friday.
The heatwave is expected to persist for the next couple of days.