Lives and homes at risk as bushfire spreads through City of Swan

Residents in Perth’s north-east have been urged to flee as a firefighters battle a blaze in the City of Swan.

The emergency warning area was expanded at 5pm Tuesday to parts of Red Hill,Millendon,Herne Hill and Baskerville.

Perth Hills is on high alert as a fire burns out of control,threatening homes surrounded by bushland.

The emergency warning was in place for people in an area bounded by Haddrill Road to the north,Railway Crescent to the west,Stock Road,Neuman Road and Toodyay Road to the south and Red Hill Quarry to the east.

“You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. There is a threat to lives and homes,” authorities warned.

A watch and act was also in place for parts of Gidgegannup,Herne Hill and Middle Swan.

An evacuation centre was set up at Brown Park Recreation Complex on Salisbury Road in Swan View.

People were instructed to take any essential items such as medications and identification with them.

Pets,except for recognised assistance animals,were not allowed inside evacuation centres for health and safety reasons,so people should make alternative arrangements for them.

If this was not possible,authorities said,people should still proceed to the evacuation centre with their pets and await further advice.

The fire was not contained or controlled and was moving west.

There were 120 firefighters on the ground,with aerial support.

Emergency services were first alerted to the fire,which started near Toodyay Road in Gidgegannup,just after midday on Tuesday.

It had razed nearly 500 hectares of land by 7pm Tuesday.

Authoritiesimplored West Australians to create fire plans at the start of this month,predicting an unprecedented extension of the south-west’s bushfire season throughout autumn.

For the latest information,visitEmergency WA,call 13 DFES,follow DFES onFacebook,listen toABC Local Radio,6PR,or news bulletins.

Cameron Myles is a journalist and desk editor for WAtoday.

Emma Young is a producer,sub-editor and journalist with WAtoday. She is the winner of nine WA Media Awards and the author of two novels published in 2021 and 2023 by Fremantle Press.

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