Bushfire emergency warning for second day in Perth
A bushfire in Perth’s southern suburbs that destroyed at least one home yesterday remains unpredictable.
Emergency vehicles at a bush fire in Kwinana, south of Perth, earlier this month. Photo: AFP or licensors
About 150 firefighters spent the night battling the blaze, which started yesterday morning near a nature reserve in Oakford, and has so far burnt about 300 hectares.
An emergency warning remains in place for people in parts of Oakford, Casuarina, Wandi, Wellard, Anketell and Oldbury in the Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale and the City of Kwinana.
The blaze started near the Modong Nature Reserve in Oakford, about 35 km south of Perth.
Parts of Kwinana Freeway and other major roads in the area remain closed.
While thousands of homes had been without electricity on Saturday afternoon, Western Power reported that number had dropped to 239 overnight.
Services on the Mandurah train line have been restored, after some were cancelled yesterday.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services was unable to confirm any property losses on Saturday, but a house could be seen burning.
It is not known if the property was occupied before the fire started yesterday.
There have been no reports of injuries.
Evacuation centres at Serpentine-Jarrahdale Recreation Centre, in Byford, and Kwinana Recquatic in Kwinana have now closed.
Gusty afternoon winds a threat
The Bureau of Meteorology said gusty easterly winds had continued throughout the night, reaching about 50 km/h.
Winds could increase again this evening, while the area around the fire was forecast to reach a maximum of 35 degrees late this afternoon.
– ABC
