Homes are feared lost as large bushfires sweep Australia’s west, with thousands of residents told it is too late to leave their properties.
Hot weather and strong winds have fuelled several bushfires in Western Australia, including one in the Wheatbelt region that has burnt about 11,000ha.
At least two houses had been lost, ABC News reported on Saturday, with more under threat.
Emergency WA has told residents in Arthur River it is too late to evacuate and that people should act immediately as lives and homes are threatened.
05:30 AM – Bushfire Emergency Warning – TOO LATE TO LEAVE – ARTHUR RIVER, WEDGECARRUP, BOYERINE, WESTWOOD, KENMARE, BEAUFORT RIVER and LIMELAKE: https://t.co/dh3YtI2ctW
— DFES (@dfes_wa) January 24, 2025
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05:30 AM – Bushfire Emergency Warning – TOO LATE TO LEAVE – ARTHUR RIVER, WEDGECARRUP, BOYERINE, WESTWOOD, KENMARE, BEAUFORT RIVER and LIMELAKE: https://t.co/dh3YtI2ctW
— DFES (@dfes_wa) January 24, 2025
Authorities said 638 homes and businesses were without power after the fire affected supply.
An act immediately warning has also been issued for Reef Beach in Bremer Bay on the state’s south coast.
The fire, started by lightning on Friday morning, had burnt 800ha and was yet to be contained.
A 40,000-hectare bushfire in the state’s central region has been the subject of a number of watch-and-act warnings, although the alert was downgraded as conditions improved.
The blaze was reported at 7pm on Friday.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued extreme heatwave warnings for the Goldfields and the southern interior districts.
Severe heatwave warnings were also in place across much of southern and inland WA.
