Warnbro station and a large part of the Mandurah train line have been closed as unexploded ordnance hampers efforts to contain a bushfire burning in Perth’s south.
There is a possible threat to lives and homes from the out-of-control blaze in parts of Cooloongup, Waikiki and Warnbro in the City of Rockingham, about 60 kilometres south of the Perth city centre.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) has warned an expected change in the wind direction this afternoon may cause the fire to start moving fast in a north-easterly direction, with people east of Mandurah Road advised to make preparations now.
Authorities are keeping a close eye on the direction of the wind, which is fanning the blaze. (ABC News: Jess Rendall)
DFES Superintendent Leigh Bishop said there had been no confirmed damage to property so far, despite ember attacks across Ennis Avenue, and crews would focus on the area around Lake Cooloongup.
“It all depends on the strength of that south westerly wind … what we want to try and achieve is directing that fire into Lake Cooloongup, and away from assets,” he said.
The fire sent a thick plume of smoke billowing into the sky on Tuesday morning. (ABC News: Lauren Smith)
Challenging conditions
He said aerial support was being used to build containment lines with retardant, as machinery could not be used on the ground due to unexploded ordnance in the area.
“There’s the potential for that unexploded ordnance in the ground, where we’d normally have machinery that can cut a mineral earth break,” he said.
Water bombers are being used to help fight the bushfire near Rockingham. (ABC News: Lauren Smith)
Strike Force Vulcan, which is led by detectives from the WA Police arson squad, is investigating the cause of the fire, which started around 7pm yesterday near the Warnbro train station.
Lucky escape
Dramatic video filmed by a bus passenger shows a wall of flames surrounding Warnbro Station last night, but DFES spokesperson Rachael Robertson said it narrowly escaped damage.
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“Luckily nobody was injured. That was a result of quick reaction from the public in reporting it and rapid response by fire crews,” Ms Robertson said.
Trains on the Mandurah line have been cancelled between Rockingham and Mandurah, while there are also delays on the Yanchep line.
Replacement buses are running between Rockingham and Mandurah, while trains will continue to run between Perth and Rockingham.
Residents living in the highly populated area have been warned about ember attacks. (ABC News)
Sleepless night
Warnbro resident Ross said he had endured a sleepless night and had never seen such intense smoke from a fire.
“All night, it’s just been an influx of people all throughout the neighbourhood,” he said.
A suburban street in Warnbro is overcome with smoke as emergency services tackle the blaze. (ABC News: Jessica Rendall)
Warnbro resident Mark Deller was hosing down a stranger’s property when the ABC approached him.
“I was just driving by and I’d seen everybody watering the front of their houses … and I noticed this house was unguarded,” he said.
Mark Deller jumped into action to defend another person’s home from the fire. (ABC News: Jessica Rendall)
“The fire was just there, just metres away, and I thought this house was going to go up.
“I’d like to think if someone else saw my house maybe being threatened, they would do the same for me.”
Multiple helicopters flew above them, dropping water on the fire burning nearby, while crews on the ground patrolled the area, which borders the fire zone.
Many Warnbro residents told the ABC they had never seen a fire come this close to their homes, describing it as a surreal experience.
Warnbro resident Sharon Taylor said she had never seen such scenes before.
Warnbro resident Sharon Taylor was regularly checking emergency updates on her phone. (ABC News: Jessica Rendall)
“[I’m feeling] rather scared, my mum’s in hospital so she’s okay at the moment, but … it’s all just heartbreaking,” she said.
“I just hope they get it under control.”
The fire has forced the closure of several roads. (ABC News)
Residents living in the highly populated area have been warned that ember attacks may spark fires around their homes.
Drivers have been asked to exercise extreme caution around the Warnbro area due to heavy smoke, and large sections of Safety Bay Road have been closed.
As well as the Lake Cooloongup Reserve, the watch and act area covers a large portion of residential Warnbro, and includes at least three schools, a shopping centre and a small private hospital.
Anyone with CCTV, mobile phone or dash cam vision that may help investigators is urged to upload it via this link.
Workers evacuated
Meanwhile about 100 kilometres further south, firefighters are tackling an emergency level fire in the rural area of Benger, which is north-east of Bunbury in WA’s South-West.
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Non-essential workers have been evacuated from the Albemarle lithium plant, which is within the emergency warning area that also covers parts of Wellesley, Parkfield and Wokalup in the Shire of Harvey.
The fire jumped containment lines earlier today and blew smoke across the Forrest Highway, which is the main thoroughfare between Perth and Bunbury.
A Watch and Act alert is in place for the coastal town of Binningup, on the other side of the highway.
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