Bushfire Emergency Warning

Bushfire EMERGENCY WARNING for SHADY HILLS ESTATE in BULLSBROOK, north western parts of GIDGEGANNUP and north eastern parts of WALYUNGA NATIONAL PARK in the CITY OF SWAN

ALERT LEVEL:

A bushfire EMERGENCY WARNING has been issued for people in the vicinity of SHADY HILLS ESTATE south of SMITH ROAD in BULLSBROOK, the vicinity of EWING ROAD and O'BRIEN ROAD in north western parts GIDGEGANNUP and north eastern parts of WALYUNGA NATIONAL PARK in the CITY OF SWAN.

• You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. There is a threat to lives and homes.
• Home are under threat in SHADY HILLS ESTATE.
• The fire started in Walyunga National Park
• The bushfire is currently stationary however strong easterly winds are likley to cause extreme fire behaviour in the early hours of the morning.

WHAT TO DO:

• ​People in the warning area are advised that they should seek alternative accommodation overnight due to expected unpredictable severe fire weather.
• Due to the changing conditions and inaccessible terrain firefighters will have difficulty fighting the fire overnight.
• Winds in the area are expected to reach 80 kilometres an hour which can cause embers to travel well ahead of the fire front.
• Your safest option is to stay with family or friends who live away from the area or at the temporary evacuation centre at Altone Park, 332 Benara Road, Beechboro.
• If the way is clear, leave now for a safer place.
• Do not wait and see, leaving at the last minute is deadly. 
• If your plan is to stay and actively defend, do not rely on mains water pressure as it may be affected. If you have access to a water tank and plan to defend your home, start patrolling with your hose and put out spot fires. 
• If you cannot leave, you need to get ready to shelter in your home and actively defend it.
• If you are not at home, it is too dangerous now to return.
• Close all doors and windows and turn off evaporative air conditioners, but keep water running through the system if possible.

SAFEST ROUTE: 
The safest route is north via Taylor Road, left on Smith Road, left on Chittering Road to Great Northern Highway.

Bushfire WATCH AND ACT for south eastern parts of BULLSBROOK and north western parts of WALYUNGA NATIONAL PARK in the CITY OF SWAN

ALERT LEVEL:

A bushfire WATCH AND ACT has been issued for people west of the SHADY HILLS ESTATE, west of the AVON RIVER, north of WALYUNGA ROAD and east of GREAT NORTHERN HIGHWAY in south eastern parts of BULLSBROOK and north western parts of WALYUNGA NATIONAL PARK in the CITY OF SWAN..

• There is a possible threat to lives and homes as a fire is approaching in the area and conditions are changing.
• You need to leave or get ready to actively defend.

WHAT TO DO:

• If you are not prepared or you plan to leave, leave now if the way is clear.
• If you are well prepared and plan to actively defend your home, make final preparations now.
• If you are not at home, do not try to return as conditions in the area could be very dangerous.
• Close all doors and windows and turn off evaporative air conditioners, but keep water running through the system if possible.

Bushfire ADVICE for the south western parts of BULLSBROOK in the CITY OF SWAN

ALERT LEVEL:

A bushfire ADVICE has been issued for people in an area bounded by MARALLA ROAD to the south, RAILWAY PARADE to the west, STRACHAN ROAD to the north and the GREAT NORTHERN HIGHWAY to the east, in the western part of BULLSBROOK in the CITY OF SWAN.

• There is no threat to lives or homes.
• Although there is no immediate danger you need to be aware and keep up to date in case the situation changes.
• The fire started in the Walyunga National Park

WHAT TO DO:

• Stay alert and monitor your surroundings.
• Watch for signs of a bushfire, especially smoke and flames.
• Close all doors and windows, and turn off evaporative air conditioners but keep water running through the system if possible.
• Read through your bushfire survival plan.
• If you do not have a plan decide what you will do if the situation gets worse.

If driving

• Be extremely careful when driving through the area.
• Turn your headlights on and drive slowly.
• Watch for emergency services personnel and follow their directions.

BUSHFIRE BEHAVIOUR:

• The bushfire is stationary.
• It is out of control and unpredictable.
• Burning embers are likely to be blown around your home.

SAFER PLACE:

• Your safest option may be to visit family or friends who live away from the area.
• The Department for Communites has set up a temporary evacuation centre at Altone Park, 332 Benara Road, Beechboro.
• Be aware that only essential items can be taken into these centres. Alcohol and pets, except guide and assistance dogs, are prohibited.
• Horses can be taken to the State Equestrian Centre Pony Club. Please contact the caretaker on 0437 650 423 for further information. 

PLACE OF LAST RESORT:

• If you cannot shelter in your home, a safer place you can go to is a local open space, beach, shed, swimming pool, dam or building.
• This may give you some protection from the effects of a bushfire.
• Take water, woollen blankets and wear protective clothing.

SAFEST ROUTE:
The safest route for people in the Emergency Warning area (red) is north via Taylor Road, left on Smith Road, left on Chittering Road to Great Northern Highway.The safest route for people in the Watch and Act (yellow) and Advice area (blue) is in a south westerly direction towards the Great Northern Highway.

ROAD CLOSURES AND CONDITIONS:

Avoid the area and be aware of fire and emergency services personnel working on site.
Vehicle control points have been established at the following intersections: 

• TAYLOR ROAD and CLARKSON ROAD
• TAYLOR ROAD and FOALING RIDGE
• EWING ROAD and CLENTON ROAD

Vehicles will not be granted access to the area. 

Motorists are asked to avoid the area, reduce speed and drive carefully due to smoke.

Road information may also be available from Main Roads WA by calling 138 138 or visiting www.mainroads.wa.gov.au or by contacting the CITY OF SWAN.

PARK CLOSURES :

The WALYUNGA NATIONAL PARK is now closed. 

For more information on park closures please visit https://alerts.dbca.wa.gov.au/ 

WHAT FIREFIGHTERS ARE DOING:

• Firefighters are on the scene and are actively fighting the fire.
• 170 Career Fire and Rescue Service, Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service, Bush Fire Service, Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services, Parks and Wildlife Service firefighters are attending.
• Two helitaks, four fixed wing water bombers and air intelligence has been sent to assist ground crews.

• WA Police, Western Power, St John Ambulance, State Emergency Service, Salvation Army, Department of Communities and the City of Swan are also in attendance.

DRONES AND AERIAL SUPPORT:
Never fly a drone, model aircraft or multirotor near bushfires. Doing so poses a major safety risk to firefighting personnel in the air and on the ground, and forces aircraft to be grounded or redirected, hindering firefighting efforts.

EXTRA INFORMATION:

• The fire was reported at 01:18 PM on 4 March 2019.
• Currently there has been 83 hectares burnt.
• The cause of the fire is unknown.
• DFES is managing the fire.