Another bushfire is threatening lives in Western Australia, with fears homes have been lost in an out-of-control blaze in Perth’s east.

December 21, 2023

Multiple homes have reportedly been lost and residents forced to flee, as an out-of-control bushfire challenges firefighters in the hills east of Perth.

It’s the fourth emergency-level blaze in the state in the past 48 hours, with residents in the suburb of Parkerville warned they need to act immediately to survive

“There is a threat to lives and homes,” the Department of Fire and Emergency Services alert issued on Thursday said.

Television news footage appears to show flames and smoke billowing from at least one property and a vehicle as water bombers attack the fire from above.

Premier Roger Cook said was a “troubling situation” and the weather was being “very unkind” to firefighters.

“We all have grave concerns for the fire and in Parkerville and our hearts go out to all those people who are involved in in that incident,” he told reporters.

The bushfire is moving in a westerly direction and is “unpredictable”.

Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm said the blaze continued to escalate.

“We know that Parkerville is an area where we’ve had significant fires before, including loss of home so the concern level is very high,” he said.

It is too late to leave for people east of Gliddon Road.

“You need to shelter in your home in a room away from the fire front and make sure you can easily escape,” the latest alert said.

An evacuation centre has been opened at Brown Park on Salisbury Road, Swan View.

Power has been cut to more than 150 properties and roads in and out of the densely wooded area have been closed.

“We know that today’s going to be a particularly difficult day expecting … those strong easterly winds again, but also thunderstorm activity across large parts of the state,” Mr Klemm said.

A second emergency-level blaze in the Shire of Manjimup in the state’s southwest for Callcup, Crowea and Meerup has been downgraded to watch and act.

Light rain has started falling in the area, but residents have been warned the blaze remains out of control and continues to pose a threat.

The fire has burned about 3000 hectares of vegetation and there have been reports of damage to sheds, fences and farm equipment.

“It is burning in some very dense old-growth forest and this fire could continue and we’re expecting it to continue for the next several days.” Mr Klemm said.

The threat has also eased in the Wheatbelt, where an emergency-level bushfire in the Shire of Toodyay was downgraded early on Thursday.

A watch and act alert remains in place for parts of West Toodyay, Coondle and Julimar, with authorities warning it is contained but not controlled.

The fire has burned about 155 hectares of vegetation and residents have been told it is still not safe to return to their homes.

A fourth bushfire that threatened the fishing town of Lancelin, 126km north of Perth, was declared contained and controlled early on Thursday morning.

The blaze burned through about 89 hectares as it raced towards homes in windy conditions late on Wednesday, forcing some residents to shelter on the town’s jetty and beaches.

The single road in and out of the town has been reopened, with emergency services escorting vehicles through the fireground.