Uncontrolled bushfires are challenging firefighters in Western Australia where homes are feared destroyed and two men have been injured.

December 21, 2023

Homes have reportedly been razed and two men injured as out-of-control bushfires challenge firefighters in Western Australia.

Five emergency-level blazes have torn through bushland, rural properties and the suburb of Parkerville in Perth’s hilly east in the past 48 hours.

Social media footage of the Parkerville fire shows flames and smoke billowing from at least one property and a vehicle as water bombers attack the fire from above.

Paramedics transported two men in their 60s to a hospital, one with burns not considered life threatening and the other an injury to his foot.

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 fire, 34km east of the Perth CBD, was downgraded to watch and act late on Thursday.

But a blaze 60km northeast in the Shire of Toodyay has returned to emergency level as an out-of-control blaze breaks containment lines.

An emergency warning has also been issued for residents in the Shire of Dardanup, 180km south of Perth after a bushfire that started two days ago flared up.

Forrest Highway is closed in both directions and fire crews and water-bombing aircraft are battling the blaze that’s threatening homes and lives.

The Toodyay fire in the Wheatbelt region started on Wednesday afternoon and tore through about 155 hectares of vegetation before being downgraded on Thursday morning.

It was upgraded late on Thursday, with authorities warning it was moving fast in a west-northwesterly direction and too late to leave for some residents.

Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm said firefighters were facing tough weather conditions.

“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,” he said.

Firefighters also continue to battle a blaze in the Shire of Manjimup in the state’s southwest for Callcup, Crowea and Meerup which was also downgraded on Thursday.

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 3000ha 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.

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

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