Authorities have confirmed three homes have been destroyed in a bushfire on Perth’s eastern fringe, as firefighters battle another emergency-level blaze.

December 22, 2023

Three homes have been destroyed by a fast-moving bushfire that ripped through a suburb in Perth’s hilly eastern fringe.

Confirmation of losses from the Parkerville blaze came as fresh emergency warnings were issued on Friday.

Authorities said fires were burning in the Shires of Serpentine-Jarrahdale and Murray, northeast of Mandurah, and in the City of Swan and Shire of Mundaring, in Perth.

Both were out of control, unpredictable and moving fast.

“Burning embers are likely to be blown around your home,” the Department of Fire and Emergency Services alert said in relation to the Serpentine blaze.

An evacuation centre has been opened at the Serpentine Jarrahdale Community Recreation Centre for that fire.

The earlier Parkerville blaze pushed fire crews to their limits as it raced through the semi-rural hamlet before being downgraded late on Thursday.

Premier Roger Cook said it was “horrible” news so close to Christmas for the families that had lost homes, possessions and animals.

“Watching those flames engulf those homes is absolutely heartbreaking and distressing,” he told reporters from the fireground on Friday.

“On behalf of the people of Western Australia, I want you to know that our hearts are with you.”

It was one of four emergency-level blazes in the state’s south that were downgraded by Friday morning.

“I’m so thankful for the fact that there was no loss of human life but I don’t think we can underestimate the challenging conditions in which (firefighters) worked – the terrain, the strong winds, the high temperatures,” Mr Cook said.

Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm said it had been an “extreme” day above “catastrophic” level, with “intense fire behaviour”.

“We’ve had a really successful night overnight once again, with challenging strong easterly winds and low humidity, that’s seen many of the warnings … we’ve got across the state being reduced,” he said.

Fire crews are now focused on mopping up spot fires so evacuated residents can return to their homes.

Mr Klemm said he met with fire commissioners in other states on Friday and did not request interstate teams as it wasn’t necessary at this time.

But, he warned the high fire risk remained.

“There is still some difficult weather ahead of us as we head into Sunday, Monday and Tuesday,” he said.

The Parkerville blaze started accidentally on Thursday when a tree fell onto powerlines. The area is a patchwork of paddocks and wooded properties sprawled across hilly terrain.

Firefighters were also battling blazes in the Shire of Toodyay, 90km northeast of Perth, and the Shire of Dardanup, 180km south of the city.

The Toodyay fire in the Wheatbelt region started on Wednesday afternoon and has burned through about 165 hectares.

Another fire burning in parts of Callcup, Crowea and Meerup in the Shire of Manjimup in the state’s southwest, was at a watch and act level on Friday.

The fire has burned about 2850 hectares with reports of damage to sheds, fences and farm equipment.