Albany bushfire: Two blazes burn out of control in WA's Great Southern threatening lives and homes
Updated
Two bushfires are threatening lives and homes in Albany and other communities across Western Australia's south coast, as winds from the season's first strong cold front fan flames, sparking spot fires up to 1.5 kilometres ahead of one blaze.
Key points:
- Firefighters say they are stretched thin as they try to get everyone out of affected areas safely
- In some places people are being told it is too late to leave, they must take shelter in their homes
- At least one property has been lost
- People impacted by the Albany Fires or looking for loved ones can register with the Red Cross
One of those fires is burning west of the city of Albany and the other is near the Porongurup National Park, to Albany's north east.
Three other fires have been downgraded to watch and act level, including a fire at Albany's Goode Beach.
Authorities say people in the vicinity of this fire need to stay alert to changing conditions and there is a possible threat to lives and properties.
Wind gusts of more than 100 kilometres per hour have been recorded at Albany and the Bureau of Meteorology is warning winds will intensify during the day with gusts of up to 125kph forecast.
More details on all fires can be found on the Emergency WA website.
Some residents have been evacuated and at least one property — farmstay resort Nutkin Lodge near Peaceful Bay — has been confirmed lost.
Two fires threaten to combine
Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) Superintendent Wayne Green said one of the biggest concerns was the fire burning in Napier, about 30km north-east of the town of Albany, which is home to about 35,000 people.
An emergency warning has been issued for the Napier fire, which is threatening to join up with another fire burning in the south-east of the Stirling Ranges, a rugged and mountainous national park north of the township.
Albany Mayor Dennis Wellington said one of the worst scenarios would be if the two fire fronts at Napier and the Stirling Range, both north-east of Albany, were to combine.
"What we don't want to see is the Stirling range one and the Napier one meet up, because that just gives a huge fire front to fight," he said.
Superintendent Green said there were dozens of fires across the area and crews were under a lot of strain.
"All of our resources are absolutely stretched to the point where some of the fires that are coming in and being reported now aren't even getting a response," he said.
"Because our resources are so tied up with making sure that people are being evacuated safely."
The southern half of the state is also being battered by the first strong cold front of the season, but while strong winds are whipping up flames, there is not enough rainfall to have a major impact on most of the fires.
"We can't rely on any of this rain that's starting to drizzle through at the moment, it seems to be having not that much affect out on the fire grounds," Superintendent Green said.
The fires have spread quickly, with Superintendent Green saying one fire front was almost the length of the Stirling Ranges.
'It's just absolute mayhem'
Albany Mayor Dennis Wellington said he had never seen a fire on this scale.
"I've never seen anything like it … it's just absolute mayhem," he said.
He said resourcing was the city's biggest concern.
"Our biggest problem is going to be tomorrow, is that these fellas that are out there fighting now doing just such a sensational job, they're going to have been out there for 24 hours, they're going to be out on their feet," he said on Thursday night.
"We've got no resources left whatsoever if something else starts again tomorrow."
Mr Wellington confirmed that crews have travelled from the nearby regional hubs of Katanning, Cranbrook and Tambellup to assist worn out volunteer firefighters.
School under threat
South Coast regional manager Greg Mair from the Department of Parks and Wildlife said the fire has burnt through large swathes of the Stirling Range National Park.
"The fire took a big run overnight, it's come out of the national park under those strong northerly winds and it has burnt through private property around the Two Mile Lake area … and burnt down towards South Stirling nature reserve and South Stirling Primary School," Mr Mair said.
He said the school had not been directly impacted by the fires but the full picture was yet to emerge.
The Department of Education has cancelled classes at the South Stirling Primary School on Friday as a precaution.
"Because the main run has been in hours of darkness, the actual edge of the fire is a little unclear," he said.
"We've got a general impression of where it's come but once we get a little daylight we can put an aircraft up and get a main plot on it, that will help us identify the main threat areas."
Mr Mair said the fire has torn through about 16,000 hectares, with homes and private property damage unconfirmed at this stage.
"Most of that is in the national park but it includes an undetermined amount of private property, so we haven't separated those figures out yet. [It's] a very large fire," he said.
Little relief from cold front
The Bureau of Meteorology Senior Forecaster Matt Boterhoven said a cold front sweeping over the state has brought little relief.
"We've had a strong cold front move over the south-west of the state, challenging fire conditions near Albany," he said.
"They recorded [wind] gusts up to 102kph just before 2am.
"Since then it's cooled off a little, there's some humidity, there are some showers but only light rainfall recorded so far."
Mr Boterhoven said light rainfall is expected tomorrow and heading into the weekend, but that gusty winds are also forecast.
A south-westerly change was expected to bring more significant rainfall later today, but it would also bring stronger winds that could fan the flames.
"Activities should increase Friday evening and Saturday morning with up to 10 millimetres [of rain]," he said.
Warning for residents to take shelter
An emergency warning — the highest threat level — is in place for Redmond, Marbelup, McKail, Elleker and Torbay on the western side of Albany.
A second emergency warning was issued this morning for parts of Napier in the City of Albany. The alert has been issued for people in an area bounded by Chester Pass Road, Takalarup Road, Deep Creek Road, Penn Road and Mindijup Road.
A bushfire watch and act notice has also been issued for people in an area bounded by Takalarup Road, Palmdale Road and Moir Road in Napier.
The bushfire is moving fast and in a southerly direction and homes are under threat now, according to DFES.
Emergency warnings have also been issued for an area south-east of Stirling Range National Park in the city of Albany.
Authorities say people in the vicinity of these fires are in danger and need to act immediately to survive.
For these people, DFES advises:
- It is too late to leave, leaving now would be deadly.
- You need to shelter in your home and actively defend it.
- Go to a room away from the fire front and make sure you can easily escape.
- Choose a room with two exits and water such as a kitchen or laundry.
- You must shelter before the fire arrives, as the extreme heat will kill you well before the flames reach you.
- Protect yourself by wearing long sleeves and trousers, made from cotton or wool, and strong leather boots.
- If your home catches on fire and the conditions inside become unbearable, you need to get out and go to an area that has already been burnt.
- Close all doors and windows and turn off evaporative air conditioners, but keep water running through the system if possible.
A watch and act is in place for Goode Beach and Frenchman Bay across the inlet from the town.
Albany Mayor Mr Wellington warned residents to exercise extreme caution in the area.
"You just got to be careful if you are on the roads, there could be trees down and still coming down," he said.
"We can always replace the houses and that sort of thing but you can't replace lives."
The Stirling Ranges fire is the result of an escaped burn, a DFES statement said.
City of Albany community emergency services manager Brendan Gordon said strong southerly winds had picked up during the evening and were pushing the fires quickly towards farming properties.
"Both of these fires will impact properties really quickly," he said.
"We're chucking everything at these fires and hoping for the best."
An emergency evacuation centre has been set up at the Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre on Barker Road.
Rain brings relief to Peaceful Bay
An earlier emergency warning for the holiday-home community of Peaceful Bay in the shire of Denmark has been downgraded to a watch and act as rainfall dampened flames.
However, homes along Ficifolia Road and Peaceful Bay Road including the coastal Peaceful Bay township, comprising around 300 homes, may still come under threat.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services said the bushfire is fast-moving, out of control and unpredictable.
Roads in the area have been closed.
DFES said those planning on staying to defend their homes must not rely on mains water pressure. Those with access to a water tank should start patrolling with their hose and put out spot fires.
Motorists are asked to avoid areas affected by the fires, reduce speed and drive carefully due to smoke.
Topics: bushfire, fires, disasters-and-accidents, albany-6330, wa, denmark, australia
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