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Wooroloo fire: Winds, terrain make fire fight ‘extremely difficult’

Kate RyanThe West Australian
Police Commissioner Chris Dawson updates the media.
Camera IconPolice Commissioner Chris Dawson updates the media. Credit: Kate Ryan/The West Australian

High winds and steep terrain is making for “extremely difficult conditions” for firefighters, with people in the Shady Hills Estate and Bullsbrook at immediate risk and urged to leave their homes if they are not prepared.

The number of properties lost to the fire stands at 71.

Fire Commissioner Darren Klemm said while the fire had remained largely static overnight, the north-west corner of the fire-front was proving hard to combat with crews unable to get earth moving equipment in.

“We've been using both large air tankers and fixed-wing water bombers to lay retardant lines in that area late yesterday and early this morning.”

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Conditions are expected to worsen as the winds pick up this afternoon and Mr Klemm said a telephone warning alert had been released for Shady Hill Estate and the people of Bullsbrook.

“People in those areas, now is the time to enact your bushfire plan. If you are not prepared, you should leave now. I want to reiterate that. It is absolutely critical that people enact their bushfire plan now and if your decision is to leave, then leave now,” he said.

“We're only going to see the wind strengthen over the course of the day which will make that fire in difficult, steep terrain incredibly different to stop running up the hill towards Shady Hills estate.”

The Roleystone Volunteer Fire Brigade worked throughout the night.
Camera IconThe Roleystone Volunteer Fire Brigade worked throughout the night. Credit: The Roleystone Volunteer Fire Brigade/The Roleystone Volunteer Fire Brigade

Mr Klemm said the process of communicating the loss homes to homeowners had begun.

“I know that all of our thoughts are with those people in what has been a difficult couple of days for them and we know that both the next couple of days and months ahead are also gong to be incredibly difficult as those people come to terms with the loss of their houses. 

“We support them and we acknowledge the sacrifices they've made in protecting their properties.”

Residents who have been evacuated from their homes attend a community meeting at the Swan View Youth Centre.
Camera IconResidents who have been evacuated from their homes attend a community meeting at the Swan View Youth Centre. Credit: Danella Bevis/The West Australian

Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said he had been briefed by investigators looking into the origins of the fire who were certain it started on Werribee Road near Great Eastern Highway in Wooroloo.

“The cause of that fire is undetermined. We don't know exactly how that started. There's no criminality that has been identified at this point but it is undetermined.”

The Commissioner also said there had been two reports of thefts of homes which had been evacuated. One in Aveley and another in Red Hill.

“I would not characterise this as looting, this is a cause of concern there have been burglaries in this area,” he said.

Flames surround a property under construction off Copley Road in Upper Swan.
Camera IconFlames surround a property under construction off Copley Road in Upper Swan. Credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Earlier, at this morning’s press conference in Mundaring, Premier Mark McGowan said WA was fighting emergencies on two fronts: The emergency bushfire and a lockdown.

He said even he knew someone who had lost their home, and to the people who are in the affected area, he said: “Every single West Australian is thinking of you today and stand ready to help however we can”.

“Homes and memories going up in flames, it’s incredibly sad”.

Mr McGowan announced the state government would provide $2 million to the disaster relief fund.

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