Advertisement

‘Too late to leave’: Bushfire cuts evacuation routes

About 200 firefighters are on the scene with aerial support in coastal areas in Western Australia.

About 200 firefighters are on the scene with aerial support in coastal areas in Western Australia. Photo: Gingin South Bush Fire Brigade

Residents in several coastal communities have been told it’s too late to leave their properties as an out-of-control bushfire cuts evacuation routes.

There was an emergency warning in place for parts of Wedge Island, Grey, Cervantes, Nambung and Cooljarloo in the Shire of Dandaragan in Western Australia on Thursday.

It includes the coastal fishing villages of Wedge and Grey, about 170 kilometres north of Perth.

“It is too late to leave,” the Department of Fire and Emergency Services said in an alert on Thursday.

“Fire has impacted evacuation routes and leaving now will put your life in danger.”

People in the town of Cervantes, about 200 kilometres north of the WA capital, have been told to evacuate.

“Leave in a northerly direction along Indian Ocean Drive direction towards Jurien Bay,” the alert said.

About 200 firefighters are on the scene with aerial support. Crews are also building containment lines around the town of about 500 people.

Parts of Indian Ocean Drive and multiple surrounding roads have been closed.

“The bushfire is moving in a westerly direction towards Cervantes, Wedge and Grey,” emergency services said.

“It is not contained or controlled.”

The blaze started on Monday and has burned through about 43,000 hectares of bushland.

Two volunteer firefighters were burned on Wednesday as the blaze flared.

A man in his 60s who was flown to Fiona Stanley Hospital with non-life-threatening remains in hospital in a stable condition.

The other firefighter sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene.

An evacuation centre is open at Jurien Bay Sports and Recreation Centre.

Nambung National Park has also been closed.

-AAP

Advertisement
Stay informed, daily
A FREE subscription to The New Daily arrives every morning and evening.
The New Daily is a trusted source of national news and information and is provided free for all Australians. Read our editorial charter.
Copyright © 2024 The New Daily.
All rights reserved.