Perth Hills residents are still on alert after a bushfire in Beechina that earlier led to an emergency warning was lowered to Watch and Act on Wednesday evening.
Emergency WA said the warning still covers people in an area bordered by Great Eastern Highway, Doconing Road and Old Northam Road in parts of Beechina in the Shire of Mundaring. An Advice alert is also still in place for parts of Beechina, Chidlow and Wooroloo.
The fire was reported shortly after 2pm. Authorities later said about 70 hectares had burned. Emergency WA said the fire had stopped spreading but there was still a possible threat to lives and homes and conditions could change.
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Local residents were told to keep watching what was happening around them and be ready to act quickly if the situation got worse.
Firefighters sent a large response as the blaze moved through Perth’s eastern edge. Shaun Champ, DFES district officer, told that “We currently have 160 personnel on site with approximately 50 fire appliances.”
Aircraft were also sent in to help crews on the ground as they worked to slow the fire and protect nearby properties.
The fire led to evacuations and closed roads in the area including parts of Great Eastern Highway. This cut off some exit routes at the height of the emergency.
After the alert level was lowered, the evacuation centre at Mundaring Arena closed but road closures were still in place on Wednesday night.
Early reports said at least one derelict home was hit and sheds were damaged although there were no confirmed reports that occupied homes had been lost.
Authorities are urging people in the warning area to keep checking official updates, close doors and windows because of smoke and be ready to leave if conditions change again.
