Quick-moving bushfire threatening lives and houses in Augusta

Up so a ways

January 30, 2018 00:Forty Four:02

A bushfire emergency warning has been issued as a blaze threatens lives and houses in the South West WA town of Augusta, with windy cases hampering firefighting efforts.

The fire started shut to the Bussell Dual carriageway and the Westbay Retreat Caravan Park in Augusta, about 300 kilometres south of Perth.

The fire is burning on both aspect of Bussell Dual carriageway in paddocks and moving in a northerly route. It is miles uncontrolled and unpredictable.

While the fire seems to be moving a ways from town, there are a necessity of properties in its course.

Caves Dual carriageway from Stockdill Dual carriageway to Bussell Dual carriageway is closed in both instructions.

It has burned now not now not as a lot as 80 hectares of land, and there non-public been as a lot as 80 firefighters on the bottom battling the blaze.

Firefighters attach homes

Shire of Augusta chief bushfire administration officer Dave Holland told ABC Radio Perth firefighters had managed to connect a necessity of homes.

« Now we non-public managed to place up it a ways from a necessity of properties, » he mentioned.

« As a ways as I’m mindful [the people at the caravan park] are all pleasant.

He mentioned firefighters had been grappling with winds blowing as a lot as 60 kilometres per hour, whipping up the flames.

« It is inflicting us just a few problems, however we seem like coping OK, » he mentioned.

The shire’s emergency services and products supervisor Chris Lloyd mentioned officers would work thru the evening to present a steal to containment lines.

There is an evacuation centre on the Centennial Hall on Blackwood Avenue, and one other on the Margaret River Cultural and Recreation Centre.

Fire very shut to town

Earlier, local butcher Archie Brooks told the ABC he believed a vogue of housing objects on the aspect of Bussell Dual carriageway non-public been in hazard.

« There’s a pleasurable pile of smoke factual getting again from West Bay Caravan Park retreat, » he mentioned.

« There’s all dense bushland heading again thru, a vogue of housing objects thru to the left of it on Bussell Dual carriageway. All of these are in hazard. »

Mr Brooks mentioned he was as soon as serving to a respectable friend in finding his property and accumulate out of the gap.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services and products has issued the following techniques to of us in the gap:

• If the capability is evident, drag away now for a safer space.
• Fabricate now not wait and look — leaving on the remaining minute is lethal.
• If your idea is to halt and actively protect your non-public home, enact now not rely on mains water strain as it could well presumably be affected. Once it is possible you’ll maybe presumably want gotten entry to a water tank and idea to protect your non-public home, originate up patrolling with your hose and place out attach fires.
• Once it is possible you’ll maybe presumably presumably now not drag away, that you must accumulate willing to shelter to your non-public home and actively protect it.
• Once you are now not at home, it is miles too poor now to return.
• End all doors and home windows and turn off evaporative air conditioners, however abet water running thru the draw if possible.

Topics:

bushfire,

augusta-6290

First posted

January 29, 2018 18:06:59