Bushfire Emergency Unfolds in Perth's Southern Suburbs
Emergency services have escalated their response to a dangerous bushfire burning in Perth's southern suburbs, deploying waterbombers and helitaks to combat the rapidly spreading flames. The situation intensified on Thursday afternoon, prompting urgent evacuation warnings for residents in multiple suburbs.
Immediate Evacuation Orders Issued
Authorities have issued a stark warning to residents in Aubin Grove and Banjup, telling those who are unprepared to leave immediately. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has implemented a Watch and Act alert for people living within specific boundaries: south of Armadale Road, east of Tapper Road, west of Liddlelow Road, and north of Coffey Road.
"The alert level for this fire has been upgraded as fire behaviour has increased," emergency officials stated in their latest update. "There is a possible threat to lives and homes as a fire is burning in the area and conditions are changing."
Aerial Support Joins Ground Crews
The fire response has been significantly bolstered by aerial support, with waterbombers and helitaks working in coordination with firefighters on the ground. The incident was first reported at 2:39 PM on Thursday, and conditions have been deteriorating throughout the afternoon.
Ground crews face challenging conditions as they work to contain the blaze and protect properties in the affected areas. The use of aerial assets highlights the seriousness of the situation and the potential for the fire to spread rapidly under current weather conditions.
Emergency services continue to emphasize the urgency for residents to act decisively: "If your plan is to leave, leave now." The message remains clear that hesitation could put lives at risk as the bushfire situation continues to evolve rapidly.
