People living close to a gold mine about 130km southeast of Perth have been told it is ‘too late to leave’ after an out-of-control bushfire has raged for days.
An emergency warning was put in place on Thursday for people at Boddington Gold Mine and in the area east and south of the mine, including Bannister and Wuraming.
It was the second urgent notice within 24 hours.
‘You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. There is a threat to lives and homes,’ the WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) said.
‘It is too late to leave. Fire has impacted evacuation routes and leaving now will put your life in danger.’
Earlier this week, emergency services were called to Gold Mine Road in the area after a lightning storm started multiple fires on Sunday.
The out-of-control blaze has burnt 442 hectares, and is moving quickly in a south and south easterly direction towards Pinjarra-Williams Road.
Firefighters continue to try and tackle the blaze, with crews from Newmont Mine Site providing support with machinery and emergency response teams. It is understood that most people have been evacuated from the mine.
A bushfire emergency warning was put in place on Thursday for people at Boddington Gold Mine and in the area east and south of the mine, including Bannister and Wuraming
Earlier this week, emergency services were called to Gold Mine Road after a lightning storm started multiple fires on Sunday
People in the area have been urged to close all doors and windows and turn off evaporative air conditioners but keep water running through the system if possible.
Anyone with sprinklers has been encouraged to turn them on.
The DFES said that if a home catches fire and the conditions inside become unbearable, people must go to an area that has already been burnt.
They were told to protect themselves by wearing strong leather boots in case they need to leave home, and call Triple Zero if in immediate danger.
‘You need to identify a room in your home where you can shelter from the approaching fire. It should have running water, such as a kitchen or laundry, and have a clear exit so you can easily escape.
‘You must shelter before the fire arrives, as the extreme heat will kill you before the flames reach you.’
Western Power has advised the power supply to parts of Ranford, Bannister, Marradong, Lower Hotham and Boddington has been affected.
An evacuation centre has opened at the Williams Sport Pavilion on the corner of Pinjarra-Williams Road and Albany Highway.
People in Perth sweltered in temperatures peaking at 41.7 degrees Celsius on Christmas Day
Crews from the Wheatbelt and interstate were called to fight the blaze north of Gold Mine Road
DFES also issued a bushfire emergency warning on Christmas Day for people in the area bounded by Moore River, Millbank Road and Cowalla Road in Cowalla, north of Perth.
Homes in Bidaminna Place and Millbank Road were under threat from the fire.
It comes as temperatures soared up to 41.7 degrees Celsius in Perth on Christmas Day.
A heatwave warning was also issued for the area by the Bureau of Meteorology for WA’s northern region of Pilbara.
‘Severe heatwaves can be dangerous for many people, especially older people, babies, children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with medical conditions and people who are unwell,’ the warning said.
‘Seek a place to keep cool, such as your home, a library, community centre or shopping centre.’
