Residents north of Perth are being told it’s too late to leave and to take shelter as a bushfire continues to tear through hundreds of hectares of land.
Three bushfires are burning out of control in parts of the Chittering region, just under an hour north of Perth.
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The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) estimate over 2,600 hectares of land have already been burnt through.
Gingin, Bindoon, and Lennard Brook are towns under an emergency warning on Monday morning, with residents being told they are “in danger and need to act immediately to survive. There is a threat to lives and homes”.
At least one property in Bindoon has been destroyed in the fires, and authorities fear more are under threat.
The extent of the damage has yet to be examined, made difficult by the intensity of the fire.
“We will get out there as soon as we can,” DFES incident controller Clint Kuchel said.
“We know it’s important for people to understand what damage is out there.
“We’ve got unconfirmed reports of damage to structures — what they are, whether they’re dwelling, commercial businesses or outbuildings — we just need to verify it.”
Stay up to date with the latest advice on the EmergencyWA website.