SW blaze closes Bibbulmun Track

UPDATE 7.02pm: A thick smoke haze has settled over the south west as firefighters battle a blaze heading towards Northcliffe, 200km south of Bunbury. The Department of Environment and Conservation has issued a smoke alert from Cape Leeuwin to Jurien Bay, including the metropolitan area. Smoke was so thick in Pemberton that drivers needed headlights at 4pm.

The Department of Environment and Conservation said lightning strikes late on Thursday caused 15 fires in jarrah and karri forest, 14 of which had been extinguished, but fire had got into the D’Entrecasteaux National Park.

DEC information officer Drew Griffiths said the fire was “uncontrollable and unpredictable,” and though 140 firefighters had contained the fire, it would take days to bring under control.

The Bibulman track has been closed and DEC crew have been scouring the area for any walkers.

Holiday makers on remote huts on the river in the national park have already been urged to leave.

Northcliffe Visitor Centre manager Cheryl Macaulay said many locals were concerned that the town would be at risk if weather conditions changed.

“We are all a bit worried,” she said.

“Some people have packed up their cars and I am thinking about it.

“We are encouraging visitors to leave the area.

“It is quite concerning because we are surrounded by bush and most of our tourism relates to the bush.”

Are you in the fire zone? Email us your pictures or MMS 0402 228 221.

Two fishermen have been stranded by fire at a hut on the south of the D’Entrecasteaux National Park but are safe and have told DEC officers they have enough provisions for three days.

Mr Griffiths said south-east winds were pushing the fire towards Northcliffe today, putting pressure on containment lines.

“We’ve had a number of spot-overs but fire crews have been working day and night to contain those, the (part of the fire) nearest Northcliffe is contained.

“The nearest private property is a farm, there is a number of rural properties around Northcliffe.”

Mr Griffiths said it would be a slow process to contain the fire.

“It’s very slow, it’s a war of inches, you’ve always got the worry of spot-overs behind you and you can only work on burnt ground,” he said.

“There are a whole lot of huts between Gardner River and Broke Inlet and we’ve gone in created fire breaks to burn out around them.”

“There were two people in there before the lightning started and they’re stuck in there, but they’re on burnt ground and they’re safe and well provisioned.

Shire of Manjimup chief executive Jeremy Hubble said there was no immediate call to evacuate Northcliffe but residents were remaining cautious in case weather conditions changed.

Mr Hubble said about 200 local residents who attended a community meeting at Northcliffe’s town hall this morning had been anxious but were not panicking.

It was possible the Windy Harbour community would need to be isolated if conditions changed.

“It is a potential threat but they are holding it at the moment,” Mr Hubble said.

“We are cautiously optimistic.”

A bushfire advice was issued for an area 25km south-east of Northcliffe, near Manjimup, yesterday afternoon and remains in place this afternoon.

A DEC spokesperson said although there was no immediate threat to private property or homes, people were advised to stay on high alert due to erratic winds and a dense fuel load.

The bushfire advice also included Windy Harbour and Shannon.

Ian Finlay, who owns Riverway Chalets in Northcliffe, said he was hoping the wind did not change and send the fire in his direction.

“We are hoping it’s about 10 to 15km from us, we are on standby,” Mr Finlay said.

“We are vulnerable (but) we have a regime of keeping the grass around chalets and the homestead very green.”

A smoke alert has been issued for the south coast, Great Southern, South West and Perth.

The fire is uncontained and erratic. Strong fire behaviour has caused several spot fires north of containment lines which crews are working to contain.

The bushfire is burning in a mixture of coastal heath and tall karri forest with high fuel loads that have potential to burn with very high intensity.

The fire has burnt through 12,867ha with an estimated final containment area of 30,660ha.

Smoke is affecting the Vasse Highway, Wheatley Coast Road, Pemberton-Northcliffe Road.

Smoke is expected to drift northwards and may be visible throughout the south coast, Great Southern, South West and in Perth and surrounds tomorrow.

Smoke is currently impacting the Muir Highway, South-West Highway, Vasse Highway, Wheatley Coast Road and Pemberton-Northcliffe Road. Smoke remains visible around Rocky Gully and Mount Barker.

Motorists should take care, turn on headlights and travel at appropriate speeds when travelling in these areas.

People with conditions exacerbated by smoke should take precautions in line with their medical advice for these circumstances.

ROAD CLOSURES:
• Deeside Coast Road – closed between Nelson Road and Chesapeake Road
• Dean Road – west of Deeside Coast Road
• Chesapeake road – between Broke Inlet and Andrews Road
• Northcliffe Log Road South – south of Preston Road
• Bannister Road – South of Boorara Road
• Boorara Access Road

• All other forest roads and tracks south of KTC, Dean and Nelson roads