Fire brought under control
Henley Brook and Brabham residents were allowed to return home last night after a bushfire tore through Whiteman Park.
But a large section of Lord Street remained closed as firefighters fought the 2km fire front throughout the night.
Properties were evacuated in Perth's north-eastern suburbs yesterday afternoon as more than 100 firefighters battled the blaze. They were bolstered by several water-bombing planes and helicopters.
The fire started about 1pm and was contained at 9pm.
An emergency warning was issued for parts of Brabham and Henley Brook at 3.45pm, with residents told to leave their homes or prepare to defend them.
No houses were destroyed but flames came so close to properties that fences were singed.
An evacuation centre was set up at the Altone Park Leisure Centre, where Henley Brook resident Julie Binns, 58, waited nervously with her husband.
Mrs Binns had decided to move her horses to a nearby property and evacuate after the plume of smoke over Whiteman Park started blocking out the sun.
"From 1.30pm onwards the sky was just black and the sun was a little, round red dot," she said.
"I don't know why there weren't any warnings from DFES or the ABC at that point, but I had a really nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach and I just thought I need to get these horses out."
The cause of the fire is not known.
Firefighters were kept busy at several other incidents across Perth yesterday, including a fire at the Balcatta Recycling Centre that put three City of Stirling workers in hospital with smoke inhalation.
The fire was put out last night but nearby residents were told to leave their windows closed overnight because of the smoke.
It caused about $50,000 damage to the facility. Bassendean Shopping Centre was evacuated about 2.30pm after a suspicious truck fire filled the centre with smoke.
In Southern River, another 50 firefighters battled a blaze in bush near Holmes Street.
Aerial support was deployed to ensure properties did not come under threat.
