New warning after fire cuts off Aussie towns

Hundreds of Aussies have been warned it is still not safe to return after as out-of-control bushfire continues to burn, just days after multiple towns were cut off.

The bushfire along the Western Australian coast was sparked by a fatal car crash on Monday and has since cut off several towns, trapping residents in Western Australia’s Wheatbelt region.

The fire also burnt through evacuation points.

Early on Saturday morning, Emergency WA warned residents in the Wedge Island and Grey areas of the Shire of Dandaragan it was still not safe to return.

“There is a possible threat to lives or homes,” the warning states.

“The alert level for this fire has been downgraded due to current weather conditions and fire behaviour.

“If you have left the area, it is unsafe to return.”

WA Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm told reporters on Friday more than 200 career and volunteer firefighters had been on the ground every day for the last four days fighting the Cervantes fire in difficult conditions.

“The situation is still very challenging,” he said.

“The 50km long western flank of the fire will continue to challenge crews today with forecast strong easterly winds, which will test these containment lines.

“We are expecting difficult conditions to continue overnight and into tomorrow.”

The commissioner said thunderstorms were forecast from 5pm on Friday which could occur north of the fire, but would come with little rainfall and an increased risk lightning could spark additional fires.

“Key advice for people in Wedge and Grey is to take shelter and for if you’re in Cervantes, it’s too late to leave,” he said.

“We don’t want people trying to leave by road.”

The commissioner told reporters a number of people from Cervantes had already left but there were people at Grey and Wedge Island who chose to stay.

He said they had worked with Fire and Emergency Services officers on a plan to get them safely onto their boats and evacuate from the beach.

Two volunteer firefighters were injured at Wedge on Wednesday with one volunteer sustaining non-life threatening burns who was flown to Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth.

“He is recovering and was released from hospital (on Thursday)” Commissioner Klemm said.

“Two volunteer firefighters also had a lucky escape on Thursday when a power line came down on top of their fire appliance.

“They were temporarily trapped in the vehicle until it could be safely removed and were not injured.”

Fire and Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said there had been no reports of deaths or property lost in the fire.

An emergency warning is in place for several areas located about 150kms to 240kms north of Perth in WA’s Wheatbelt including Cervantes, Cooljarloo, Nambung, Wedge Island and Grey.

Residents were told their lives and homes were under threat and were urged to head to the beach if it was not safe to take shelter in their homes.

“You must shelter before the fire arrives, as the extreme heat will kill you before the flames reach you,” residents were warned.

A Department of Fire and Emergency Services spokesperson said firefighters were actively fighting the fire and working with machinery to build containment lines around the Cervantes townsite.

“Backburning has recommenced this morning to consolidate containment lines,” a spokesperson said.

“Backburning has recommenced this morning to consolidate containment lines,” a spokesperson said.

The Cervantes Primary School was closed on Friday and about 18 homes and businesses in Cervantes and Nambung are without power, and are unlikely to be restored until crews from Western Power are able to access the affected areas.