Firefighters have been working through the night to battle a bushfire north of Perth that wiped out a petrol station and took over at least one home.
The fire, which has also destroyed 650 hectares of bush in the Yanchep National Park, was downgraded to a watch an act alert on Thursday morning as temperatures were set to soar to 40 degrees.
An evacuation centre has been set up at the Gumblossom Community Centre on Tapping Way for people affected by the blaze.
A Yanchep petrol station has been caught in the fire, as well as a number of surrounding vehicles. CREDIT:ABC
One home has been impacted by fire, as well as a petrol station, ABC Perth reports.
Footage showed structures on fire at the local petrol station and a number of vehicles there burning and more than 1400 homes had lost power, according to 6PR’s Lisa Barnes.
Emergency warning still in place for fire burning in Yanchep. Around 1400 homes w/out power. 100 firefighters at the scene. Evacuation Centre open at Quinn’s Rock Sports Centre. #perthnews #wanews
— Lisa Barnes (@Barnsy_Lisa) December 11, 2019
A second bushfire emergency was issued on Wednesday evening for people in the Toodyay Holiday Park but firefighters’ efforts caused that blaze to be downgraded to a bushfire advice on Thursday morning.
Aerial support was brought in to help with the blaze. CREDIT:NINE NEWS PERTH
The Department for Fire and Emergency Services said the Yanchep blaze was stationary and contained, but not controlled.
Several roads in the area had been closed including Yanchep Beach Road, Old Yanchep Road and Indian Ocean Drive from Breakwater Drive to Pipidinny Road.
The Yanchep National Park has also been closed.
There is still a possible threat to lives and homes and people are urged to leave or actively defend the blaze.
About 90 firefighters are at the scene of the blaze which broke out just after 2pm on Wednesday.
Fire emergency in Yanchep. Over 100 hectares already burnt in just over 2 hours @9NewsPerth pic.twitter.com/umxW999xKC
— Michael Stamp (@StampyMichael) December 11, 2019
Record heatwave
The fire comes at the start of a possible record-busting December heatwave.
Perth hit 38 degrees on Wednesday and the Bureau of Meteorology expects a run of four consecutive 40 degree days will start on Thursday, breaking December heat records.
Four consecutive days of 40 degrees or more has only occurred twice before in Perth, in 2016 and 1933.
There has already been one 40 degree day in December and the record for December is two, which the bureau said has occurred eight times, the last being 2015.
Firefighters worked through the night to battle blaze in the Yanchep National Park. CREDIT:NINE NEWS PERTH
The bureau said it was highly likely that by the beginning of next week, Perth will have recorded five days of 40 degrees or more.
The longest run of consecutive days of 40 degrees or more in December is two, which occurred in 1974.
It said a slow-moving high-pressure system in the Bight was pulling hot air down towards the west coast.
“The hot air will remain over Perth until Sunday, when it is expected that cooler south-westerly air will start to move over the west coast resulting in temperatures dropping to the low 30s on Monday,” it said.
Hamish Hastie
https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/petrol-station-razed-in-fire-emergency-north-of-perth-as-temperatures-soar-20191211-p53j45.html
