Shire of Murray bushfires: Lives at risk as bushfires spark two emergency warnings

A prison and a Buddhist monastery are among the latest under direct threat from a bushfire raging in Serpentine as the Government called in a C130 Hercules waterbomber from New South Wales to help combat the multiple fire fronts tearing through the Perth and Peel regions Saturday night.

Karnet Prison Farm and Bodhinyana Buddhist Monastery were under direct threat as the Serpentine blaze, which started near the Serpentine Dam, moved in a northerly direction about 9pm Saturday night.

But a Department of Justice spokesman said “there are no plans to evacuate”.

“A command centre that has included DFES staff has been managing Karnet Prison Farm’s response to the bushfire emergency,” he said.

“The prison farm has firefighting equipment on site with established firebreaks in place.”

And three fires at Nambeelup, Serpentine and North Dandaulp were at emergency warning level, with the latter two fires warning areas having joined up.

Several out-of-control bushfires continue to burn as Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson confirmed the Government was sourcing a C130 Hercules waterbomber from NSW to join the growing fight.

The large air tanker — capable of carrying 15,000 litres of water — is due to arrive on Sunday.

Armed with garden hoses and hard hats residents fought back against raging flames alongside firefighters as nearly a dozen blazes tore through the southern suburbs of Perth and Peel regions on Saturday threatening homes, a hospital and lives.

Lightning strikes caused some fires while others are being investigated for arson, such as the Piara Waters blaze.

People bounded by South West Highway to the west, north to Falls Road and east to Ronan Road have been instructed to leave their homes if safe as the dangerous fire area in Serpentine grows.

The western boundary of the blaze includes the Serpentine Reservoir and the southern boundary extends due west to Sharp Road and Mathews Road.

It takes in the minimum-security Karnet Prison Farm and the Bodhinyana Buddhist Monastery.

Firefighters are on the scene and are actively fighting the northern boundary.

A third evacuation centre has opened in the region, with the latest at the Serpentine Jarrahdale Community Recreation Centre in Byford, while centres remain open at the Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre in Mandurah, and the Murray Aquatic and Leisure Centre in Pinjarra.

The Jarrahdale townsite remains on high alert with a watch and act warning in force all the way up to Mundijong.

Several roads have been closed in the area, including Kingsbury Drive from South West Highway to Jarrahdale Road, Jarrahdale Road between Kingsbury and Albany Highway, and Albany Highway between Jarrahdale Road and North-Bannister Wandering Road.

Kwinana Freeway remains closed in both directions between Mandjoogoordap Drive and Pinjarra Road.

In the metro area, a playground in Piara Waters was torched after it was engulfed by flames at 3.50pm.

Offshore oil rig firefighters Anthony Mohr and Brian McDonald became neighbourhood heroes after they joined residents in trying to keep the flames at bay as the playground fire threatened nearby homes.

When they saw thick smoke pooling behind nearby houses, the duo quickly sprung into action.

“The smoke was that bad and thick black it was serious. We thought someone’s house must be on fire, so we went to help out,” Mr Mohr, pictured far right, said.

“We were pretty much the first people here, we got here before the firefighters.”

The workmates got hold of a nearby garden hose and started battling the blaze.

“It was really hot. We’ve burned the hairs off our arms and there was a lot of smoke,” Mr Mohr said.

The pair now have plans to join the Armadale bushfire brigade as volunteers.

Piara Waters resident Chantal Quinn watched with her daughters as a fire tore through the park across the road from their home in just minutes.

Ms Quinn only noticed the fire in her rear-view mirror when she was about to reverse out of her driveway on Saturday afternoon.

“It was crazy out there, honestly, the heat and the sounds were just insane and it was so quick,” she said.

“The wind was so fast and you could literally almost see it travelling.”

She said the intensity of the fire was the scariest thing she has seen in her life.

Ms Quinn said the afternoon had been stressful but that she was grateful for the firefighters. “They are just amazing, they do such a good job,” she said.

Another Piara Waters resident Bobby Jalajamma said he immediately grabbed his kids and fled.

“It (the fire) was like a bomb had gone off, the flames were reaching so high into the sky,” he said.

Further south, at least four fixed-wing waterbombers took to the sky, while on the ground 65 fire trucks and more than 100 career and volunteer firefighters battled another blaze in Nambeelup near Mandurah which threatened Peel Health Campus.

DFES south coast Supt Ray Buchan said the conditions presented an extra challenge for firefighters, with “high rates of spread and very fast moving fires”.

More than 200ha of land was torched by a fire which started on Paterson Road, jumped Kwinana Freeway and barrelled towards Mandurah, forcing the freeway to be closed.

Supt Buchan said on Saturday afternoon he expected the fight to continue “right through the night and into the morning” due to high winds, high temperatures, and low relative humidity.

As of 7pm there were no reported injuries or destroyed homes, but some outbuildings and sheds in the area were razed. Supt Buchan advised residents to “maintain a high level of vigilance”.

Peel Health Campus, just metres from the raging blaze, prepared to evacuate patients if the fire danger increased last night.

It was put on ambulance bypass and was closed to visitors.

Two evacuation centres were opened in Mandurah and Pinjarra.

Others evacuated to friends’ homes outside the danger zones.

Murray shire resident Beverley Liborio evacuated to a family member’s home.

“Firefighters came in when it started burning down my driveway and said you need to get out. So I grabbed my dog, some clothes and my computer and jumped in the car and left,” she said.

“It has been really quite frightening. We’ve had a few small fires but nothing anywhere near as intense or serious as this.”

“I was adamant to stay and defend. I went around and put all my reticulation on. I would have stayed, I only left because they told me to go.

“I was devastated that they wanted me to go but the fire was burning quite ferociously on three sides of the property.

“I am really worried, I have animals at home, some chickens, pigeons and a few sheep.”

Mr Dawson said the NSW Hercules would complement the two aircraft from Bunbury, another from Albany and two from Geraldton.

Emergency services are encouraging residents to use Register. Find. Reunite. to communicate with loved ones who may be affected by fires burning in the area.

Road closure information is available from Main Roads WA by visiting the Main Roads Travel Map or calling 138 138.