More than 40 firefighters are on the scene of a huge blaze in Esperance as a local high school and TAFE were evacuated on Tuesday afternoon.
The huge blaze — which prompted an emergency level warning in Esperance just after 2pm — has so far burnt about six hectares.
It started near the intersection of Connolly Street and Cherry Well Road just before 1.20 pm, in bushland just hundreds of metres from Esperance Senior High School and its residential college, which is home to up to 100 rural students.
The high school and South Regional TAFE, which was also in the fire zone,“were evacuated quickly and safely by school staff”, the shire said.
An evacuation centre has been set up at the Esperance Indoor Sports Stadium at the Greater Sports Ground, on Black Street.
The emergency warning was downgraded to watch and act advice about 4.10pm for people bounded by Downes Street, Pink Lake Road, Winston Way, Edwards Street, Munro Lane, Dalyup Drive, Rowse Street, Freeman Street, Thompson Street and Connolly Street in the eastern part of Pink Lake.
Fireys on the scene have managed to contain the unpredictable blaze but not yet gain control over it. It is currently stationary.
Motorists are being asked to avoid the area and a number of roads have been closed including Pink Lake Road from Downes Street to Rowse Street, and Connolly Street from Twilight beach Road to Pink Lake Road.