People on WA’s South Coast have been instructed to evacuate their homes as firefighters tackle another bushfire emergency.
Lives and homes are at risk in the Shire of Ravensthorpe as firefighters try to douse a raging bushfire on Monday afternoon.
It comes after a horrific weekend for emergency services as crews battled over 100 fires in the southern half of the state.
Residents bound in the area of Springdale Road to the north, Southern Ocean Road to the east and Mason Bay road to the west in the eastern part of Jerdacuttup Lakes Nature Reserve must act immediately to survive amid the bushfire emergency.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services issued an alert on Monday afternoon urging people to evacuate their homes if the way is clear.
“Do not wait and see, leaving at the last minute is deadly,” the alert said.
“Close all doors and windows and turn off evaporative air conditioners, but keep water running through the system if possible.
“If you cannot leave, you need to get ready to shelter in your home.”
The fire started in the Jerdacuttup Lake Nature Reserve after a lightning strike and is currently “moving fast” in a northerly direction.
Crews have been unable to contain or control the blaze and people impacted are best to leave in a northerly direction.
A Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions spokesperson confirmed a NSW waterbomber is currently flying towards the fire zone after arriving in Bunbury.
The large air tanker is capable of carrying 15,000 litres of water and will join several ground crews as the blaze continues to move.
Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson confirmed the Government was sourcing the C130 Hercules waterbomber from NSW to join the growing fight over the weekend.
There is also a bush fire watch and act alert for people in the area of Middle Road to the north, Fence Road to the east, Springdale Road to the south and Mason Bay Road to the west in Jerdacuttup Lakes Nature Reserve.
People in the area must leave if the way is clear as the bushfire conditions rapidly change.
If people bound by the watch and act alert wish to defend their homes they must make final preparations now.
“If you are not at home, do not try to return as conditions in the area could be very dangerous,” the alert said.
On Saturday multiple bushfires burned through almost 2000ha and caused property damage across the Peel region.
DFES Commissioner Darren Klemm said hundreds of firefighters tackled the multiple fronts across the region.
“We were able to deal with the majority of those incidents between farmers, local bush fire brigade volunteers out in the Wheatbelt, and also career firefighters, volunteer firefighters, and firefighters from DBCA.”
Started by dry lightning strikes, the blazes in Serpentine and North Dandalup burned through 1561 and 113 hectares respectively.
About 100 residents across the fire zones attended a community meeting in Serpentine.
Stay up to date with the latest bushfire alerts by visiting emergency.wa.gov.au/
More to come.