A bushfire threatening lives and homes near Perth Airport has forced some FIFO flights to be cancelled and the closure of the Great Eastern Highway Bypass.
A Watch and Act warning is in place and motorists have been advised to avoid the area.
Firefighters were called to the blaze at 4.40am, with the bypass closed between Great Eastern Highway and Kalamunda Road in South Guildford soon after.
People in an area bounded by Abernethy Road, Kalamunda Road and the Great Eastern Highway Bypass in parts of Hazlemere, High Wycombe, Perth Airport and South Guildford have been told to leave now if the way is clear and they are not prepared.
Firefighters remain out on the ground actively fighting the blaze.
Strike Force Vulcan officers — which is part of WA Police’s arson squad — were also seen at the scene.
However, it is not yet known if the blaze is being treated as suspicious.
A Perth Airport spokesperson on Friday morning said that the major sections of the airport, including Terminal One to Four, have not been evacuated.
“There has been no impact to services operating out of Perth Airport’s Terminals One to Four, however, some services in the General Aviation precinct area which operates primarily FIFO charter services were impacted by staff evacuations and road closures in the precinct,” they said.
“Staff have been cleared to return to the precinct and operations have recommenced.
“A Bushfire Watch and Act remains active for this incident. For further information on this advice please contact DFES.
“The care, safety and security of the public and employees at Perth Airport continues to be our priority.
“Perth Airport continues to work with DFES and Emergency services in the precinct.”
The staff at the precinct started to return to work at about 7.30am, and are working through the backlog of flights, the spokesperson said.
