Source: Emergency WA

Bushfire Emergency Warning - bounded by Coogee Road, Bustard Road, Silver Road, Galah Road, Hawkins Road, Trichet Road, High Road, Scott Road, Belgrade Road, Franklin Road, Caporn Street, Pinjar Road, Da Vinci Park and Mornington Drive in parts of JANDABUP, MELALEUCA, WANNEROO and MARIGINIUP in the CITY OF WANNEROO and CITY OF SWAN
The following alert has been issued by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES)

Please note new 'Register to Return' section, with details of a phone line that has been established by the City of Wanneroo. People must stay away from the Emergency Warning area. It is not safe and entering the area puts additional pressure on emergency services personnel who are working there to keep the community safe.

Time of issue: 01:26 PM
Date of issue: 24 November 2023

Bushfire EMERGENCY WARNING for parts of JANDABUP, MELALEUCA, WANNEROO and MARIGINIUP in the CITY OF WANNEROO and CITY OF SWAN
A bushfire EMERGENCY WARNING is in place for people bounded by Coogee Road, Bustard Road, Silver Road, Galah Road, Hawkins Road, Trichet Road, High Road, Scott Road, Belgrade Road, Franklin Road, Caporn Street, Pinjar Road, Da Vinci Park and Mornington Drive in parts of JANDABUP, MELALEUCA, WANNEROO and MARIGINIUP in the CITY OF WANNEROO and CITY OF SWAN.

You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. There is a threat to lives and homes.
The fire started near the intersection of Boundary Road and Bustard Road in MARIGINIUP.

WHAT TO DO
If the way is clear, leave now for a safer place.
Do not wait and see, leaving at the last minute could put your life in danger.
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.
Go to a room in your home away from the fire front and make sure you can easily escape.
Choose a room with two exits and water such as a kitchen or laundry.
If you are not at home, it's too dangerous to return.
Bushfire WATCH AND ACT for parts of MARIGINIUP, MELALEUCA, JANDABUP, WANNEROO, SINAGRA, ASHBY, TAPPING and BANKSIA GROVE in the CITY OF WANNEROO and CITY OF SWAN

A bushfire WATCH AND ACT is in place for people bounded by Neaves Road, Silver Road, Payne Road, Blackboy Road, Warbrook Road, Ross Road, Elliot Road, Civic Drive, Dundebar Road, Garden Park Drive, Vincent Road, Messina Drive, Carosa Road, Waldburg Drive, Joondalup Drive, Tumbleweed Drive and Greenvale Place in parts of MARIGINIUP, MELALEUCA, JANDABUP, WANNEROO, SINAGRA, ASHBY, TAPPING and BANKSIA GROVE in the CITY OF WANNEROO and CITY OF SWAN.

There is a possible threat to lives and homes as a fire is burning in the area and the conditions are changing.

WHAT TO DO
Stay alert and monitor your surroundings as conditions could change.
If you are actively defending your property, continue to patrol and put out spot fires.
Keep doors and windows closed, and evaporative air conditioners turned off with water running through the system if possible.
If you have left the area, it may be unsafe to return due to fallen trees, fallen powerlines and other dangers created by the fire.
Be patient and follow the directions of emergency services personnel.
Bushfire ADVICE for parts of CARRAMAR, BANKSIA GROVE, PINJAR, MARIGINIUP, MELALEUCA, GNANGARA, WANNEROO, HOCKING, PEARSALL, SINAGRA, ASHBY AND TAPPING in the CITY OF WANNEROO, CITY OF SWAN and CITY OF JOONDALUP

BUSHFIRE BEHAVIOUR
It is not contained or controlled.
The bushfire is stationary however conditions could change rapidly.
Conditions on the fireground remain too dangerous for community members to return.

SAFER PLACE
If you are unable to stay with family or friends, the Department of Communities has set up an Evacuation Centre:

Gumblossom Community Centre at 17 Tapping Way, Quinns Rocks.
Please take any essential items such as medications and identification to the evacuation centre.
Pets (except recognised assistance animals) are not allowed inside evacuation centres for health and safety reasons, so you should make alternative arrangements for them. If this is not possible, please still proceed to the evacuation centre with your pets and await further advice.
The State Government has established additional temporary accommodation at the Bullsbrook Quarantine Facility. However, members of the public who require accomodation must continue to present at the Gumblossom Community Centre in the first instance - do not go straight to the Bullsbrook facility.

SAFEST ROUTE
People in the Emergency Warning area should leave and travel towards the Evacuation Centre if safe to do so.

ROAD CLOSURES AND CONDITIONS
Avoid the area and be aware of fire and emergency services personnel working on site.
A number of roads have been closed including:

Pinjar Road between Joondalup Drive and Caporn Street
Dempster Place
Coogee Road
Caporn Street
Ranch Road
Wells Street
Tapping Street
the eastern end of Belgrade Road
the eastern end of Dundebar Road
Trichet Road
Hawkins Road
Motorists are asked to avoid the area, reduce speed and drive carefully due to smoke. Road information may also be available from Main Roads WA by visiting the Main Roads Travel Map, calling 138 138 or by contacting your Local Government Authority.

POWER
Power to about 544 homes and businesses has been impacted by the bushfire, mostly in Wanneroo and Mariginiup.
Western Power has been given limited access to the fireground to make the area safe for emergency responders to do their jobs, that is our priority at this stage.
Western Power works closely with DFES and crews are on standby to gain more comprehensive access the fire ground when it is deemed safe for them to do so.
We know how important power is and as soon as Western Power are able to begin safely restoring customers they will put all available crews on the job, but due to the damage in the area restoration will take some time.

A pocket of around 80 customers not in the immediate vicinity of the fire in Bullsbrook (including Outback Splash) were restored last night through backfeeding - these customers were impacted as the transmission line feeding their location is within the damage zone.
At this stage there are reports of more than 100 poles damaged, and there are also burned transformers and lots of downed wires which will need to be repaired.
Once Western Power gains more comprehensive access to the fireground this number is likely to increase.

Each pole replacement can take up to 8 hours depending on the type of pole and conditions.
Western Power are busy mobilising logistics areas so we can bring in materials, have a set-down area and 'base camp' for our crews as the recovery may take weeks not days.
All electrical assets should be treated as live even if power is off - if you see a damaged powerline, please stay at least eight metres away and report it to Western Power on 13 13 51.
For further details visit Western Power

SCHOOLS
The Department of Education has advised that East Wanneroo Primary School and Wanneroo Secondary College are closed.

No one will be allowed on site as it will not be safe.
Parents and carers are asked to keep their children home.
An update will be provided on 24 November 2023.
For more information contact your school directly or visit the Department of Education.

REGISTER.FIND.REUNITE
Register with Register.Find.Reunite to let your family and loved ones know you're OK via https://redcross.org.au from any computer or mobile device, or at an evacuation centre.

If you are unable to contact a loved one who may have been affected by the fires, you can enquire about their whereabouts through the online Register.Find.Reunite. system at https://redcross.org.au or at an evacuation centre.

ANIMAL WELFARE
An animal evacuation area for pets and livestock has been set up at the Wanneroo Showgrounds. Access is from the Ariti Avenue entrance on the southern side of the showgrounds.

Owners or carers of livestock, pets and companion animals should activate their own animal welfare plan. During a bushfire take advice from Local Government Authorities to protect the lives of your animals while keeping yourself safe.

For more information on actions to take for each bushfire warning level, please see the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development website.

REGISTER TO RETURN
The City of Wanneroo has set up a phone line for City of Wanneroo residents who wish to register that they want to return to their properties. To register your details, please call 9405 5000 and press 7.
For information about current alerts and warnings, people can continue to call 13 DFES (13 3337) to speak with an operator.

WHAT FIREFIGHTERS ARE DOING
Firefighters are on the scene, actively fighting the fire and working on containment lines.
Aerial support has been sent to assist ground crews.
Over 500 staff and volunteers from multiple agencies are in attendance.

DRONES AND AERIAL SUPPORT
Never fly a drone, model aircraft or multirotor near bushfires. Doing so poses a major safety risk to firefighting personnel in the air and on the ground, and forces aircraft to be grounded or redirected, hindering firefighting efforts.

EXTRA INFORMATION
The fire was reported at 01:09 PM on 22 November 2023.
Currently there has been 1,820 hectares burnt.
The cause of the fire is unknown.
DFES is managing the fire.

KEEP UP TO DATE
Visit Emergency WA, call 13 DFES , follow DFES on Facebook, listen to ABC Local Radio, 6PR, or news bulletins.

During a power outage, your home phone, computer or other electronic devices connected to the NBN will not work. Include a battery powered radio in your emergency kit.

Updates will be issued every hour unless the situation changes.

DFES Bushfires