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Firefighters Warn People Threatened By WA Blaze To 'Leave Now'

'There's a threat to lives and homes' in Upper Swan.
DFES Aerial images looking at the Upper Swan fire to the north and west directions
DFES
DFES Aerial images looking at the Upper Swan fire to the north and west directions

Firefighters are battling an out of control blaze threatening homes and lives in the Western Australian suburb of Upper Swan.

Emergency services are warning people need to act immediately to survive the fires raging ear Walyunga Road, the Swan River, and surrounding areas in parts of Upper Swan.

More than 100 firefighters are at the seen of the blaze, which is also threatening properties on Copley and St Albans roads and Coondaree Parade.

#AustraliaNews#Australia#News Emergency warning still in place for WA Upper Swan fire MORE: ... pic.twitter.com/htfVyrTxMg

— Sky News (@skynews247) January 9, 2017

"It is not safe to stay and actively defend, your best chance for survival is to leave now," the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) said in its alert.

A bushfire watch and act has been issued for people in the area:

  • The alert level for this fire has been downgraded as fire conditions have changed.
  • There is a possible threat to lives and homes as a fire is burning in the area and the conditions are changing.
  • You need to leave or get ready to actively defend.
  • The fire started near Copley Rd in Upper Swan

A Coondaree Parade Resident Darren Marshall told the ABC the fire flared up about 1am on Monday.

He told the national broadcaster he saw a red glow over the hillside.

"As we left the flames were coming over the hill so we thought our place was gone," he said.

#WA Bushfire WATCH AND ACT remains for parts of #UpperSwan and Brigadoon in CITY OF SWAN. Latest info at @dfes_wahttps://t.co/ti9lEsU699pic.twitter.com/ceMKlDXiwp

— ABC Emergency (@ABCemergency) January 9, 2017

"If you have a look around the house you can see how close the fire came. The flames wrapped around the back of the house, so the firefighters did a fantastic job."

Upper Swan Bushfires -- What To Do:

  • If the way is clear, leave now for a safer place.
  • Do not wait and see, leaving at the last minute is deadly.
  • If your plan is to stay and actively defend, do not rely on mains water pressure as it may be affected. If you have access to a water tank and plan to defend your home, start patrolling with your hose and put out spot fires.
  • If you cannot leave, you need to get ready to shelter in your home and actively defend it.
  • If you are not at home, it is too dangerous now to return.
  • Close all doors and windows and turn off evaporative air conditioners, but keep water running through the system if possible.

Upper Swan resident Sophie Parks told 6PR Radio she spent an anxious night watching the fire front from her property on Great Northern Highway,

"(The fire front) is about 600 metres from us," she told 6PR Radio.

"We had the fireys come through ... we said we would be staying. We have done it a few times.

"We have absolutely zero damage, which is really lucky.

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