Cervantes bushfire impacts evacuation routes, Western Australia

A Bushfire Emergency Warning is in place for people in Cervantes, Western Australia, extending inland to Indian Ocean Drive and north to Bibby Road, including Nambung National Park in parts of Cervantes, Cooljarloo and Nambung in the Shire of Dandaragan, as of 22:49 LT (14:49 UTC) on November 28.

“It’s too late to leave,” the warning states.

“Fire has impacted evacuation routes and leaving now will put your life in danger. You need to identify a room in your home where you can shelter from the approaching fire. It should have running water, such as a kitchen or laundry, and have a clear exit so you can easily escape.

“You must shelter before the fire arrives, as the extreme heat will kill you before the flames reach you.

Residents were advised to close all doors and windows and turn off evaporative air conditioners but keep water running through the system if possible, and to monitor both inside and outside of their homes for fires and embers and turn on sprinklers if they have them.

“If your home catches fire and the conditions inside become unbearable, go to an area that has already been burnt. Protect yourself by wearing strong leather boots in case you need to leave your home. If you are in immediate danger, call Triple Zero (000).”

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) has established an evacuation center at the Jurien Bay Sports and Recreation Centre where 30 evacuees and dozens of caravans stayed overnight. Roads, including sections of Indian Ocean Drive and other local routes, remained closed.

The bushfire is still out of control putting Cervantes and nearby areas at risk. Roads, including parts of Indian Ocean Drive and local routes, remain closed. Firefighters are working non-stop using heavy machinery to create barriers and stop the fire from reaching populated areas.

2 volunteer firefighters were injured while fighting the fire. A man in his 60s who has no life-threatening burns was flown to Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth and is in stable condition. The second firefighter had minor injuries and was treated on the spot. No fatalities or injuries among residents have been reported.

Cervantes Primary School remains closed and local businesses have joined the evacuation effort offering food and shelter to displaced residents and emergency workers.

In Jurien Bay, the community has come together to help evacuees with residents from as far as Greenhead offering to shelter people and their pets.

Local authorities have stressed the importance of evacuating immediately or staying in fire-safe rooms with water and emergency supplies.

Authorities have repeated warnings to stay alert and stressed the risks of leaving at the last minute.

Heavy smoke blanketed the region reducing visibility and stretching over 1 000 km (621 miles) north to Coral Bay on November 28. The bushfire has consumed large sections of national parks including the Wanagarren Nature Reserve and Nambung National Park which is home to iconic Pinnacles.

No structural losses have been reported despite the extensive damage and the coordinated efforts of emergency services have prevented fatalities among residents.

More than 200 people from the Bush Fire Service, Parks and Wildlife Service, and Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service are working to control the fire. They are taking help from aerial water bombers and 2 large air tankers from New South Wales.

The new runway at Jurien Bay Airport has helped by allowing quick refueling and deployment of firefighting aircraft.

“The winds have been swirling from the south with an easterly and a westerly influence,” Leigh Bishop, the incident controller, explained on November 27.

Aircraft, including fixed-wing planes and helicopters, are essential in slowing the fire’s spread.

Winds from the east combined with rising temperatures expected to reach the mid-30 ^oC (mid-90 ^oF), are intensifying fire activity. Daniel Hayes, Bureau of Meteorology forecaster, warned of stronger gusts due to localized wind mixing, complicating operations further.

The fire started after a car crash in the Mimegarra area on November 25. Flames quickly spread to nearby bushland, driven by volatile winds and dry conditions.

The affected area includes the Lancelin Defence Training Area, where unexploded ordnance poses an additional hazard to firefighting crews.

Craig Waters, DFES Deputy Commissioner, warned about unexploded bombs in the Lancelin Defence Training Area calling for extra care in these areas.

“There are lots of unexploded ordnance areas within the fire area so we’ve actually had to wait for the fire to burn through those areas before we can put machinery in,” Waters said.

Residents have shared pictures of the eerie skies over Cervantes filled with thick smoke and an orange glow. One person called the scene “terrifying,” noting that the smoke was moving faster than cars driving at 110 km/h (68 mph) on nearby highways.

References:

¹ Bushfire Emergency Warning – Emergency WA – November 28, 2024 at 14:49 UTC

Rishika Yadav

Rishika holds a Master’s in International Studies from Stella Maris College, Chennai, India, where she earned a gold medal, and an MCA from the University of Mysore, Karnataka, India. Previously, she served as a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India. During her tenure, she contributed as a Junior Writer for Europe Monitor on the Global Politics website and as an Assistant Editor for The World This Week. Her work has also been published in The Hindu newspaper, showing her expertise in global affairs. Rishika is also a recipient of the Women Empowerment Award at the district level in Haryana, India, in 2022.

This author does not have any more posts.