Residents in WA’s South West and Wheatbelt urged to flee bushfires

Emergency warnings have been issued for separate fires in Western Australia, with residents urged to flee their homes.

A second bushfire in Western Australia has been upgraded to an emergency warning, this time threatening lives and homes in the Wheatbelt.

The blaze broke out around noon on Tuesday near Kunuoppin, around 250km northeast of Perth.

It’s out of control and unpredictable, moving southeast towards the Kunuoppin townsite.

Firefighters are on the scene, and residents should leave if the way is clear.

Those not at home are warned not to try and return, as it’s no longer safe.

Meanwhile, residents in the South West have been told to flee their homes as another bushfire rages out of control.

The blaze broke out around 10.30am on Tuesday near the intersection of Gommes Lane and Kingston Rd in Sunnyside, a locality between Bridgetown and Manjimup, around 230km south of Perth.

It’s moving fast in a southerly direction and is unpredictable.

The area bound by the emergency bushfire warning between Bridgetown and Manjimup.

The state’s Department of Fire and Emergency Services issued the emergency bushfire alert around an hour later, urging residents in areas of Sunnyside, Kingston, and Yornup to leave the area if it’s safe to do so.

Those not at home at the time the fire broke out have been warned to stay away, as it’s no longer safe to return.

11:25 AM -Bushfire EMERGENCY WARNING for parts of KINGSTON, SUNNYSIDE and YORNUP in the SHIRES of BRIDGETOWN-GREENBUSHES and MANJIMUP: https://t.co/ZSEIQDbkiJ

— DFES (@dfes_wa) January 10, 2023

Firefighters from the Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes are on the scene and actively fighting the fire.

Much of WA's South West is under a total fire ban on Tuesday.

It comes as the state’s southwest faces unfavourable fire conditions from Tuesday, with total fire bans declared for large swathes of the South West, Perth Metro and surrounding regions.

Several bushfires are active around the state and being closely monitored in the hot, dry conditions.

However, resources are stretched somewhat thin due to the ongoing flooding situation in WA’s Kimberley.