By Daile Cross
The two teenagers accused of sparking a bushfire in Perth’s south that continues to rage into Tuesday were playing with a lighter and deodorant can after school at their semi-rural property when a small explosion caused flames to spread quickly.
The fire, in Champion Lakes, burnt through more than 150 hectares of land, closed Tonkin Highway, and forced the evacuation of people from their homes on Monday.
Smoke in the area.Credit: 9 News Perth
It continues to burn out of control nearly 24 hours later, with a watch and act alert in place.
The 14-year-old boys appeared in Perth Children’s Court on Tuesday, charged with wilfully lighting a fire.
Their lawyer explained the teenagers did everything they could to stop the fire before calling triple zero to ask for help. The pair were granted bail after one pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.
Their home is now too damaged to live in.
A watch and act warning remains in place for people bounded by Matison Street, Jacana Place, Chamberlain Street, Verna Street, Corfield Street, Tonkin Highway, Ranford Road and including Margaret Street in parts of Forrestdale, Champion Lakes, Southern River and Gosnells.
On Monday, the blaze was at an emergency alert level with motorists on the Tonkin Highway were caught in massive traffic jams at peak hour, with many directed to make u-turns and drive back the wrong way down the road to get away from approaching flames.
There have been unconfirmed reports of minor structure damage to farming outbuildings and an unknown number of livestock was killed.
Multiple fire-fighting crews attended, with aerial support working in windy conditions. At times flames reached higher than the light poles lining the street.
The blaze was initially brought under control on Tuesday morning, but reignited a few hours later and remains out of control.
Premier Roger Cook said it was “distressing” that anyone would allegedly light a fire in Western Australia, particularly at this time of year.
He said it was an opportunity to highlight that you did not have to be living in the country to be impacted by wildfires and that people should get ready now.
“Everyone please make sure you go on to the DFES website, go on to that website and make your bushfire plan,” he said.
Meanwhile, residents of the fishing village of Wedge Island have been told to evacuate as an out-of-control bushfire bears down.
An emergency warning is in place for parts of Wedge Island, Cooljarloo and Nambung, extending inland to Indian Ocean Drive and north to Bibby Road including Nambung National Park.
Wedge Island emergency level bushfire, November 26, 2024.Credit: 9 News Perth
An evacuation centre has been opened at Jurien Bay Sport & Recreation Centre.
Residents are urged to leave now and head north to the nearest town of Cervantes.
A Watch and Act alert in place for neighbouring areas: parts of Hill River, Badgingarra, Cooljarloo and Cataby.
Nambung National Park has been closed and Indian Ocean Drive is closed between K W Road and Cervantes Road. Meadows Road is also closed. Motorists are asked to avoid the area, reduce speed and drive carefully, especially along Indian Ocean Drive.
Firefighters are onsite with aerial support.
Keep up to date: Visit Emergency WA, call 13 DFES (13 3337), follow DFES on Facebook, listen to Radio 6PR, ABC Local Radio or news bulletins.
with 9 News Perth
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