Residents evacuated after out-of-control bushfire in state’s south-west

An out-of-control bushfire is being battle by around 150 firefighters with aerial support in the state’s south-west.
The blaze, which started at around 8pm last night, forced residents to evacuate.
An emergency warning is in place for the Eagle Bay townsite, Meelup Regional Park in an area bounded by Cape Naturaliste Road to the north and west, Okapa Rise to the south and Wardandi Drive and Willanup Rise in parts of Eagle Bay, Naturaliste and Dunsborough.
The fire started near the intersection of Curtis Bay Beach and Dunsborough.
DFES Incident Controller Blake Moore told 6PR Breakfast lives and homes are at risk.
“Due to the fire spread we’re unable to get people out of those areas currently,” he said.
“We have established community safer places within those areas for those people to go if they have no other options.
“The areas outside of those areas within the emergency warning areas, there has been an evacuation centre set up at the Geographe Leisure Centre in Busselton.”
Press PLAY to hear more from the DFES Incident Controller below
Meanwhile, Rob, who has a holiday home in the area, said he thought his property was being invaded when volunteers told him to evacuate.
“Someone was smashing the door down, we thought we were being invaded,” he said on 6PR Breakfast.
“But it was on of the fantastic people that were coming to tell everyone they needed to evacuate.
“So we literally grabbed everything … and got out.”
Press PLAY to hear more from Rob below
6PR caller Maureen said holiday-makers to the area should double-check their accomodation.
“They might, depending on the wind change … they might be a little bit apprehensive about you coming in this pocket generally,” she said.
“Just be conscious of that.”
Press PLAY to hear more from Maureen below
Image: WADFES Facebook