Bushfires Update - 26th December 2023

Published on Tuesday, 26 December 2023 at 1:00:00 AM

Update 6.45am 27.12.2023 | A bushfire ADVICE is in place for people in an area bounded by Neds Corner Road, the Lort River, Williams Road, Bishops Road, Belgian Road, Griffiths Road, Coomalbidgup Road and Cascade Road in parts of CASCADE, GRASS PATCH, LORT RIVER and NORTH CASCADE in the SHIRE OF ESPERANCE.

Please note this alert has been downgraded to an Advice level.
There is no threat to lives or homes.
Although there is no immediate danger you need to be aware and keep up to date in case the situation changes.
The fire started near the intersection of NEDS CORNER RD and CASCADE RD in CASCADE.
WHAT TO DO:
- Stay alert and monitor your surroundings.
- Watch for signs of a bushfire, especially smoke and flames.
- Close all doors and windows, and turn off evaporative air conditioners but keep water running through the system if possible.
- Read through your bushfire survival plan.
- If you do not have a plan, decide what you will do if the situation gets worse. You can make a plan by visiting My Bushfire Plan.
If driving
- Be extremely careful when driving through the area.
- Turn your headlights on and drive slowly.
- Watch for emergency services personnel and follow their directions.
- If you cannot see clearly, pull over, keep your headlights and hazard lights on, and wait until the smoke clears.
- If you have a respiratory condition and you have been affected by smoke you should contact your local doctor or call Health Direct on 1800 022 222.
ROAD CLOSURES AND CONDITIONS:
Avoid the area and be aware of fire and emergency services personnel working on site. A number of roads have been closed including:
- Yerritup Road
- Beltana Road
- Griffiths Road
- Grass Patch Road
- Field Road
- Neds Corner Road
Motorists are asked to avoid the area, reduce speed and drive carefully due to smoke. Road information may also be available from Main Roads WA by visiting the Main Roads Travel Map, or by calling 138 138.

---AND---
A bushfire ADVICE is current for people in an area bounded by Neds Corner Road, Cascade Road, Comalbidgup Road, Ashdale Road, Sears Road and South Coastal Highway in parts of COOMALBIDGUP, CASCADE and LORT RIVER in the SHIRE OF ESPERANCE.
Please note this alert has been downgraded to an Advice level.
There is a lot of smoke in the area.
Although there is no immediate danger you need to be aware and keep up to date in case the situation changes.
WHAT TO DO:
- Stay alert and monitor your surroundings.
- Watch for signs of a bushfire, especially smoke and flames.
- Close all doors and windows, and turn off evaporative air conditioners but keep water running through the system if possible.
- Read through your bushfire survival plan.
- If you do not have a plan, decide what you will do if the situation gets worse. You can make a plan by visiting My Bushfire Plan.
If driving
- Be extremely careful when driving through the area.
- Turn your headlights on and drive slowly.
- Watch for emergency services personnel and follow their directions.
- If you cannot see clearly, pull over, keep your headlights and hazard lights on, and wait until the smoke clears.
- If you have a respiratory condition and you have been affected by smoke you should contact your local doctor or call Health Direct on 1800 022 222.
ROAD CLOSURES AND CONDITIONS:
Avoid the area and be aware of fire and emergency services personnel working on site.
A number of roads have been closed including:
- Yerritup Road
- Beltana Road
- Griffiths Road
- Grass Patch Road
- Field Road
- Neds Corner Road
- Ashdale Road
Motorists are asked to avoid the area, reduce speed and drive carefully due to smoke. Road information may also be available from Main Roads WA by visiting the Main Roads Travel Map, or calling 138 138.

Visit www.emergency.wa.gov.au for complete information.

Update time: 07:52 PM | A bushfire WATCH AND ACT is current for people in an area bounded by Mills Road and Ashdale Road to the north, Sears Road to the east, South Coastal Highway, Yerritup Road and parts of Beltana Road in the south and Neds Corner Road in the east in parts of COOMALBIDGUP.

There is a possible threat to lives and homes as a fire is burning in the area and the conditions are changing.

WHAT TO DO:

If you are not prepared or you plan to leave, leave now if the way is clear.
If you are well prepared and plan to actively defend your home, make final preparations now.
If you plan to stay and actively defend, do not rely on mains water pressure as it may be affected. You need to have access to an independent water supply, and start patrolling your property to put out spot fires.
Keep doors and windows closed and turn off evaporative air conditioners, but keep water running through the system if possible.
If you are not at home, do not try to return as conditions in the area could be very dangerous.

---AND---
A bushfire ADVICE is current for people in an area north of Mills Road and Ashdale Road and south of Cascade Road in an area bound by Neds Corner Road in the west and Comalbidgup Road in the east in parts of CASCADE, COOMALBIDGUP and LORT RIVER and for people in an area south of Yerritup Road bound by Neds Corner Road, South Coastal Highway and Beltana Road in parts of COOMALBIDGUP.

There is a lot of smoke in the area.
Although there is no immediate danger you need to be aware and keep up to date in case the situation changes.
WHAT TO DO

Stay alert and monitor your surroundings.
Watch for signs of a bushfire, especially smoke and flames.
Close all doors and windows, and turn off evaporative air conditioners but keep water running through the system if possible.
Read through your bushfire survival plan.
If you do not have a plan, decide what you will do if the situation gets worse. You can make a plan by visiting My Bushfire Plan.
If driving
Be extremely careful when driving through the area.
Turn your headlights on and drive slowly.
Watch for emergency services personnel and follow their directions.
If you cannot see clearly, pull over, keep your headlights and hazard lights on, and wait until the smoke clears.
If you have a respiratory condition and you have been affected by smoke you should contact your local doctor or call Health Direct on 1800 022 222.

BUSHFIRE BEHAVIOUR:
The bushfire is moving in a north-easterly direction.
It is out of control and unpredictable.
WHAT FIREFIGHTERS ARE DOING
Firefighters are actively fighting the fire.
ROAD CLOSURES AND CONDITIONS:
Avoid the area and be aware of fire and emergency services personnel working on site. A number of roads have been closed including:

Yerritup Road
Beltana Road
Griffiths Road
Grass Patch Road
Field Road
Neds Corner Road

Motorists are asked to avoid the area, reduce speed and drive carefully due to smoke. Road information may also be available from Main Roads WA by visiting the Main Roads Travel Map, calling 138 138 or by contacting your Local Government Authority.
For more information visit www.emergency.wa.gov.au

Update time: 06:49 PM, 26 December 2023 | A bushfire EMERGENCY WARNING is current for people Cascade Road, Neds Corner Road, Grass Patch Road, Field Road, Grigg Road, Belgian Road, Griffiths Road, Coomalbidgup Road in CASCADE and LORT RIVER.

Please note an Advice area has been added to this alert. There are multiple bushfires burning in the Coomalbidgup, Lort River and Cascade areas. Please ensure you are referring to the warnings relevant to you and follow the direction of emergency services.
You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. There is a threat to lives and homes.

WHAT TO DO:
- If the way is clear, leave now for a safer place.
- Do not wait and see, leaving at the last minute could put your life in danger.
- Close all doors and windows and turn off evaporative air conditioners, but keep water running through the system if possible.
- If you cannot leave, you need to get ready to shelter in your home.
- Go to a room in your home away from the fire front and make sure you can easily escape.
- Choose a room with two exits and water such as a kitchen or laundry.
- If you are not at home, it’s too dangerous to return.
---AND---
A bushfire WATCH AND ACT is current for people in an area bounded by Rollond Road, Belgian Road, Grigg Road and Grass Patch Road and Neds Corner Road in parts of LORT RIVER and CASCADE.
There is a possible threat to lives and homes as a fire is approaching in the area and conditions are changing.

WHAT TO DO:
- If you are not prepared or you plan to leave, leave now if the way is clear.
- If you are well prepared and plan to actively defend your home, make final preparations now.
- If you plan to stay and actively defend, do not rely on mains water pressure as it may be affected. You need to have access to an independent water supply, and start patrolling your property to put out spot fires.
- Keep doors and windows closed and turn off evaporative air conditioners, but keep water running through the system if possible.
- If you are not at home, do not try to return as conditions in the area could be very dangerous.
---AND---
A bushfire ADVICE is current for people in an area bounded by Neds Corner Road, Williams Road, Bishops Road, Belgian Road, Rollond Road and the Lort River in parts of CASCADE, GRASS PATCH, LORT RIVER and NORTH CASCADE.
There is no threat to lives or homes.
Although there is no immediate danger you need to be aware and keep up to date in case the situation changes.

WHAT TO DO:
- Stay alert and monitor your surroundings.
- Watch for signs of a bushfire, especially smoke and flames.
- Close all doors and windows, and turn off evaporative air conditioners but keep water running through the system if possible.
- Read through your bushfire survival plan.
- If you do not have a plan, decide what you will do if the situation gets worse. You can make a plan by visiting My Bushfire Plan
If driving
- Be extremely careful when driving through the area.
- Turn your headlights on and drive slowly.
- Watch for emergency services personnel and follow their directions.

BUSHFIRE BEHAVIOUR:
The bushfire is moving in a north easterly direction.
It is out of control and unpredictable.
Burning embers are likely to be blown around your home.

WHAT FIREFIGHTERS ARE DOING
Firefighters are on the scene, actively fighting the fire.

SAFEST ROUTE:
People in the Emergency warning area should leave south via Cascade Road, if the way is clear. People in the Watch and Act warning area should leave east towards the Coolgardie Esperance Highway if it is safe to do so.

ROAD CLOSURES AND CONDITIONS:
Avoid the area and be aware of fire and emergency services personnel working on site.
A number of roads have been closed including:
- Yerritup Road
- Beltana Road
- Griffiths Road
- Grass Patch Road
- Field Road
- Neds Corner Road
Motorists are asked to avoid the area, reduce speed and drive carefully due to smoke. Road information may also be available from Main Roads WA by visiting the Main Roads Travel Map, calling 138 138 or by contacting your Local Government Authority.

DRONES AND AERIAL SUPPORT:
Never fly a drone, model aircraft or multirotor near bushfires. Doing so poses a major safety risk to firefighting personnel in the air and on the ground, and forces aircraft to be grounded or redirected, hindering firefighting efforts.
[ℹ] For more information visit www.emergency.wa.gov.au

UPDATE 15:31 - 26.12.23 - A bushfire EMERGENCY WARNING is current for people in an area bounded by Neds Corner Road, Grass Patch Road, Grigg Road, Belgian Road, Coomalbidgup Road and Cascade Road in CASCADE in the SHIRE OF ESPERANCE.
Update time: 03:31 PM, 26 December 2023.
- You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. There is a threat to lives and homes.
- The fire started near the intersection of NEDS CORNER RD and CASCADE RD in CASCADE.
WHAT TO DO:

If the way is clear, leave now for a safer place.
Do not wait and see, leaving at the last minute could put your life in danger.
Close all doors and windows and turn off evaporative air conditioners, but keep water running through the system if possible.
If you cannot leave, you need to get ready to shelter in your home.
Go to a room in your home away from the fire front and make sure you can easily escape.
Choose a room with two exits and water such as a kitchen or laundry.
If you are not at home, it’s too dangerous to return.

WHAT FIREFIGHTERS ARE DOING
Firefighters are on the scene.

ROAD CLOSURES AND CONDITIONS:
Some roads may be closed.

Motorists are asked to avoid the area, reduce speed and drive carefully due to smoke.

Road information may also be available from Main Roads WA by visiting theMain Roads Travel Map, calling 138 138 or by contacting your Local Government Authority.
For more information visit www.emergency.wa.gov.au

A bushfire EMERGENCY WARNING is current for people in an area bounded by Beltana Road to the east, Ashdale Road to the north and west, Sears Road to the west and South Coast Highway to the south in the western part of COOMALBIDGUP in the SHIRE OF ESPERANCE.
Update time: 03:13 PM, 26 December 2023.
- You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. There is a threat to lives and homes.
- Homes in Beltana Road are under threat by fire now.
- The fire started near the intersection of NEDS CORNER RD and YERRITUP RD in COOMALBIDGUP.

WHAT TO DO:

---AND---

A bushfire WATCH AND ACT is current for people in an area bounded by Mills Road to the north, Neds Corner Road to the west, Yerritup Road to the south and Beltana Road to the east in Coomalbidgup in the Shire of Esperance.