Australia: Emergency crews responding to bushfire in the Shire of Dandaragan, Western Australia, Nov. 28 /update 1

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) has issued an Emergency Warning for a bushfire burning in the Shire of Dandaragan, Western Australia, as of Nov. 28. A vehicle crash east of Wedge during the late morning Nov. 25 triggered the blaze, which is burning toward Cervantes Town. The fire has burned around 42,800 hectares (105,761 acres). More than 200 firefighting personnel are on site battling the blaze. The fire is neither contained nor controlled and is threatening homes in the area. Authorities have not provided an estimated containment date for the fire; further fire growth is possible in the coming hours.

The DFES has issued the following bushfire warnings in the vicinity of the fire, affecting more than 500 people:

• Emergency Warning (the highest level on a three-tier scale): for people in Wedge and Grey, extending inland to Indian Ocean Drive and north to Bibby Road including Nambung National Park in parts of Wedge Island, Cooljarloo, and Nambung in the Shire of Dandaragan; and for people in parts of Nambung and Cervantes, including the Cervantes townsite in the Shire of Dandaragan.

• Watch and Act: for people north of Cervantes townsite, bound by Munbinea Road to the east and Hill River to the north in parts of Nambung and southern parts of Jurien Bay in the Shire of Dandaragan.

• Advice: for people in Ocean Farm and Nilgen Nature Reserve, bound by Sappers Road to the south and Mimegarra Road to the east in parts of Nilgen and Mimegarra in the Shire of Dandaragan and the Shire of Gingin; for an area north of Hill River, bound by Munbinea Road to the east and Jurien Road to the north, including Jurien Bay townsite in parts of Jurien Bay in the Shire of Dandaragan; and the area bound by Bibby Road, Munbinea Road, Cantabilling Road and west of Brand Highway in parts of Hill River, Badgingarra, Cooljarloo, and Cataby in the Shire of Dandaragan.

The DFES has instructed people in the Emergency Warning in Namburg and Cervantes to leave immediately if they are not prepared and to evacuate in a northerly direction along Indian Ocean Drive direction toward Jurien Bay. For people in the Emergency Warning in Wedge and Grey, it is too late to leave as the fire has impacted evacuation routes. Residents should shelter in a room with running water and a clear exit before the fire arrives. Officials have advised people in the Watch and Act to leave if they are not well prepared. People in the advice area should stay informed and be prepared in case the situation gets worse. The DFES may extend or rescind warnings and evacuation orders over the coming hours and days.

Officials have opened an evacuation center at Jurien Bay Sport and Recreation Centre. Several roads near the fire are closed, including Indian Ocean Drive between Ocean Place and Cervantes Road. Nambung National Park is closed due to the fire, and Cervantes Primary School will remain closed Nov. 28. The blaze has wounded at least two firefighting personnel.

The status of roads can change over the coming hours and days; authorities could close routes within the fire complex and evacuate more communities due to fire activity and response operations needs. Traffic disruptions are also likely during reentry periods after authorities lift evacuation orders. Low visibility from smoke and possible ashfall could contribute to traffic delays and congestion in the region.

Smoke and ashfall from bushfires may cause poor air quality in the impacted parts of southwestern Western Australia. Power outages and utilities that rely on electricity could experience outages within and near the wildfire complex.

Smoke from fires is a mixture of gases and fine particles from burning trees, plants, and possibly building materials. Such smoke can hurt the eyes, irritate the respiratory system, and worsen chronic heart and lung diseases. Smoke may also worsen symptoms for people with preexisting respiratory conditions, such as allergies, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).