Australia: Emergency warning issued for bushfire northeast of Albany, Western Australia, Jan. 2

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) has issued an Emergency Warning for a bushfire in the Great Southern Region to the northeast of Albany, Western Australia, as of Jan. 2. The fire broke out in the Green Range area close to the South Coast Highway at around 07:23 Jan. 2 and has grown to around 790 hectares (1,952 acres) as of the late afternoon. More than 65 firefighting personnel are on site tackling the blaze. The bushfire is moving fast in a northeasterly direction and remains out of control and unpredictable. Authorities have not provided an estimated containment date for the fire; further fire growth is possible in the coming hours.

The DFES has issued a Bushfire Emergency Warning (the highest level on a three-tier scale) advising that it is too late to leave for people in the area bounded by Drawbin Road, Kojaneerup West Road, Chillinup Road, Kojaneerup Springs Road, and South Coast Highway in parts of Kojaneerup South, Green Range, and South Stirling in the City of Albany. Another Emergency Warning advising residents to leave now is in place for people in the area bounded by South Coast Highway, south of Warriup Road to the coastline, and east of Tinkeleup Road in parts of Kojaneerup South and Green Range in the City of Albany. Bushfire Advice warnings advising residents to monitor conditions are in place for areas surrounding the emergency warnings covering parts of Green Range, Kojaneerup South, Manypeaks, Mettler, South Stirling, and Takalarup in the City of Albany. An emergency shelter for evacuated residents has been established at Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre, 52-70 Barker Road, Centennial Park, Albany. Several roads are closed in the area, including the South Coast Highway between Cheyne Road and Gnowellen Road. Authorities may issue new warnings or update/rescind existing directives as the fire situation evolves over the coming hours; the latest information regarding warnings and road closures can be found here. Authorities have cut power across the wider region as a precaution and have also reported damage to electricity infrastructure in the area; lingering power outages are likely in the region over the coming days.

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 the Great Southern Region. 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).