A dire bushfire emergency has trapped residents near a major gold mine in Western Australia, with authorities issuing a stark warning that it is now 'too late to leave' the area.
'Act Immediately to Survive': The Emergency Warning
The urgent alert was activated on Thursday for people at the Boddington Gold Mine, located approximately 130km southeast of Perth, and surrounding communities to the east and south, including Bannister and Wuraming. The Western Australian Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) delivered a chilling message, stating residents were in immediate danger.
'You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. There is a threat to lives and homes,' the DFES alert declared. It confirmed that fire had already impacted key evacuation routes, meaning any attempt to flee would put lives at extreme risk.
Shelter-in-Place Instructions Issued
With escape routes cut off, residents have been given specific instructions to shelter where they are. They must identify a safe room inside their home, preferably one with running water like a kitchen or laundry, and ensure it has a clear exit point.
The DFES emphasised the critical need to shelter before the fire front arrives, warning that 'the extreme heat will kill you before the flames reach you.' Further advice included closing all doors and windows, turning off evaporative air conditioners (while keeping water running through the system if possible), and activating any sprinklers.
In a worst-case scenario, if a home catches fire and conditions become unbearable, people are advised to move to an area that has already been burnt. They are also urged to wear strong leather boots for protection and to call Triple Zero (000) if in immediate danger.
Firefighting Efforts and Community Impact
Firefighting crews, supported by machinery and emergency teams from the Newmont Mine Site, are battling the blaze. The fire is believed to have originated from a lightning storm that struck the area on Sunday, igniting multiple fires along Gold Mine Road.
The incident has caused wider disruption, with Western Power reporting that power supplies to parts of Ranford, Bannister, Marradong, Lower Hotham, and Boddington have been affected. For those who evacuated earlier, an evacuation centre has been established at the Williams Sport Pavilion on the corner of Pinjarra-Williams Road and Albany Highway.
The bushfire crisis is unfolding amidst a severe heatwave. Perth sweltered through a 41.7 degrees Celsius Christmas Day, and the Bureau of Meteorology has a heatwave warning in place for the region. The warning highlights the particular danger to older people, babies, children, pregnant women, and those with medical conditions, advising them to seek cool refuge.
