‘Too late to leave’: Corrigin, Kulin and Kondinin residents told to shelter in homes as bushfire escalates

Residents in the Corrigin, Kulin and Kondinin townsites and parts of the Shire of Bruce Rock need to shelter in their homes as its too late to leave as a massive bushfire spreads across the southern Wheatbelt.

A bushfire emergency warning is in place for people bounded by Old Beverley Road, Carger Road, Ardath West Road, Rutherfords Road to the north, Kondinin-Narembeen Road and Williams-Kondinin Road to the east, Gnarming Road West and Yeatering-Kunlin Road to the south and Rabbit Proof Fence Road, Brookton-Corrigin Roadand and Bulyee-Quairading Road to the west in the Shire of Quairading, Bruce Rock, Kondinin and Kulin, including the townsites of Corrigin, Kulin and Kondinin.

There is a threat to lives and homes and residents need to act immediately to survive.

“It is too late to leave, leaving now would be deadly,” DFES said.

“Residents need to shelter in your home in a room away from the fire front before the fire arrives and make sure you can easily escape.”

An emergency evacuation centre has been set up in the Pingelly Recreation and Cultural Centre.

WHAT TO DO — EMERGENCY WARNING

• It’s too late to leave, leaving now would be deadly.
• You need to shelter in your home in a room away from the fire front and make sure you can easily escape.
• You must shelter before the fire arrives, as the extreme heat will kill you well before the flames reach you.
• Close all doors and windows and turn off evaporative air conditioners, but keep water running through the system if possible.
• Choose a room with two exits and water such as a kitchen or laundry.
• If your home catches on fire and the conditions inside become unbearable, you need to get out and go to an area that has already been burnt.
• Protect yourself by wearing long sleeves and trousers, made from cotton or wool, and strong leather boots.

About 140 Firefighters are on the scene, actively fighting the fire and strengthening containment lines.

The bushfire is moving fast in a south westerly direction and it is out of control and unpredictable.

The fire was reported at about 9.20am on February 6 and it started near the intersection of Yarding South Road and Jones Road in Shackleton.

A number of roads have been closed including Brookton Highway, Quairading-Bruce Rock Road from Quairading to Bruce Rock and Bruce-Rock Road to Corrigin Road from Bruce Rock to Corrigin.

Corrigin District High School, Kulin District High School and Babakin Primary School will be closed tomorrow.

A bushfire watch and act is in place for people bounded by Bruce Rock-Quairading Road, Bruce Rock East Road, Butler Road to the north, Schwartz Road. McDonald Road, Kalgarin Hill Road to the east, Mallee Valley Road, Kulin Lake Grace Road to the west, Commonwealth Road and Williams-Kondinin Road, Eighty Six Gate Road to the south in parts of Quairdaring and Bruce Rock in the Shire of Bruce Rock.

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

A bushfire advice is in place for people bounded by Bruce Rock-Merredin Road, Belka East Road, Brissenden Road, Hendrick Road to the north, Cox Road, Church Road, Raine Road, Camel Peaks Road to the west, Kondinin-Hyden Road to the south and Karlgarin Hill Road to the west in parts of Muntagin, Hyden and Kulin in the Shire of Bruce Rock.

There is no threat to lives or home but there is a lot of smoke in the area.

Although there is no immediate danger residents need to be aware and keep up to date in case the situation changes.

For the latest updates visit Emergency WA.