Firefighters still battling massive bushfire that burnt 40,000 hectares in Corrigin, Kulin and Kondinin

More than 70 firefighters are still battling the massive bushfire that tore across 40,000 hectares in the southern Wheatbelt and forced residents in Corrigin, Kondinin and Kulin to take shelter in their homes or evacuate on Sunday.

The bushfire emergency warning has been downgraded to a watch and act for people bounded by Bruce Rock-Quairading Road, Bruce Rock East Road and Butler Road to the north, Schwartz Road. McDonald Road and Kalgarin Hill Road to the east, Mallee Valley Road, Kulin Lake Grace Road, and Commonwealth Road, Williams-Kondinin Road and Eighty Six Gate Road to the south Wikepin-Corrigin Road, Gillimanning Road, Woyerling Road, South Kewda Road, Dangin South Road to the west in parts of Quairading, Kondinin, Corrigin, Narembeen, Kulin and Bruce Rock.

The bushfire is now stationary but is not contained or controlled.

On Sunday afternoon more than 140 firefighters battled the fire at its peak that was moving fast in a south westerly direction and was being exacerbated by strong winds and temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius.

A second bushfire in the southern Wheatbelt threatened the Wickepin townsite and parts of the Shire of Narrogin, sparking an emergency bushfire warning.

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

Shire of Pingelly president William Mulroney said about 40 people – including eight from Corrigin and the remainder from Wickepin – had spent the night at the evacuation centre.

“We got a request from the CEO of the Shire of Wickepin to open the evacuation centre because at that time the fire was getting close to Wickepin, and the Shire decided they should evacuate the town,” he said.

“And that is when the process was put into place and we went through the contact liaison officer in DFES. I liaised with them and they activated the Department of Communities to come and set up.

“Everyone banded together and we had Pingelly volunteers give their time to help.”

Mr Mulroney said the centre would remain in place “as long as it was needed”.

A community meeting was held in the Corrigin Town Hall at 10am on Monday.

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 between Brookton and Corrigin, 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 and Wickepin Primary School were closed on Monday.

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, Shire of Merredin, Shire of Kondinin and Shire of Kulin.

There is no threat to lives or homes 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.

Central Wheatbelt MLA and Opposition Leader Mia Davies said firefighters and local were doing an “incredible job in what are tough and harrowing conditions on the fire fronts across the State”.

“In the Wheatbelt, reports have been coming in that it is the worst fire and conditions many have seen in their lifetime, it’s been a very challenging time for those communities impacted,” she said. “I am in contact with local authorities and people on the ground, who are providing updates as the situation continues to evolve.”

For the latest updates visit Emergency WA.