Updated at 3:13 a.m. AWT, February 4, 2021
A satellite that detected heat on the Perth Hills bushfire in Western Australia at 2 a.m. local time on February 4, showed that most of the growth on Wednesday was on the north side of the fire, southeast of Bullsbrook. (See the map above.)
Emergency WA reported at 1:48 a.m. February 4 that the fire has now burned 10,237 hectares (25,296 acres). The number of reported homes burned has not changed, and is still 71.
The weather forecast for Muchea predicts cooler temperatures for Thursday, 28°C in the afternoon and wind out of the east-southeast at 28km/h with a relative humidity of 22 percent. Friday will be about the same.
Updated at 10:16 a.m. Western Australia time, Feb. 3, 2021
Authorities have updated the number of homes burned in the bushfire northeast of Perth in Western Australia to 71. (scroll down to see a map of the fire)
Officials are advising residents who are advised to evacuate to not worry about the COVID lockdown.
The revised weather forecast for Muchea is now predicting wind gusts up to 70 kph in some areas, which will make the work of the firefighters even more difficult. For Wednesday, sunny in the afternoon. Winds E/SE 15 to 20 km/h tending S/SE in the morning then increasing to 25 to 40 km/h in the middle of the day. Gusts to 70km/h possible about the hills and foothills during the evening. Daytime maximum temperatures in the low to mid 30s. The relative humidity will be 30 percent in the afternoon.
Emergency WA reported the fire has now burned 9,464 hectares (23,886 acres). The cause of the fire, which is being managed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, has not been released.
Originally published at 5:17 a.m. Western Australia time, Feb. 3, 2021
A bushfire has destroyed 59 homes northeast of Perth, Western Australia. The blaze was about 14 Km north of Midland and approximately 13 Km south of Muchea at 3:10 a.m. Feb. 3 local time (see the map above).
Emergency WA reports that it has burned 9,189 hectares (22,700 acres) since it was reported at 12:02 p.m. February 1, 2021.
An emergency warning is in place for parts of the shires of Mundaring, Chittering and Northam, and the City of Swan, forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate. Suburbs affected include The Vines, Ellenbrook, Gidgegannup, Upper Swan, Baskerville, Aveley, Henley Brook, Bullsbrook, Brigadoon and Wooroloo.
A Watch and Act warning is in place for nearby areas including Hovea, Stoneville, Wundowie, Mount Helena, Jane Brook, Herne Hill, Muchea and Parkerville.
The weather forecast for Wednesday for the Muchea area calls for 35°C in the afternoon and wind out of the south-southwest at 17km/h with a relative humidity of 30 percent. Thursday the wind will be stronger and out of the east-southeast at 24 to 31 km/h with 22 percent relative humidity. These conditions could increase the danger to areas north of the fire.
I have seen many videos shot while driving through fire areas, but none that showed worse visibility caused by smoke as seen in the video below.
Firefighters dodged flames while driving in Western Australia, as fire officials issued an emergency warning following a bushfire that broke out east of Perth.
At least seven homes were destroyed and two firefighters injured, according to local reports. https://t.co/z1c7wQNdDj pic.twitter.com/f5jrHyV5JU
— ABC News (@ABC) February 1, 2021
Since December a large air tanker has been stationed in Western Australia on a three-month deployment at Busselton for the 2020/2021 bushfire season — Tanker 132, a C-130 operated by Coulson. To help with the fire it is being joined by New South Wales Bomber 210, which is a 737, and a lead plane.
Following a request from Western Australia the #NSWRFS is deploying the Marie Bashir (Large Air Tanker) and lead plane to assist firefighters battling blazes near Perth and across the state over the next week. pic.twitter.com/jGKXu04Hyx
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) February 2, 2021
