Geraldton bushfire emergency: New threat emerges in Bluff Point, Spalding and Sunset Beach

While one bushfire emergency has been downgraded, another has emerged, with residents in parts of Bluff Point, Spalding and Sunset Beach warned to leave now.

A bushfire emergency has been issued on Monday morning for people bounded in an area bounded by Crowtherton Street, the coastline, Bosley Street, Chapman Valley Road, Spalding Park golf course.

“You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. There is a threat to lives and homes,” the Department of Fire and Emergency Services has warned.

“If the way is clear, leave now for a safer place. This may be with family or friends away from the area.

“Those to the north of the river leave in a northerly direction towards. Those to the south of the river leave in a southerly direction.

“Do not wait and see, leaving at the last minute could put your life in danger.”

Amid unconfirmed reports of property damage, the conditions on Monday are expected to have authorities on edge again, with strong winds and a maximum of 42C forecast in Geraldton. Widespread total fire bans are in place on Monday across the region.

Emergency bushfires in parts of Waggrakine, Moresby and Spalding were downgraded on Sunday night to watch and act levels.

The watch and acts areas are: Spalding Park golf course, Mary Street, Collins Road, Sutcliffe Road and Nerrel Street in Waggrakine and Moresby and NWCH, Nerrel Street, Longva Road, Fairfax Drive and Green Street in Spalding and Moresby.

In the first watch and act zone, residents have been told it is not safe to return home yet.

“f you have left the area, it is unsafe to return due to fallen trees, fallen powerlines and other dangers created by the fire,” DFES states.

Bushfire advice levels are in places for parts of Waggrakine, Glenfield, Spalding, Sunset Beach, White Peak and Buller.

The fire was reported at 10.30am on Sunday and is moving in a westerly direction.

An evacuation centre at Geraldton’s QEII Centre on Duralcher Street has reopened on Monday morning.

A number of roads have been closed including:

• Chapman Valley Road from North West Coastal Highway to David Road
• Hall Road from Champman Valley Road to Collins Road
• Constantine Road
• David Road
• Adelaide Street
• Beattie Road
• Brisbane Street
• Nerrel Street
• Astrom Place
• Robyn Place
• Prigi Close
• Yarraman Road

To make matters worse, power supply to around 5537 homes and businesses in Spalding, Bluff Point and Woorree was cut during the peak of the bushfire on Sunday.

That number is now down to about 600, with Western Power expecting restoration about noon on Monday.

A Western Power spokesperson said: “It’s likely that heavy smoke has tripped the safety devices, crews will complete patrols to ensure there is no damage and it is safe to restore power supply.”

At least one property has been damaged, with damage to an old farmhouse in Waggrakine spotted, while there are concerns about the impact to Waggrakine Primary School.

DFES has been contacted regarding unconfirmed reports of property loss and damage to the local primary school.

It confirmed on Sunday night that Waggrakine Primary School, Walkaway Primary School and Northampton District High School will be closed on Monday. The latter two schools are being closed as a pre-emptive move due to Monday’s heightened fire risk.

The fire has come dangerously close to houses, with the blaze ripping through a strip of land on the western side of Star Street in Waggrakine that missed a whole suburb by just metres.

It is unclear what caused the bushfire.

Water bombers have been stood down because they can not operate in the dark. Aerial crews will return to the skies at first light on Monday if needed.

To keep up to date:

• Visit Emergency WA or download the Emergency WA app from the App Store or Google Play.
• Call 13 DFES (13 3337).
• Follow DFES on Facebook.