South West bushfire: People and homes at risk in Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup

UPDATE

DFES has issued another warning as the fire in the South West continues to spread.

Just before 9pm, DFES issued a bushfire emergency warning with the affected area extending east with the small town of Mumballup now in the danger zone.

Other towns including Lowden, Yabberup and parts of Noggerup are also affected.

DFES advises that residents who live in Yabberup and Preston in the area bounded by Johnston Street, Carmichael Road, Yabberup Road and Donnybrook-Boyup Brook Road that it is safe to leave to the west along Donnybrook-Boyup Brook Road.

A bushfire watch and act has been issued for parts of the Wellington State Forrest.

People in that zone are advised to leave as there is a possible threat to lives and homes with the fire approaching.

A bushfire warning is in place for people in the State’s South West as a blaze spreads through the Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup.

DFES upgraded the warning after the fire escaped a containment line.

Their warning states there is a threat to lives and homes.

An evacuation centre has been set up at the Donnybrook Recreation Centre.

The region has been under siege by several blazes throughout the week.

South West firefighters have been battling an unprecedented number of bushfires after a freak lightning storm struck on Monday night.

The high-voltage bolts sparked several fires, forcing residents to flee.

Warnings have been in place in the Donnybrook area since Monday.

Saturday’s emergency warning is in place for people bounded by Yabberup and Austin roads across to Best Road and Collie-Preston Road to the north, Collie-Preston Road to the east, Donnybrook-Boyup Brook Road to the south, and Ferguson Road to the west in parts of Glen Mervyn, Mumballup, Noggerup, Thomson Brook and Yabberup.

A watch and act warning and bushfire advice are in place for other parts of the region.

It’s understood the fire started near the intersection of Lowden-Grimwade Road and Atom Road in Noggerup.