In a dramatic escalation, bushfires in southern Western Australia have led to urgent evacuation orders and the shutdown of key roads, stranding some while prompting a mass exodus. Centered in Fitzgerald River National Park—420 km southeast of Perth—the blaze ignited by a lightning strike 16 days ago now spans more than 60,000 hectares of pristine bushland.
DFES’s Friday alert painted a dire picture: lives and homes hang in the balance. Ravensthorpe’s 2,000 residents, along with travelers, must flee if paths are clear. The message was stark: immediate action is essential for survival. Stay-at-home options come with severe heat warnings, emphasizing the peril of remaining.
One primary highway west of town is blocked, funneling evacuees toward the Newdegate center. This fire joins three others ravaging the southwest, pushing northeast with ferocity. Four towns housing 1,500 souls, just 120 km from Perth, face direct threats, prompting swift orders to vacate.
Additional alerts for Dunn Rock, 60 km north of the park, and Green Range, 130 km southwest, advise monitoring and readiness to bolt. Preparation met reality as winds fueled the flames, turning a manageable spark into a regional catastrophe. As crews deploy every resource, the focus sharpens on protecting lives amid the smoky chaos, with long-term recovery looming large.