Bullsbrook bushfire forces evacuation of school as Perth is set on emergency alert
A massive forest fire forced hundreds of students to evacuate as the out-of-control blaze approached classrooms, sparking dramatic scenes.
About a thousand students and dozens of staff were graded at Bullsbrook College in Perth’s northwest early Wednesday morning after being ordered to leave.
Firefighters battled sweltering conditions to control the raging bushfire, while emergency services ordered students and teachers to evacuate.
The students were at their desks in the school when the alarm was raised and were led to the school oval.
Parents were warned to pick up their children.
About 1000 students at Bullsbrook College in Perth’s northwest (pictured) were evacuated after an out-of-control bushfire came close to the school on Wednesday morning.
Student Kohbi Raecke described the ‘chaotic’ scenes during the emergency response to get students and staff to safety.
“There was a PA announcement,” he said 7 News.
“There was yelling, screaming, a lot of talking and a lot of smoke.”
Thick plumes of smoke blanketed the skies of Bullsbrook as helicopters dropped water bombs on the suburb in a desperate bid to extinguish the fire.
Residents protected properties by washing down their homes to prevent embers from spreading from nearby trees and bushland as temperatures in Perth rose above 35 degrees Celsius on Wednesday.
The fire started near the intersection at Hurd Road and Chittering Road and destroyed as much as nine hectares of land.
WA’s Fire and Emergency Services Department has since downgraded a Watch and Act bushfire warning to ‘Bushfire Advice’ for parts of Bullsbrook in an updated warning issued on Wednesday evening.
“The alert level for this fire has been reduced as the fire is under control,” the alert read.
“There is no threat to lives or homes.”
Authorities warned residents to remain alert and monitor their surroundings for possible wildfires.
Water bombing helicopters (photo) were deployed to contain the fire
Firefighters (pictured) had to contend with sweltering conditions as temperatures rose to 35 degrees Celsius on Wednesday
They should also close their doors and windows and review their forest fire survival plan.
Perth is set to experience scorching temperatures over the next week, with temperatures likely to top 41 degrees on Friday and Saturday.
Although there will be a brief respite from extreme temperatures early next week, the mercury will climb to a top of 39 degrees Celsius next Wednesday.
The weather bureau has issued a severe heatwave warning for several parts of WA, including the western and southern parts of the state.
A fire warning has also been issued for the Midwest Coast, Capes, Blackwood and Southern Forest districts.
Western Australia is set to become sweltering with scorching conditions over the course of next week, with Perth set to hit 41 degrees Celsius on Friday and Saturday (WA heatwave weather map photo)