A new bushfire is threatening lives in Western Australia, with at least one house in Perth's east reduced to a 'heap of ash'.
An emergency warning has been issued for the hilly suburb of Parkerville, where residents have been warned to leave or take shelter for survival in some areas where it is too late to evacuate.
“There is a threat to lives and homes,” said the alert issued Thursday.
Channel Nine reporter Michael Genovese said he had seen a “number of structures collapse” but the most significant was a house destroyed in a blazing inferno and collapsed despite helicopters dumping fire retardant material on it.
A house in Perth's eastern suburbs has been consumed by fire and authorities have warned people in Parkerville to leave while they still can
“It looked like a two-story house next to a swimming pool,” he said.
“The pool untouched, the grass untouched, the car untouched, but the house was basically just a pile of cinders with a roof.
'It's gone. It's a pile of ash now.
A number of sheds have also sprung up and the flames are as high as the trees.'
WA Premier Roger Cook said it was a “concerning situation” and the weather was “very unkind” to the firefighters battling the blaze.
“We are all deeply concerned about the Parkerville fire and our thoughts go out to all those people involved in that incident,” he told reporters.
The forest fire is moving in a westerly direction and is 'unpredictable'.
Fire Commissioner Darren Klemm said the fire continued to escalate.
Despite helicopters dumping fire retardant material on the burning house, the fire caused it to collapse
“We know Parkerville is an area where we have had major fires before, including loss of homes, so the level of concern is very high,” he said.
It's too late to leave for people east of Gliddon Road.
“You should take shelter in your home in a room away from the fire front and ensure you have an easy means of escape,” the Fire and Emergency Services Department said.
An evacuation center has been opened at Brown Park on Salisbury Road, Swan View.
More than 150 properties have had power outages and roads in and out of the densely forested area are closed.
A second blaze in the state's south-west continues to test firefighters in hot, dry and windy conditions.
An emergency warning is in place for the Shire of Manjimup in the state's south-west, for Callcup, Crowea and Meerup.
Residents there have also been warned that there is a threat to their lives and property.
“Unfortunately, this wildfire breached containment lines last night under very strong easterly winds, causing the fire to escalate significantly,” Klemm said.
“It is burning in a very dense primary forest and this fire could continue and we expect it to continue for the next few days.”
The forest fire has gotten out of control and is moving westward.
“We know that today will be a particularly difficult day, with strong easterly winds expected again, but also thunderstorms in many parts of the state,” Klemm said.
The threat has diminished near the Wheatbelt, with an emergency warning downgraded to watch and action for parts of West Toodyay, Coondle and Julimar in the Shire of Toodyay.
Residents have been told it is still not safe to return to their homes.
A bushfire burning towards the fishing village of Lancelin, 126 kilometers north of Perth, was declared under control early on Thursday morning.
The single road in and out of the city has reopened and emergency services are escorting vehicles through the fire site.
Total burn bans were issued for the Perth Metropolitan, Goldfields Midlands and South West districts on Thursday.