Wild bushfire rages in outer Perth as residents including AFL superstar Tim Kelly are warned their homes are under threat and they should barricade themselves inside
A terrifying out-of-control bushfire has put residents on high alert as they are warned that it's 'too late to leave' and told to barracade themselves inside.
Several areas south of Perth including Spectacles, Orelia, Medina, Naval Base, Postans, Kwinana Beach and Hope Valley in the city of Kwinana have been issued an emergency bushfire warning that lives and homes are under threat.
The rapidly spreading fire is moving at a rate of 1km every hour, leaving exhausted firefighters unable to control it.
West Coast Eagle star Tim Kelly shared to Instagram that his family home was under threat from the Gosnells fire, sharing terrifying images that showed the blaze creeping onto his property.
'I've got the sprinklers and everything going on...not good,' he said while sharing footage of the fire just outside his fences.
His wife a few hours later updated followers saying their home is safe 'for now'.
Several areas south of Perth including Spectacles, Orelia, Medina, Naval Base, Postans, Kwinana Beach and Hope Valley in the city of Kwinana have been issued an emergency bushfire warning that lives and homes are under threat
About 90 firefighters, emergency services and volunteers are battling the horrific blazes,
Residents are told to stay indoors and keep windows closed after the wind picked up and changed the direction of the fire which has already burnt 74 hectares.
'It's moving through some bushland mostly but it's headed towards some heavy infrastructure,' Department of Fire and Emergency Services district officer Adrian Hamill said.
An emergency warning has also been issued for an area bounded by Albany Highway, Dorothy Street, Mills Road West and Tonkin Highway in Gosnells.
The out-of-control bushfires are threatening lives and homes in Perth (pictured, the blaze picking up pace in high winds
The fire which started in Martin near the the intersection of Connell Avenue and Milleara Road is now moving in a westerly direction putting homes in Riverside Gardens under threat, the DFES warned.
The warning is currently watch and act level with an evacuation centre opened at The Agonis, at 2232 Albany Highway in Gosnells.
When the coast is clear, residents are told to they should leave for a safer place, and if they cannot leave, to get ready to shelter in their home.
The fire has already burnt through 74 hectares of land after the wind changed direction
'We've still got a lot of work to do to knock down the intensity and stop the spread,' DFES district officer Will Blackshaw said.
'It's not currently contained but certainly the firefighters will be working very hard into the evening and throughout the night.'
Mr Blackshaw also confirmed that 60 residents from Riverside Gardens retirement village have been evacuated.
'We've successfully evacuated 60 personnel there, and they're being taken to a safe place for the moment while we then do what we can to protect the homes in place.'
West Coast Eagle star Tim Kelly shared to Instagram that his family home was under threat from the Gosnells fire
'I've got the sprinklers and everything going on...not good,' the West Coast Eagles star said while sharing footage of the fire just outside his fences
Megan Renee was on the way back home when she was forced to stop and look at the ferocious out-of-control blaze that was threatening her home.
'There were a lot of people pulling over and just looking shocked and concerned, and helpless. There is smoke everywhere and I am covered in it,' she told The West Australian.
'The retirement residents looked shocked and scared; it was very sad to see them have to go through something like that.'
Both fires are out-of-control and unpredictable, leaving power outages in several areas.
This fire season has seen relatively little activity on Australia's east coast thanks to heavy rainfall, compared to last year's horrific Black Summer bushfires.