Perth on alert for bushfires

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services is planning for the worst this weekend as Perth faces high temperatures and strong winds.

Emergency authorities will be on red alert again across Perth this weekend, as soaring temperatures and gust winds threaten more fire devastation.

As residents in the Perth Hills continue to pick up the pieces after the loss of 56 homes, fire bosses from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services are planning for the worst.

Temperatures will approach 40C on Sunday, coupled with strong winds that will continue into next week.

DFES deputy commissioner of operations Lloyd Bailey said similar resources were on standby to last weekend, which ended in devastation in Parkerville and Stoneville.

"Last weekend was unique with the record low temperatures which put us on the back foot on Sunday," Mr Bailey said.

"This weekend we will get strong gusty winds, and it is usually the impact off the wind that does create challenges for us.

"If last weekend was an 11 then we are at an eight this weekend."

An early warning was a fire in Bullsbrook north of Perth, which threatened homes briefly. More than 25 crews responded to the blaze, which began near a railway track.

New satellite images released also showed the detail of the homes destroyed and damaged by the Perth Hills fire - and how close Mt Helena came to being badly hit.

Mr Bailey said only a timely wind change averted an even bigger disaster.


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Source: AAP


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