Residents of the tiny town of Uduc got the news they were hoping for overnight - with an out-of-control bushfire contained and its warning status downgraded to a "watch and act."
But the downgrade was tempered slightly by the fact firefighters are expecting more challenging conditions through Tuesday, as a heatwave continues in the South West and Perth.
For the latest alerts, visit the DFES website or follow DFES on
At 10am Tuesday, a watch and act warning remained in place for south of Forestry Road and Uduc Road, west of Hocart Road and South Western Highway, north of Mitchell Road and Treasure Road and east of Forrest Highway.
This includes Wokalup townsite, Thornton Housing Estate and Myalup Freshwater Lakes Estate in the Shire of Harvey.
Bushfire advice alerts remained in place for:
- people in the an area south of Uduc Road and Harvey-Quindanning Road, west of Staples Road and Hadfield Road, north of Sandalwood Road and east of South Western Highway and Hocart Road. This includes the Harvey townsite.
- those in an area south of Crampton Road, west of Field Road, north of Forestry Road and east of Forrest Highway.
- people in an area south of Finn Road, west of Forrest Highway and north of Valentine Road, including the townsites of Myalup and Binningup.
- those in an area south of Treasure Road, west of Campbell Road, north of Marriott Road and east of Forrest Highway.
A total of 300 firefighters were tackling the blaze, up from 150 on Monday. The fire had burnt through more than 1100 hectares.
The fire was first reported at 2.30pm Sunday and its cause is unknown but under investigation.
Uduc, which is approximately 137 kilometres south of Perth, was established in the 1860s and has a population of around 255 - as of the 2011 census.
The small town is around 25 kilometres south of Yarloop, which was devastated by a fatal blaze just over a month ago.
The fire which tore through Yarloop on January 7 destroyed 121 homes in the small town and killed two people.
The following roads were closed:
- Forestry Road at Forrest Highway
- Wellesley Road North at Treasure Road
- Wellesley Road North at Forrest Highway
- Pead Road at Forrest Highway
- Myalup Beach Road at Forrest Highway
- Myalup Road at Thornton Drive
- Rodgers Road at Government Road
- Leitch Road at Government Road
The following roads had been reopened:
- Uduc Road at Fryer Road
- Hocart Road at Herbert Road
- Dixon Road at Hocart Road
- Hope Avenue at South Western Highway
- Bernies Road at Mitchell Road
- Government Road at Harrison Road
Road information may also be available from Main Roads WA by calling 138 138 or visiting www.mainroads.wa.gov.au
Earlier on Monday morning DFES media spokesman Mark Graham told Radio 6PR containment lines had been set up around the fire but forecast 40-degree temperatures and winds meant firefighters were concerned about the blaze.
Heavy machinery had been used overnight to set up mineral earthbreaks around the fire, which is threatening lives and homes.
"It isn't under control - we are concerned by the weather," Mr Graham told 6PR Breakfast.
"It's the start of a heatwave and the wind direction is going to be very variable and test the boundaries of this fire.
"The Forrest Highway is a risk because of the wind directions at the moment."
