A rapidly spreading bushfire is threatening lives and homes in parts of Leschenault, Brunswick, and Wellesley in Western Australia's South West, with residents being warned it is now too late to evacuate.
Emergency Zone and Immediate Threat
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) has issued a Bushfire Emergency Warning for an area bounded by Marriott Road to the north, Wellesley Road to the east, Clifton Road to the south, and Forrest Highway to the west. The fire is uncontrolled and moving quickly in a northerly direction, directly threatening lives and homes.
Authorities have stated that evacuation routes are already impacted. Residents within this zone are instructed that it is too late to leave and they must act immediately to survive.
Fire Origin and Response
The blaze began as a vehicle fire around 2:30pm on Sunday, 28 December 2025, at the intersection of Forrest Highway and Stanley Road, approximately 10 kilometres north of Bunbury. The fire quickly spread to adjacent bushland.
An extensive firefighting effort is underway, with around 40 firefighting appliances on the scene, supported by aerial water bombers. Key roads, including Forrest Highway Southbound between Old Coast Road and Paris Road, are closed. Motorists are urged to avoid the entire area, drive carefully, and reduce speed.
Critical Shelter-in-Place Instructions
With escape routes compromised, DFES has issued urgent survival advice for residents in the path of the fire. People must identify a room to shelter in, preferably one with running water like a kitchen or laundry, and a clear exit path.
You must shelter before the fire arrives, as the extreme heat will kill you before the flames reach you, the warning states. Residents are advised to close all doors and windows, turn off evaporative air conditioners (keeping water running through them if possible), and monitor for spot fires and embers both inside and outside the home.
Additional crucial instructions include:
- Turn on sprinklers if available.
- Wear strong leather boots for protection.
- If the home catches fire and conditions become unbearable, move to an area that has already been burnt.
The emergency warning stresses that if you are in immediate danger, you should call Triple Zero (000). The mostly agricultural community is on high alert as firefighters battle the fast-moving blaze.
