A bushfire that threatened homes in Perth's Swan Valley has been declared accidental, with authorities confirming an escaped camp fire as the cause. The blaze, which burned for over 24 hours at emergency level, has now been downgraded to a watch and act alert.
The fire started near Toodyay Road in Gidgegannup around 12:40 pm on Tuesday and has since scorched nearly 650 hectares. One community structure and two sheds have been confirmed lost, according to DFES incident controller Murray McBride.
More than 100 firefighters remain on scene, battling challenging terrain in hilly country. Several roads remain closed, including Padbury Avenue, Hardwick Road, and William Street, with some expected to reopen by Wednesday evening.
Suppression efforts were hampered on Tuesday when water bombers were grounded due to a drone sighting. DFES noted that up to 13 aircraft were in use when the drone posed a risk to crews.
City of Swan Mayor Tanya Richardson described the situation as very frightening for residents, while the Bureau of Meteorology forecast easing winds to aid firefighting efforts. The fire caused a large smoke plume visible across Perth and led to flight delays at Perth Airport.
