A bushfire in the state's north that's razed over a million hectares has now burnt ten kilometres into a Kimberley wildlife sanctuary, with fire crews scrambling to contain it.
Fire crews and volunteers have been battling the blaze since late September after it was sparked by a lightning strike at Ellenbrae Station in the Kimberley.
Despite their best efforts in hot, blustery conditions, the fire has moved steadily toward the Mornington-Marion Downs Wildlife Sanctuary, breaking containment lines on Thursday with strong winds fanning the flames into the protected area described as 'a showcase for conservation in northern Australia."
Kimberley fire now burnt 10km into Marion Downs with perimeter of 90km. 8 ppl deployed on property, supported by helicopter, to fight fire. pic.twitter.com/pn5PlI4VGt
— Australian Wildlife (@awconservancy) October 15, 2016
The Australian Wildlife Conservancy said the Mornington-Marion Downs area "capture a high diversity of wildlife including critically important populations of threatened species such as the Gouldian Finch, the Purple-crowned Fairy-wren and Northern Quoll."
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services said a team of seven firefighters from Perth has flown up to the firefront to help co-ordinate the effort to fight it, working alongside pastoralists, indigenous groups, Kimberley Land Council Rangers, Australian Wildlife Conservancy, and Parks and Wildlife officers.
The fire is burning out of control and DFES said crews are battling the blaze's southern end while monitoring the north.
DFES advises locals that the fire is burning on Gibb River Station, Mount Elizabeth Station, Drysdale River Station, Ellenbrae Station and Kurinji Station, near the Gibb River Road and Kalumburu Road intersection and on both sides of Kalumburu Road.
The fire in the state's north comes ahead of what is anticipated to be another intense bush fire season in Perth and the South West following deadly blazes in Yarloop, earlier this year, and Esperance in 2015.
The Department of Parks and Wildlife's annual report has revealed Western Australia failed to meet prescribed burn targets every year since 2009 and has had a sharp decline in frontline fire employees since the mid-1980s.
The report shows the average area subject to annual controlled burns in the South West has decreased more than 70 per cent in the past 50 years.
Amid clear spring weather, local authorities are now scrambling to tackle prescribed burns, with several conducted this week around Perth.