A bushfire which had threatened lives and home in the Margaret River region on Sunday in the same area where a blaze destroyed 37 properties five years ago has been downgraded.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services lowered the alert level from a bushfire watch and act to a bushfire advice after earlier telling residents and tourists in an area bound by Caves Road, Glenellie Road, Exmoor Drive and Boodjidup Road in the central parts of Redgate to leave.
The fire has been contained but not controlled and and no longer poses a threat of spot fires, but there was still a lot of smoke in the area.
Although the immediate danger has passed, people were urged to be aware and keep up to date in case the situation changes.
DFES said to close all doors and windows and to turn off evaporative airconditioning, but keep water running through the system.
The fire started about 1:30pm near the intersection of Boodjidup Road in Redgate and has burned through four hectares of bushland. DFES said the cause of the fire was accidental.
Aerial support had been sent in to assist the firefighters at the scene and Boodjidup Road between Caves Road and Walker Road had been reopened by 7pm.
About 6:15pm DFES said about 30 firefighters were still actively fighting the fire and strengthening containment lines.
Motorists were asked to avoid the area and drive carefully due to smoke.
In November 2011 a bushfire razed 37 properties and destroyed 4000 ha of bushland in Prevelly, Gnarabup, and Redgate, including the iconic Walcliffe house.
The fire triggered a damning report by former Australian Federal Police commissioner Mick Keelty, who found the Department of Environment and Conservation made a series of omissions and mistakes during the planning and implementation of a prescribed burn that led to devastating consequences.
KEEP UP TO DATE:
Visit emergency.wa.gov.au, call 13 DFES (13 3337), follow DFES on Twitter @dfes_wa, or listen to news bulletins.
