Fire danger warnings issued as Western Australian heatwave forecast to approach 50C

Western Australia is continuing to suffer through a heat wave, with no hopes of respite tomorrow as temperatures are forecast to hit 47C.

Perth has sweltered through a record-breaking week, with four consecutive days of 40C or higher for the first time in 50 years.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) are predicting no reprieve over the weekend, with temperatures over 40cs forecast for large parts of northern Western Australia.

A heatwave rated “severe to extreme” by BoM hit the west and northern areas of the state on Wednesday, and is set to continue until at least Sunday.

A catastrophic fire danger warning has been announced for people in parts of the Midwest Gascoyne.

A severe fire warning has also been issued for the Gascoyne Coast, which is forecast to experience 48C today.

The warning applies to:

• Shire of Carnarvon – inland part
• Shire of Cue
• Shire of Meekatharra
• Shire of Menzies – the far western part
• Shire of Mount Magnet
• Shire of Murchison
• Shire of Sandstone
• Shire of Shark Bay – inland part
• Shire of Upper Gascoyne
• Shire of Wiluna – western edge and the south western tip
• Shire of Yalgoo
• City of Greater Geraldton – inland part
• Shire of Chapman Valley – inland part
• Shire of Mingenew
• Shire of Morawa
• Shire of Northampton – inland part

The DFES has advised people in these areas to:

• Action your Bushfire Survival Plan now
• Monitor the fire and weather situation through your local radio station, www.dfes.wa.gov.au and www.bom.gov.au.
• Call 000 (Triple Zero) in an emergency.

Anyone looking for information on preparing for bushfires can visit to www.dfes.wa.gov.au.