Rockingham fire out of control near hospital brought under control

UPDATE: A bushfire that was threatening Rockingham Hospital, businesses and homes in Perth’s south on Thursday afternoon is now under control.

The fire was reported at 1.50pm and quickly became out of control, triggering an emergency warning from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services.

The warning was in place in east Rockingham for people bounded by Crompton Road, Ennis Avenue and Lake Cooloongup and has now been downgraded to a watch and act warning.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services confirmed that the Rockingham General Hospital was included in the evacuation area.

The blaze has now been downgraded to a watch and act warning and now includes areas north of Mandurah road, including Leda and parts of Wellard.

Rockingham Hospital confirmed it’s aware of the fire and has an action plan in place but has not been advised to evacuate as yet.

HorsePower Peel vice president Ali Thomas said she was very concerned for their property which is on the corner of Dixon road and Mandurah road.

“This is the closest a fire has ever gotten to our property, we were so worried about the horses,” Ms Thomas said.

“There is a fuel station just down the road, as well as a caravan park, so if the fire was to reach that then we would be in so much trouble, but the fire crew are doing a great job keeping it at bay.

“We’ve opened up the paddock and turned all the sprinklers on so all we can do is wait and see what happens,” she said.

The City of Rockingham has evacuated staff from its compliance facility on Crompton Road and are enacting its bushfire emergency plan.

The watch and act issued for people in Waikiki, Hillman, Rockingham, Warnbro and Cooloongup has been downgraded to bushfire advice.

The advice is in place for people bounded by Hurell Way and Patterson Road to the north, Ennis Avenue to the east, Safety Bay Road to the south and Read Street to the west.

“There is a possible threat to lives and homes as a fire is approaching in the area and conditions are changing,” authorities said.

Residents in the area were previously told to leave now if the way was clear or to prepare to defend their homes.

“If you plan to stay and actively defend, do not rely on mains water pressure as it may be affected. You need to have access to an independent water supply, and start patrolling your property to put out spot fires,” locals were told.

Meanwhile Transperth has cancelled trains on the Mandurah Line between Cockburn and Mandurah and are currently organising replacement buses.