Ellenbrook bushfire: Emergency warnings downgraded as authorities confirm raging blaze is contained

A bushfire which “slightly damaged” up to nine homes in Perth’s north-east has been downgraded, with authorities confirming the blaze is no longer moving and is contained and under control.

Residents in parts of Ellenbrook were forced to evacuate on Thursday afternoon, with some forced to shelter indoors and watch in horror as flames raged just metres away across the road.

The bushfire — first reported about 2.45pm — was downgraded to an advice level about 11pm on Thursday for locals bound by Galatea Pass, Farmaner Parkway, Kerang Way and Elmridge Parkway.

“The alert level for this has been downgraded as the fire is stationary,” a DFES spokesperson said.

“There is no threat to lives or homes.

“Continue to stay alert and monitor your surroundings.

“Be aware of other potential dangers such as falling trees and damaged properties and infrastructure.”

DFES on Friday confirmed the bushfire “slightly damaged” nine properties.

No homes were destroyed.

The blaze has razed about 15 hectares of land.

The cause of the fire is unknown, but authorities have not ruled out arson.

“The cause of the fire is undetermined and Strike Force Vulcan officers urge anyone with any information relating to this fire to contact Crime Stoppers,” a police spokesperson said on Friday.

Photographs taken in the aftermath of the blaze show burnt trees and scrubland, just metres from homes.

Ellenbrook resident Matt Beilken said he only just managed to evacuate his two young children to his neighbour’s home minutes before flames approached his property, forcing him to stop firefighting efforts and shelter indoors.

“Initially it was moving in a sort of northerly direction and then at one stage we had a wind change, and it came straight at my house,” he told The West.

“I had to seek shelter at one stage because the flames were coming right up to my garage.

“Once I realised that the fire was coming my way, I quickly threw the kids in the car.

“One of my neighbours was standing out the front, so I drove the kids and the dog over, and asked him to look after them.

“The kids got pretty freaked out at one stage.”

DFES incident controller Tim McGrade said 75 crews had been called to the blaze, with multiple water-bombers assisting from the air.

Several roads, including Starke Turn at the intersection of Farmaner Parkway, Elmridge Parkway at the intersection of Farmaner Parkway and Musselbrook Trail at the intersection of Elmridge Parkway have been closed.

Motorists have been asked to avoid the area, reduce speed and drive carefully.