WAROONA residents have described their fear after fleeing for their lives again as a bushfire continues to threaten homes.
More: Bushfire emergency declared in the Shire of Waroona.
More: Almost 100 homes lost in Yarloop.
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It has been a year since a bushfire claimed three homes in Waroona in January 2015.
About 100 firefighters are working at the scene of a fire that has burnt more than 11,000ha in Waroona, Harvey and Preston Beach.
Firefighters are using more than 40 appliances, including five dozers and three loaders to fight the fire. Aerial support is assisting firefighters on the ground.
The fire was reported at 7.25am on January 6 and was caused by lightning. The fire started in Lane Poole Reserve. It is burning on both sides of the South Western Highway.
A bushfire emergency warning in place for people in an area bounded by Willowdale Road, Johnston Road, Forrest Highway, Dorsett Road, Williamson Road, Mayfield Road and Nanga Brook Road, including the Waroona townsite, in the Shire of Waroona.
A bushfire emergency warning is also in place for people in Preston Beach in the Shire of Waroona and Harvey townsite and surrounding areas in the Shire of Harvey.
About 50 people have evacuated to the Murray Leisure Centre in Pinjarra. The other evacuation centre, the Harvey Recreation Centre, is no longer open.
Narelle Carlon and her family were rescued by boat at Preston Beach. They were taken by State Emergency Services to the Pinjarra evacuation centre this morning.
“I just wanted to get away,” she said.
“We were covered in soot.”
Moira Carmichael was alerted by SMS at her house in Eastcott Street.
“I haven’t slept,” she said this morning from the evacuation centre.
“It feels like January last year all over again.
“I tried to water my garden but it was too hot.
“I felt like I was melting and I had to think about what to do.”
Ms Carmichael escaped with her dogs and a pair of jeans.
Visit for more information on the fire alerts and warnings