UPDATE 1.50pm: A bushfire warning in place for Upper Swan has been downgraded to a watch and act after fire conditions changed.
The alert has been issued for people in an area bounded by Warbrook Road, east to the Avon River, Wooroloo Brook, south to Connemara Drive East, Campersic Road, Camargue Drive, the Swan River, West Swan Road, Ellen Brook and Railway Parade.
Conditions are still unpredictable and home owners have been urged to be ready to leave or actively defend their properties.
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READ NOWUPDATE 11.03am: A BUSHFIRE emergency warning remains in place for Upper Swan residents in an area bounded by Great Northern Highway, Walyunga Road and the Swan River, as welll as surrounding areas.
About 150 fire fighters are continuing to battle the out-of-control fire. The flames are reaching as high as six metres.
A BUSHFIRE emergency warning has been issued for residents in Upper Swan, as an out-of-control blaze burns close to homes.
One resident, who has lived in the area for 15 years, said it was the most intense fire she had seen.
The warning is for people in the area bounded by Great Northern Highway, Walyunga Road and the Swan River, and surrounding areas in the southern and eastern parts of Upper Swan.
The fire started near the far eastern end of Copley Road and homes in Copley Road, St Albans Road and Coondaree Parade are under threat.
MORE: Upper Swan residents urged to act now
People have been told to act immediately, with the Department of Fire and Emergency Services saying there is an immediate threat to lives and property.
One Copley Road resident described the fire as “terrifying”.
“The fire was roaring down the hill and we weren’t sure how long it would be until it got to where we were,” she said.
“The fire started at about 8pm and was only small.
“A local volunteer told me not to worry and that I should go home and go to bed, but by 1am the fire was out of control and we were being told to evacuate.”
“Thankfully we managed to get all our horses out and the wind changed direction, sending the fire away from our properties.”
“In the 15 years my family has lived at the property we have never seen a fire so large and intense, which was only made worse by increased fuel loads in the hills and a lack of back burning in the area.”
The latest emergency warning information is available here.