Champion Lakes bushfire: Fire warning downgraded on Monday night, blaze closes Tonkin Highway

A bushfire that started near homes in Champion Lakes before it shut down Tonkin Highway has been downgraded from an emergency level.

Tonkin Highway between Ranford Road and Corfield Street remained closed in both directions on Monday night as firefighters worked to control the bushfire, which was reported at 3.36pm after igniting near homes on Mustang Road.

The blaze was contained by 8.30pm before authorities downgraded the fire to a watch-and-act level, meaning lives and homes were no longer at immediate risk.

People in the area surrounded by Verna Street, Passmore Street, Corfield Street, Eileen Street, Seaforth Avenue, Koorden Close, Lake Road and Ranford Road — in Champion Lakes, Southern River and Gosnells — were urged to still remain alert as the blaze burned out of control.

“Stay alert and monitor your surroundings as conditions could change,” the Department of Fire and Emergency Services said on Monday night.

“You may need to act quickly so ensure you are prepared if the situation gets worse.”

The bushfire was moving in a north westerly direction after being fanned by strong winds throughout the afternoon.

Main Roads closed the highway in both directions, with commuters urged to avoid the area if possible.

Dozens of families were lined up alongside Wright Lake as flames breached through bush.

One resident in Perth’s south said he received an alert on his phone while up a ladder working at his property on Monday. “I saw this giant brown pool of smoke,” he said. Two water bombers and more than 40 ground crews were actively working to fight the blaze throughout the afternoon.

Aerial support was called off after sunset.

Caroline Mayes and her five-year-old son were anxiously watching the flames burn from a distance.

“I was driving back on Corfield Street and couldn’t get through,” the Camillo resident said.

Ms Mayes and her son, Ryder, both feared strong winds would extend the emergency zone, putting their own home at risk.

“There is only bush, it’s already in the shoreline (of Wright Lake),” Ms Mayes said.

“There’s flames and smoke everywhere.

“It all happened so quickly, it was just in one spot now it’s everywhere.

“We thought the flames were a lot further back than what it was.”

Meanwhile, people in parts of Cataby, Mimegarra, Cooljaraloo and Wedge Island were warned to be alert of ember attacks on Monday as another bushfire burned in the area.

A separate watch and act alert was in place for residents in The Lakes, Woottating, Gorrie, Malmalling and Mount Observation into the evening.

Bushfire season officially starts in October in southern WA.

Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson last month warned years of low rainfall means WA is likely to experience a long an intense bushfire season.

Last year, 18 homes were destroyed in a devastating bushfire in Mariginiup. Several more homes were lost in another blaze in Parkerville just days before Christmas.