Evacuation centres set up as fires threaten homes in WA

Bushfires are threatening homes south of Perth as high temperatures and strong winds fan the flames.

Evacuation centres have been set up at the Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre and Murray Aquatic Centre, with multiple emergency warnings in place.

In nearby North Dandalup homes on Reides Rd are expected to be affected by fire.

"There is a threat to lives and homes. The alert level for this fire has been upgraded as fire conditions are increasing in the area," an Emergency WA alert read.

Residents are urged to head to the evacuation centre in Mandurah if they can safely leave. 

The fire warning areas have spread rapidly on Saturday afternoon as crews battle strong winds and high heat.

A third fire burning at emergency level near Mandurah is in the southern part of Serpentine, with another to the west at Jarradale at "watch and act" level.

To the north residents in the city of Armadale have been told to seek shelter from a fire in Piara Waters.

Extreme fire danger is forecast for the Swan Inland regions, as well as further afield in the inland central west, lower west inland and Mortlock regions.

A file photo of a bushfire near Dalveen, Queensland
Some 100 fires are still burning in Queensland and NSW after a week in which 60 homes were lost.

About 100 blazes are still burning across Queensland and NSW after a torrid week claimed more than 60 homes and thousands of hectares of farming land either side of the border.

On Saturday a light plane that had been contracted by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services for fire mapping crashed in the state's remote northwest, killing three people. 

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating.

Mild conditions are expected this weekend over the hardest-hit areas including Tara west of Brisbane and the southern border town of Wallangarra.

About 130 Victorian firefighters have arrived with another 60 expected from New Zealand and more potentially from overseas to relieve local crews.

Residents in the Jumna Dam area of Irvinebank in the southeast have been told it's not safe to return to the area after a fire took hold about 8am.

Meanwhile, Queensland police are searching for two fire vehicles stolen from RFS facilities in the state's north.

The first went missing from Sarina on Tuesday night when a group of people broke into a building, took the keys and drove off in the vehicle.

A fire truck
Queensland police are searching for a fire truck stolen from Sarina in the state's north.

Another firefighting vehicle was stolen from an RFS facility in Victoria Plains, also in the Mackay area, on Saturday morning.

The vehicle is a black Nissan utility with Victoria Plains Rural Fire printed on the side.

Police said it has since been seen in the Sarina area.

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