Perth fire: Premier Roger Cook coming home early from China after ...

That’s where we’ll leave our live coverage, thanks for reading today’s rolling updates.

To continue to stay up to date with developments into the night, please go to https://www.emergency.wa.gov.au.

It’s been a tough day in Perth for residents in the areas impacted by the bushfire, and for those working to fight the fire.

Stay safe everyone.

More than 500 staff and volunteers from multiple agencies are on the scene tonight as temperatures are set to drop to around 20 degrees.

While it brings some reprieve to firefighters still struggling to contain the fire, forecasters say a strong north easterly wind will return tomorrow and there is a chance of dry lightening on the weekend.

Almost 2000 hectares of land has been razed by the fire since it started around 1pm on Wednesday.The Watch and Act area was extended on Thursday evening to include more of Gnangara and parts of Lexia while the fire creeps dangerously close to the suburbs of Hocking and Wanneroo.

“For people in the Emergency Warning area it is too late to leave, shelter in place immediately,” authorities have warned.

“For people in the Watch and Act area south of Elliot Road, leave in a southerly direction towards Ocean Reef Road.”

Premier Roger Cook has cut short his China trip, and will arrive back in Perth on Friday.

The Premier said from China that he had been keeping briefed on everything that was being done to ensure local residents were being looked after.

“Over the past 24 hours, emergency services workers and volunteers have battled fires in incredibly hot conditions across Perth’s north and south,” he posted on social media.

The Premier is coming back to WA to assist in the fire emergency. Credit: Getyt Images

“So I want to say thank you to all those on the frontline keeping our community safe as we experience another day of difficult conditions. The blaze in Perth’s north is ongoing, and unfortunately, despite all efforts, 10 homes have been lost.

“Today will be a difficult day for all involved as we face temperatures of 40 degrees, and strong winds. I again want to thank all those who have done what they can to keep damage to a minimum.

“Their efforts have ensured there has been no loss of human life. So, on behalf of all Western Australians: thank you.”

Kwinana Freeway has been ringing with sirens over the past half hour as fire crews from the southern suburbs rush to join the fight in Wanneroo.

Crews racing up the freeway include firefighters from Rockingham and Baldivis.

According to the Department of Fire and Emergency Services about 500 staff and volunteers from multiple agencies are attending the incident.

To date there has been about 1690 hectares burnt.

As well as claiming at least 10 houses, the Wanneroo fire has also left hundreds of horses with nowhere to go.

The brunt of the fire has ripped through a major equestrian area that is home to small acreage properties and also large agistment centres and equestrian facilities.

Hundreds of horses have lost their homes in the fire.

Team Equistar, the well-known home of showjumper Rick Dabner and Eve Jarvis, has been confirmed lost to the fire, but hundreds more horses are also homeless as their paddocks are on fire, fences burnt to the ground and shelters lost.

Many have been taken to the State Equestrian Centre in Brigadoon and a collection point has been set up at Horseland Midland for people to donate items.

Ease WA, which provides animal support in emergencies, said they were looking for items such as buckets, rugs and veterinary products.

Three volunteer firefighters have sustained minor injuries while fighting the Wanneroo bushfires while flames also reached a fire truck in what’s known as a “burn over event”.

Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm said one volunteer had slipped on a ladder while two others were treated for smoke inhalation but all three were healthy.

“They were all treated by St John (Ambulance) on site,” he said.

Klemm also confirmed there was a burn over event where flames reached a fire truck but he did not think it was too serious.

A burn over event is when a fire truck can get overrun by fire in a bushfire when it changes direction rapidly, Klemm said.

He said, however, fire trucks had plenty of gadgets to keep firefighters safe in the event of a burn over.

“They may well have found themselves in a little bit of a difficult position and there’s a whole suite of things on the truck to cater for it,” he said.

“They have curtains which they can put down over the windows, they’ve got perimeter sprays, which they can activate which protect the tyres and critical parts of the truck.

“There’s in-cabin air so they’ve got the ability to be in the cab and have breathing capability without having to breathe smoke.”

The emergency warning area has been extended, and a watch and act area has been added for south of Elliot Road in Wanneroo.

The emergency warning now extends to parts of Ashby, Banksia Grove, Carramar, Jandabup, Mariginiup, Melaleuca, Sinagra, Tapping and Wanneroo.

For anyone east of Pinjar Road, it is still too dangerous to leave.

Shelter in your home in a room with two exits, away from the fire front and make sure you can easily escape, before the fire arrives as the extreme heat can kill before the flames.

Close all doors and windows and turn off evaporative air conditioners, but keep water running through the system if possible.

If your home catches on fire and the conditions inside become unbearable, you need to get out and go to an area that has already been burnt.

Protect yourself by wearing long sleeves and trousers, made from cotton or wool, and strong leather boots.

More advice can be found here.