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WA sends trucks convoy out of fire zone

State to see southern fires being followed by cyclonic floods in north

 

While the eastern state bushfire focus has been on the New South Wales south coast, Gippsland and the upper Murray region, truck drivers in the east of Western Australia are being shifted after becoming stranded.

With fire risk at catastrophic levels along the Eyre Highway and with the border with South Australia closed, the WA government is looking to escort other travellers to Norseman and on to Esperance in convoys with cars and light vehicles first, trucks second and campers and caravans last.

A plan has been implemented “for a major evacuation of truck drivers and travellers over a long distance through a fire ground still under watch and act”, the government states.

“Many of these drivers have been stranded for nearly a week.”

Western Roads Federation (WRF) CEO Cam Dumesny backs the move.

“We’ve total confidence it’ll go smoothly due to the professionalism of the truck drivers,” Dumesny tweets.

Drivers are advised to avoid the area and be aware of fire and emergency services personnel working on site.

“The Eyre Highway at the quarantine checkpoint at the Western Australia/South Australia border, 12km east of Eucla, is closed to all incoming west bound traffic,” the Department of Fire and Emergency Services state..

“Eyre Highway between Norseman townsite and Caiguna is closed to traffic due to the impact of fire and smoke across the road.

“People are urged to stop taking back tracks and unsealed roads in an endeavour to avoid road closures. We recommend that you do not rely on mapping applications to find alternate routes as they may be inaccurate and unsafe.

“The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder has closed the Trans Access Road to all traffic due to bushfires in the area.”

The moves come as the term “drought and flooding rain” becomes reality in parts of the Kimberley and Pilbara, with roads being closed due to Cyclone Blake set to make landfall tomorrow.

They are Broome Cape Leveque Road unsealed section in both directions in the Shire of Broome and  Gibb River Road between Blina turnoff to Kalumburu turnoff in the West Kimberley is closed to vehicles over seven tonne.

The rain is expected to fall on WA fire grounds but to miss those in eastern states.

 

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