Perth fires prompt warning of extreme conditions as Kenwick, Bullsbrook blazes downgraded

A Kenwick resident who lost a shed and thousands of dollars worth of machinery in a bushfire in Perth's south-east, says the blaze came within metres of her house. 

Two bushfires in Perth's south-east and north-east reached emergency level on Thursday, before being downgraded. 

Julia Nemeth's property in Kenwick was engulfed in flames. 

"We lost trucks and machinery, the tool shed … all of our gardens and all of our fencing, and our water and power has been disrupted," she said.

The destroyed shed and charred fencing on the front of Ms Nemeth's property were just metres from her home.

"But, still gutted because it's not home as much as it was before, the effect that it has on you, you don't know until it's happened," she said.

Ms Nemeth said she left the property with her mother, who is in her 80s.

"There was no way that you could stay," she said.

"As I was leaving in the car, I was beeping the horn the entire time down the road because we couldn't see a foot in front of the car from the smoke."

Kenwick fire damages wetlands

Fire crews continue to battle the blaze in Kenwick, which remained stationary overnight but is not contained or controlled, and are mopping up at the scene in Bullsbrook, which is now contained and controlled.

Authorities said the Bullsbrook fire, which burned though more than 230 hectares of land, was started accidentally.

Meanwhile, sections of "internationally significant" biodiverse wetlands have been destroyed by the bushfire in Kenwick, which authorities initially suspected could have been the result of arson.

Police later said on Friday morning that the blaze was not deliberately lit.

Fireballs were seen igniting in bushland just metres across the road from homes and other buildings, but no homes were lost.

But a nature reserve, described as an environmental "jewel in the crown" of the City of Gosnells, has been partly razed by the flames.

The Greater Brixton Street Wetlands were home to almost a dozen threatened ecological communities, and more than 600 different native plant species.

Paddy Cullen, who has previously campaigned to protect the wetlands from industrial development, said the area had species which can't be found anywhere else in the world.

"As more industry encroaches on this area, we're seeing fire after fire, after fire, after fire," he said.

"We're at a crucial point now where we could lose this wetland forever, if we don't manage it properly."

'A challenging few days': BOM

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) warned extreme fire conditions were expected in Perth over the weekend with temperatures forecast to reach 40 degrees Celsius.

"Unfortunately we're at the start of a very hot and breezy few days across much of south-west WA, with some high to extreme fire dangers forecast," senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said.

Perth is expected to reach a maximum of 35C today, 37C on Saturday and 40C on Sunday, with strong winds producing challenging conditions which will persist for several days.

"We're going to see these gusty east to north-easterly winds pick up as well later this morning and into the afternoon hours," Mr Narramore said.

"As we start the beginning of a four-day stretch with severe heatwave conditions, extreme fire dangers, gusty winds and a few of those days could see some isolated thunderstorms as well."

Mr Narramore said there were concerns lightning produced by the thunderstorms could spark more fires.

"In the next few days, stay cool, stay hydrated, and with a number of fires and possibly storms forecast in the coming days, it could start more fires.

"Make sure you listen to all local advice from emergency services."