Ellenbrook fire live updates: Gazebo up in flames, father forced to hide inside as blaze closes in on home

Western Power is reporting a power outage in the Ellenbrook fire zone.

68 houses are estimated to be affected.

Western Power say restoration should be at 9.30pm tonight, although it is unclear whether this will be affected by the movement of the fire.

DFES are reporting firefighters are putting in containment lines as they work to control the fire.

Waterbombers are assisting.

There is still a possible threat to lives and homes and it is not safe to return to the area.

Ellenbrook father and volunteer firefighter Matt Beilken has recounted the terrifying moment he was forced to shelter inside his own home during Thursday’s bushfire emergency.

Mr Beilken managed to safely evacuate his two young children to a neighbours’ house before flames reached his property minutes later, forcing him to stop firefighting efforts and shelter indoors.

“Initally it was moving in a sort of northerly direction and then at one stage we had a wind change, and it came straight at my house,” he told The West.

“I had to seek shelter at one stage because the flames were coming right up to my garage.

“Once I realised that the fire was coming my way, I quickly threw the kids in the car. One of my neighbours was standing out the front, so I drove the kids and the dog over, and asked him to look after them.

“The kids got pretty freaked out at one stage.”

Mr Beilken said he was “in a spot of bother” when he was forced to shelter indoors.

“I was pretty much straight into defence mode. I had the hose going anyway, just watering down the edges of the carport and just basically hoping that it was going to blow over quickly so I could get into defence as quickly as possible before any part of my house got taken out.”

Mr Beilken, a volunteer firefighter, said his bushfire plan could have potentially saved his home — which is located less than 10m away from bushland.

“This is the first time I’ve actually had to defend a house . . . my first time defending a house from a fire was my own house.

“I just got back from the Boddington bushfire last weekend, and again, straight into it four or five days later.”

Although residents have been told not to return to the area, DFES have provided the safest routes to leave from the evacuation zone.

Residents on Elmridge Parkway should leave in a southerly direction, and those on the northern part of Farmaner Parkway should leave in an easterly direction.

There is still a possible threat to lives and homes as the fire is not contained or controlled.

Shocking video has emerged of the fire, filmed by a resident in a house just metres away from the flames.

Billowing flames are pictured with black smoke as the resident opens and closes the door.

The video was posted to social media just under an hour ago.

The emergency warning has been downgraded to a watch and act.

There is still a possible threat to lives and homes as conditions are changing, and the fire is not contained or controlled.

It is not safe to return for residents who have left the area, due to possible fallen trees and powerlines over roads.

Firefighters are actively fighting the fire, which is moving “fast” in a northeasterly direction.

Multiple waterbombers are also assisting.

The public is urged not to fly any drones in the area is it will impact firefighting efforts.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services says the fire is moving fast in a north-easterly direction.

Motorists on Tonkin Highway has been told to exercise extreme caution as smoke is covering the area.