Perth was blanketed in thick smoke on Wednesday afternoon as a prescribed burn-off near Mundaring sent a dense haze across the city, triggering a metro-wide health warning and raising concerns during the peak-hour commute.
The haze was linked to a scheduled burn south-east of Mundaring, on the city’s eastern fringe, but shifting smoke carried the plume far beyond the burn area. By the afternoon, smoke had settled over the CBD, major freeways and several suburbs, with residents reporting ash in parts of Applecross and central Perth.
The warning was issued shortly before 2pm for smoky conditions across the Perth metropolitan area. Although the burn itself was planned, the visible impact was widespread, with commuters seeing reduced visibility and a strong smoke smell across parts of the city.
Photos from around Perth showed the CBD partially hidden behind a thick grey layer, while smoke was also visible from Parliament House, Bayswater and around RAC Arena. Listeners in Fremantle described a heavy pall of smoke, while people in Victoria Park also reported haze settling through the suburb.
Perth’s overall air quality index was still listed as “good” during the afternoon, but conditions were starting to worsen in pockets of the city, including South Lake, Quinns Rocks and Duncraig. Smoke conditions can vary quickly between suburbs, especially when wind direction changes or haze becomes trapped close to the ground.
Authorities advised people in affected areas to close doors and windows and turn off air-conditioners that pull in outside air. Residents with asthma, heart conditions or existing breathing problems were urged to follow their treatment plans and avoid unnecessary exposure to the smoke.
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Smoke from prescribed burns can irritate the eyes, throat and lungs, even when the fire is not close to homes. Fine particles in smoke are of particular concern for children, older people and anyone with respiratory or cardiovascular illness. The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care advises people to reduce outdoor activity and stay indoors where possible during heavy smoke events.
Prescribed burning is commonly used in Western Australia to reduce fuel loads before dangerous summer bushfire conditions return. These burns are designed to lower the amount of dry vegetation that can feed fast-moving fires, but smoke drift remains a regular challenge when operations take place near populated areas.
Wednesday’s smoke event showed how quickly a controlled burn outside the main urban area can affect daily life across Perth. The haze arrived during the afternoon commute, making the impact more noticeable on freeways and in the CBD as workers headed home.
Officials expect the smoke to clear by Thursday morning, depending on overnight weather and wind movement. Until conditions improve, residents are being encouraged to monitor local alerts and limit exposure if the smoke becomes uncomfortable.
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Related topics: Perth smoke haze today, Mundaring burn-off, Perth air quality, WA prescribed burns, Perth weather alerts.
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