A heatwave that is expected to send temperatures towards the 40Cs today is behind several fires that are threatening lives throughout the Perth metro area and surrounding regions. Emergency warnings were issued overnight for the fire in the City of Wanneroo north of Perth – reports this morning say homes have been lost there. The biggest threat there is a fast-moving fire that broke out at a pine plantation in Mariginiup. And earlier yesterday, an emergency warning was issued for residents in Perth’s southern suburbs of Aubin Grove and Hammond Park – a fire there closed the Kwinana Freeway for 2 hours and required children to be evacuated from schools. Department of Fire and Emergency Services spokesperson Hannah Tagore said it’s been tough. “Right now, the firefighters are facing hot and windy conditions, which are creating really dangerous and unpredictable fire behaviour,” she said.