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More than 150 prisoners from Wooroloo Prison Farm, about 50km east of Perth, are being evacuated this afternoon as a bushfire sweeps though the area.
Assisting Justice Minister Kevin Minson said he had been advised that some prison buildings were already fully alight, with others expected to be destroyed in the fire.
Wooroloo is a minimum security prison, which has operated since 1972. It is part of the closely knit Wooroloo community and has within its grounds the local hospital and other sporting and recreation amenities which are shared with local residents.
Ministry of Justice staff and some trained prisoners were earlier involved in helping to fight the fire.
Prisoners are being transported via a range of vehicles in a convoy to the Canning Vale Prison complex, where they will be redistributed to other prisons for interim accommodation.
Extra prison officers and specialist members of the Special Operations Unit are assisting Wooroloo officers with the evacuation.
Mr Minson said there would be no prison visits at Wooroloo this week; all prisoners were safe and accounted for and would be free to contact relatives once they reached their new accommodation.
Media contact: Stacey Molloy 264 1099
