Western Australia hit by wildfires
Source: Agencies |
February 7, 2011, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
WILDFIRES tore across the outskirts of an Australian city yesterday, destroying at least 35 homes, authorities said. One firefighter was reported to have been injured.
Two fires fanned by hot summer winds were burning in forested areas to the north and southeast of Perth in Western Australia state, the Fire and Emergency Services Authority said.
At Roleystone and the nearby community of Kelmscott, residents were told to evacuate from the path of a fire that erupted after noon and had claimed 35 homes and was threatening more, the authority said.
"There is a threat to lives and homes. You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive," it said in a warning statement. It said people should leave immediately if they believe the path is clear, otherwise they should dig in and be prepared to take shelter in their homes.
Television news showed a fire front raging and -several houses burned to the ground in the area, a hilly -region where houses are nestled among trees on large expanses of land.
Authority spokesman Rick Tyers said the strong winds and plumes of smoke were making firefighting difficult.
Further north, in the Swan Valley district, some 150 firefighters using six -water-bombing helicopters and trucks were battling -another wildfire.
About 100 people were told to evacuate their homes as authorities tried to contain the blaze, which started on Saturday night and had scorched about 800 hectares of forest land by late yesterday.
The fires come almost a year to the day since wildfires ripped across Victoria state, killing 173 people and razing 2,000 homes in the country's worst ever fire disaster.
Two fires fanned by hot summer winds were burning in forested areas to the north and southeast of Perth in Western Australia state, the Fire and Emergency Services Authority said.
At Roleystone and the nearby community of Kelmscott, residents were told to evacuate from the path of a fire that erupted after noon and had claimed 35 homes and was threatening more, the authority said.
"There is a threat to lives and homes. You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive," it said in a warning statement. It said people should leave immediately if they believe the path is clear, otherwise they should dig in and be prepared to take shelter in their homes.
Television news showed a fire front raging and -several houses burned to the ground in the area, a hilly -region where houses are nestled among trees on large expanses of land.
Authority spokesman Rick Tyers said the strong winds and plumes of smoke were making firefighting difficult.
Further north, in the Swan Valley district, some 150 firefighters using six -water-bombing helicopters and trucks were battling -another wildfire.
About 100 people were told to evacuate their homes as authorities tried to contain the blaze, which started on Saturday night and had scorched about 800 hectares of forest land by late yesterday.
The fires come almost a year to the day since wildfires ripped across Victoria state, killing 173 people and razing 2,000 homes in the country's worst ever fire disaster.
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