Firefighters try to put down a blaze at Wooroloo, near Perth.—AP
Firefighters try to put down a blaze at Wooroloo, near Perth.—AP

PERTH: An out-of-control wildfire burning northeast of the Australian west coast city of Perth destroyed at least 59 homes and was threatening more on Tuesday, with many residents across the region told it is too late to leave.

The 7,000-hectare (17,000-acre) blaze, which has an 80-kilometre (50-mile) perimeter, began on Monday and raged through the night near the town of Wooroloo, with the shires of Mundaring, Chittering, Northam, and the city of Swan affected.

Firefighters have done a remarkable job in some of the most challenging conditions that we’ve experienced in the metropolitan region for some time, Western Australia state Department of Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm said.

Tragically, 59 properties have been lost in this fire and that number may increase as we continue to assess the extent of the damage,” Klemm added.

Six firefighters sustained minor injuries, Australian Broadcasting Corp reported. No other injuries were reported.

The fire doubled in size overnight and burned through 7,366 hectares (18,202 acres) of farm and woodland, officials said.

State Premier Mark McGowan said 80pc of all properties at Tilden Park near Gidgegannup on Perth’s northeast rural fringe have been lost.

McGowan said a large aerial tanker was flying from the Australian east coast to help fight the blaze.

This is an extremely dangerous fire and a serious situation. Weather conditions are extremely volatile, McGowan said.

Please do everything you can to keep you and your family safe and look after each other, he added.

People in a 25-kilometre (16-mile) stretch west from Wooroloo to the Walyunga National Park northeast of Perth were told it had become too dangerous to leave their homes.

You must shelter before the fire arrives, as the extreme heat will kill you well before the flames reach you, a warning said.

Roads out of semi-rural suburb The Vines on Perths northern outskirts were bumper-to-bumper with traffic, making some people choose to stay.

Melissa Stahl, 49, heeded a text telling her to evacuate.

I could smell the fire and went out the back and the whole yard was filled with smoke, she said. We grabbed bedding, photos, the two kids and the dog and got out of there.

A warning to other threatened areas told people to leave if they are not prepared to fight the blaze. The bushfire is unpredictable and weather conditions are rapidly changing, the warning said, urging people to stay vigilant.

The cause of the blaze was unknown.

Department of Fire and Emergency Services Superintendent Peter Sutton said about 250 firefighters had been battling the erratic fire.

It has made it very hard, near on impossible ... to suppress this fire, Sutton said.

Wildfires are common during the current South Hemisphere summer. However the season has been mild on Australia’s southeast coast, which was devastated by massive fires last summer.

Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2021

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.