PERTH, Australia (AP) – An out-of-control wildfire burning north-east of the west coast of the Australian city of Perth has destroyed at least 56 homes and threatened more on Tuesday. Many residents in the region said it was too late to leave.
The 7,000-hectare (17,000-acre) fire, which covered an area of 80 kilometers, started on Monday and raged throughout the night near the town of Wooroloo, with the barns of Mundaring, Chittering, Northam and the town of Swan affected.
The losses are expected to increase as teams continue with their damage assessments, said Darren Klemm, commissioner of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services in Western Australia.
One firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation and another suffered a superficial burn to the ear, Deputy Commissioner Craig Waters said. No other injuries were reported.
The fire doubled overnight and burned through 7,366 acres of farm and forest, Waters said.
“Strong winds prevent us from going in and bringing the fire under control and bringing it under control,” he said.
State Prime Minister Mark McGowan said 80% of all properties in Tilden Park near Gidgegannup on the north-eastern edge of Perth were lost.
McGowan said a large tanker flew off the east coast of Australia to fight the blaze.
‘This is an extremely dangerous fire and a serious situation. “Weather conditions are extremely variable,” said McGowan.
“Please do everything you can to keep you and your family safe and to look after each other,” he added.
People within 25 kilometers (16 miles) west of Wooroloo to Walyunga National Park northeast of Perth were told on Tuesday that it had become too dangerous to leave their homes.
“You must hide before the fire breaks out, as the extreme heat will kill you well before the flames reach you,” the latest warning said.
Roads from the semi-rural suburb of The Vines in the northern suburbs of Perth were bumper-to-bumper with traffic, which some people prefer to stay.
Melissa Stahl, 49, responded to a text saying she had to evacuate.
“I could smell the fire and go out the back and the whole garden is full of smoke,” she said. “We grabbed bedding, photos, the two kids and the dog and got away from there.”
A warning to other endangered areas has prompted people to leave if they are not prepared to fight the fire. The forest fire is unpredictable and the weather conditions are changing rapidly, the warning said, urging people to remain vigilant.
The cause of the fire was unknown.
Superintendent Peter Sutton, department of fire and emergency services, said about 250 firefighters fought the erratic fire.
“It made it very difficult, almost impossible … to put out this fire,” Sutton said.
Wildfires are common during the current summer in the Southern Hemisphere. However, the season was mild on the southeast coast of Australia, which was devastated by major fires last summer.