- A firefighter said “windy winds” are a factor in the fire.
- Steep terrain is also a problem.
- More than 70 homes burned.
Winds and steep terrain create dangerous conditions for crews fighting a wildfire east of Perth, Australia.
“The fire is still uncontrolled and uncontrolled,” said Craig Waters, deputy commissioner of the Western Australian Department of Fire and Emergency Services, in a newsletter on Wednesday. “It’s still a work in progress at the moment.”
The fire is burning near the community of Wooroloo, about 30 kilometers outside Perth near the west coast of Australia. Waters said at least 71 homes were destroyed and more than 37 square miles of land were scorched.
Waters said there were no reports of deaths or missing people, but some firefighters sustained minor burns.
He said conditions remain extremely dangerous for firefighters, with winds changing direction and posing major challenges.
“It’s very steep terrain – we have a lot of valleys, a lot of hills,” Waters said. “We are experiencing very windy winds.”
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The region around Perth may see some relief from dry conditions as the remnants of a tropical cyclone move in later this week, but it could also lead to more dangerous winds.
“Wind shifts can provide relief for some endangered areas, but can also endanger others, affecting firefighting efforts. in different ways, “the Australian Meteorological Bureau said in a forecast update.
Smoke alarms have been issued for some areas in Perth. Drivers have been informed that vision may be visible, and those with respiratory conditions exacerbated by the smoke are advised to contact their doctor.
Residents in some areas were warned that ‘it was too late to leave and were leaving now would be fatal’, and also advised people concerned about COVID-19 restrictions to keep a higher priority in order to keep fire safe.
Officials said they understand residents are eager to return and assess the damage, but they can not guarantee when that could happen.
“The forest fire remains in a very unstable condition,” said Deputy Incident Manager Greg Mair of Parks and Wildlife Service, Western Australia, in a newsletter. “Our focus remains on human life, and ensuring that people remain safe in this changing situation.”
The fire occurs during the fire season in Australia, where it is currently summer and the conditions are usually hot and dry. Fires in the 2019-20 season burned more than 65,000 square miles of land, destroyed approximately 3,000 homes and killed at least 33 people.
These fires, mostly in the eastern part of the country, have been recorded amid Australia’s hottest temperatures.
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