Lives are under threat and homes have burned to the ground as huge bushfires continue to tear through parts of Western Australia.
A man is in a serious condition and homes have burned to the ground as mammoth bushfires continue to tear through parts of Western Australia.
Two blazes in Denmark and Bridgetown, on the state’s south coast, have burned through almost 4700 hectares of land.
There are more than 200 firefighters battling the inferno.
Western Australia’s emergency services Minister, Stephen Dawson, said on Sunday the scale of the damage would not be known until assessors moved through.
“We still have an active fire situation so we ask people to please be patient. It’s incredibly difficult time for everyone involved,” he said.
“For all the affected community, please know everyone in Western Australia is thinking about you.”
An emergency level fire near Bruce Rock in the eastern Wheatbelt has also been expanded with the town of Corrigan under threat.
“It’s too late to leave, leaving now would be deadly,” authorities warned.
“You need to shelter in your home in a room away from the fire front and make sure you can easily escape.”
Police are investigating the cause of the Bridgetown bushfire that started around lunchtime Saturday with detectives from the specialist arson squad Strike Force Vulcan sent to the region.
A local resident is in hospital in a serious condition after he was burned on Saturday afternoon attempting to protect his property.
Department of Fire and Emergency Services commissioner Darren Klemm said the bushfires were classed as an emergency and had not been contained.
“I can say that 80 per cent of the fire is tracked, however the northeast corner still presents problems as we’re dealing with changing weather and a westerly influence in the wind,” he said.
Bridgetown Hospital was evacuated on Saturday night while more than 200 people showed up at the evacuation centre.
At least five structures including a home have been lost or damaged in the blaze. The golf course at Bridgetown, the Shire Depot and waste facility are among the losses.
The Bridgetown fire has burned through approximately 2359 hectares, while the Denmark fire has burned around 2160 hectares.
The Denmark fire was reported on Friday morning, prompting emergency fire warnings for people to act immediately. Four houses are lost in the Denmark fire and further damage is expected.
Authorities are urging residents to leave and stay up to date with emergency fire warnings.
Originally published as Triple bushfires rip through Western Australia
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