Very little is left of Yarloop, south of Perth. Emergency services struggle to tackle the huge blaze which is spreading to other towns nearby.
- Historic town devastated by bushfire
- Blaze spreading to other areas
- Flames fanned by 60km gusts of wind
- Scroll down to see aerial shots of damage
What is happening?
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It is feared a bushfire that has destroyed a small town in Western Australia may be spreading to other areas.
Almost 100 houses and municipal buildings have been burned to the ground in Yarloop, south of Perth.
At least four firefighters have been injured.
Three people reported missing have been found safe and well.
NEWS JUST IN – All three people reported missing from #Yarloop have now been accounted for #7News pic.twitter.com/0pP73u4tfo
— 7 News Perth (@7NewsPerth) January 8, 2016
Joy amid the #Yarloop despair with three missing residents found safe and sound https://t.co/Te6UIQoVLR #wanews pic.twitter.com/B55kl63Bl5
— WAtoday (@WAtoday) January 8, 2016
#WaroonaFire AUDIO:
dfes_wa</a> Commissioner Wayne Gregson with an update on bushfires <a href="https://t.co/vvs9JHUK7v">https://t.co/vvs9JHUK7v</a> <a href="https://t.co/sokA8qopKT">pic.twitter.com/sokA8qopKT</a></p>— 720 ABC Perth (720perth) January 8, 2016
Wayne Gregson is the Western Australia State Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner:
“The fire continues to be uncontained and out of control. Last night (Thursday), as you are aware, there was a significant impact on Yarloop. It appears that we have lost around 95 houses and a number of structures within the town site including some of the historical buildings, the workshops, some factories”
The fires now stretch across 58,000 hectares. Emergency warnings are in place for nearby towns.
The fire generates its own weather system
WA fire: Yarloop blaze creates own weather system, causing further grief for WA firefighters https://t.co/CoBcfHQ93h via
<a href="https://twitter.com/abcnews">abcnews— Stella Lee (@Purfylle) January 8, 2016
What about the residents?
Evacuees from #Yarloop arrive at Pinjarra centre after terrifying night on sport oval after home lost
abcnewsPerth</a> <a href="https://t.co/86u6n41FqW">pic.twitter.com/86u6n41FqW</a></p>— Laura Gartry (LGartry) January 8, 2016
Kath King's husband John was missing all night in Yarloop fire. He arrived at friend's house this morn
abcnewsPerth</a> <a href="https://t.co/yVNCPFIyd4">pic.twitter.com/yVNCPFIyd4</a></p>— RoxanneTaylor (Roxanne_Taylor) January 8, 2016
Two #Yarloop residents embrace after running into each other at Pinjarra evac centre, both lost homes
abcnewsPerth</a> <a href="https://t.co/xE4cWqBZV2">pic.twitter.com/xE4cWqBZV2</a></p>— Laura Gartry (LGartry) January 8, 2016
Many Yarloop residents like Ada Farmer have been told their homes may have been destroyed.
“I’ve heard this morning that just about everything is gone in Yarloop, even our home and my neighbour’s and most of our communities, it’s all gone.”
### In pictures – the Waroona fire
Yarloop devastated by bushfire with 95 homes lost, but missing people now found https://t.co/Wgu7CzVsqA #WaroonaFire pic.twitter.com/um8pica4Lu
— wacountryhour (@wacountryhour) January 8, 2016
Before and after. Yarloop Hall.
7NewsPerth</a> <a href="https://t.co/BVAXZI06Yg">pic.twitter.com/BVAXZI06Yg</a></p>— Blake Johnson (BlakeJohnson) January 8, 2016
Yarloop pub burns down as bushfires ravage the South West WA town. https://t.co/oZbcDGDS1o #waroona #wafires pic.twitter.com/QWsJVBtTGe
— ABC News Perth (@abcnewsPerth) January 8, 2016
Dozens of homes destroyed by #Yarloop #bushfire. Follow our #blog for #live coverage https://t.co/C9AuS0ly8Y pic.twitter.com/Rdmdhqj9mu
— ABC News (@abcnews) January 8, 2016
DPAW tells ABC only 30 houses left standing in Yarloop. #perthnews #wanews #WaroonaFire pic.twitter.com/yJiqR0m8Xc
— Graeme Powell (@GraemePowell3) January 7, 2016
View from mine looking South last night around 10.15pm. Hope all are safe down there… #Yarloop #WaroonaFire pic.twitter.com/TyDsFrW8qm
— Mark Griffin (@JacarandaPhoto) January 7, 2016