- The fire burned more than 26 square miles.
- Firefighters said the winds were making it difficult to contain.
- The area is under strict block due to COVID-19.
A wildfire fueled by strong winds and hot conditions in southwest Australia has burned dozens of homes and generated dire warnings for residents on the potential path of the flames.
“You are in danger and you need to act immediately to survive,” said an alert sent by emergency officials at around 12:45 pm local time on Wednesday. “There is a threat to lives and homes.”
The alert alerted residents in some areas that “it is too late to get out and get out now would be deadly”.
The fire is burning near the town of Wooroloo, about 30 miles outside Perth. Initial reports said at least 59 homes were destroyed, according to the Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services. Subsequent evaluations showed 71 houses burned.
At least 200 firefighters were battling the fire, which devastated more than 26 square miles.
“The erratic behavior of the fire fueled by strong winds continues to challenge teams on the front lines who are protecting what they can and putting containment lines in place,” the agency said in a social media post that showed images of the intense flames.
Residents were advised to take shelter there and to have an escape plan.
“You must take shelter before the fire comes, as the extreme heat will kill you well before the flames reach you … If your house catches fire and the indoor conditions become unbearable, you need to get out and go to an area that has already been burned, “said the emergency alert.
The region is under strict blockade due to COVID-19, causing some confusion about whether people were allowed to leave their homes. The authorities made it clear that escaping a life-threatening forest fire must take precedence over COVID-19 restrictions.
“If you have any questions, get out,” said Western Australia’s state emergency coordinator and police commissioner Chris Dawson, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. “If you’re in that fire zone, don’t hesitate, we don’t want people to be so cautious as to threaten them or their loved ones.”
The emergency alert told residents: “Whether you are locked up or have been personally quarantined for COVID-19, you must do whatever is necessary to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.”
Elaine Palfrey, a resident of Wooroloo, told ABC that she, her husband and four children ran away from home when the flames approached.
“We were sitting inside the house because of the blockade and we smelled smoke outside, so we went out to see where the smoke was coming from and it was across the street,” said Palfrey. “We saw a big flame coming out of a tree and black smoke, and with the wind coming towards us, there just wouldn’t be much time … so we decided to pack some things and run, really.”
They went to the home of a family member, where they saw footage on the television news of their home on fire.
“That was very devastating,” she said.
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