Western Australia Towns Evacuated As Fast Moving Fire Destroys Properties, Injures Crew Members

Perth, Australia— Fire crews were still trying to hold a line at dusk as a wind-driven bushfire ripped through semi-rural suburbs east of the city, taking houses with it and sending two firefighters to hospital.

The fire started in scrubland in the early afternoon. By 2:30 p.m., it had jumped containment lines. Hot, dry gusts pushed it straight into streets where properties back onto bush. Residents had minutes to leave.

Department of Fire and Emergency Services said at least a dozen residential properties were confirmed destroyed. That number is expected to rise once assessment teams can get in. Power was cut to more than 800 homes. Roads in and out were closed.

Two career firefighters were injured while working on the northern flank. One suffered burns to his arms and face. The other was hit by falling debris. Both were taken to Royal Perth Hospital. Officials said their injuries are not life-threatening.

"We had crews under ember attack for hours," a DFES district officer said at a roadblock briefing. "The wind turned. It ran hard. We pulled people out when roofs started going."

Families described grabbing documents and dogs and driving through smoke. One man said he watched his shed catch from the back fence before he left. The shire opened an evacuation centre at a local recreation complex. More than 120 people registered there by evening.

Water bombers made repeated runs but low visibility and strong crosswinds limited their effect. Ground crews worked with bulldozers to cut breaks around the most exposed streets. The fire front was estimated at over 8 kilometers long at its peak.

Investigators are looking at an ignition point near a track often used by off-road vehicles. No cause has been confirmed. The Bureau of Meteorology had issued a severe fire warning for the region due to 38-degree heat and northwesterly winds gusting to 70 km/h.

The fire was not contained late Friday. Crews will stay on the line overnight. Residents in neighboring estates were told to stay ready to leave.