A father has been flown by an emergency helicopter to a hospital in Perth after he battled against a dangerous blaze in Western Australia’s southeast.
The man’s fight to protect his home has left him in a serious condition.
Homes have burned to the ground as ferocious bushfires continue to tear through parts of WA, with two categorised as emergency level.
An estimated 60,000 hectares of land have been burned through, leaving catastrophic conditions for hundreds of firefighters.
Farmers and firefighters alike are up against the largest bushfire in the Wheatbelt area, burning in the shires of Quairading, Bruce Rock, Corrigin, Kondinin, and Kulin.
WA 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 situationxjmtzyw, 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.”
Bridgetown Hospital was evacuated on Saturday night, while more than 200 people showed up at the evacuation centre.
Multiple schools and have been closed in the Wheatbelt area for Monday.
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 firefront and make sure you can easily escape.”
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.
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.
Specialised firefighters have arrived from NSW in an effort to control the blaze.
DFES Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Wade said crews from Kimberley, Pilbara, and specialist incident management teams would provide the sweltering state with resources.
The Denmark fire, on the state’s south coast, 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.
