Four killed as out-of-control bushfires burn in Australia

Two major fires are raging at Grass Patch and Salmon Gums, 80 kilometres and 100 kilometres north of Esperance respectively. Firefighters are expecting the wind to shift from south westerly to westerly at around 4am, which may push the fire east.

The Salmon Gums/Grass Patch fire and a second large out-of-control bushfire, near the Merivale about 25km east of Esperance, were both behind containment lines by midday on Wednesday but were not declared controlled.

“It is out of control and unpredictable, flames are up to two metres high”, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) said in an advisory.

Four people have died in the firestorm, hundreds evacuated and so far authorities have reported 117,000ha of land burnt and 15,000 head of livestock destroyed as fires continue to burn.

A bushfire emergency warning was also in place for people in the Stockyard Creek and Mullet Lakes areas around Esperance, with a fire contained but not controlled.

WA Police said in a statement that five disaster victim identification officers and two arson squad detectives would fly to the area.

He said the family had lost all of the farm’s machinery as well as houses.

At his home property at Wittenoom Hills, about 40 kilometres north-east of Esperance and, as he puts it “in the middle of nowhere”, he tried to monitor the fire’s situation using What’s App messaging to stay in contact with a group of farmers and fire brigade members.

Mr Buffone said crews would be working hard to control the fire on Wednesday ahead of hot, windy weather expected on Thursday. The area is predominantly agricultural, and is known for its wheat crops. “I think everyone’s glued to their tellies”.

“It’s in the tree farms (blue gums) and there’s not much you can do until it comes out into the open”, he said. “We were prepared to just get out of its way if we had to, because in a fire like that you can’t try to get in front of it”.

Ms Green said her family was devastated but it would be a “wait and see” process before they were able to assess the damage.