INTERNATIONAL: Bushfires are continuing to rage across parts Augusta-Margaret River Shire in Western Australia, 270 kilometres south of Perth as firefighters also battle an out-of -control blaze in nearby Yallingup , a popular tourist destination because of its beaches and limestone caves. An emergency warning is in place for the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, with campers and residents evacuated as the blaze burns.
"More than 3200 hectares has been burned so far," WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) Commissioner Darren Klemm has said. DFES said the fire is moving fast in multiple directions and is currently uncontrolled and uncontained.
The blaze was unpredictable and uncontained, imploring people to take the emergency-level threat seriously.“The situation in this area is extremely serious,” he has said at a press conference on Thursday afternoon. “The fire is moving fast in multiple directions.”
It is one of two bushfire emergencies more than 100 firefighters and volunteers are battling in the State’s south. The other, near Caves Road in Yallingup in the City of Busselton, is posing a direct threat to homes. Strong winds, challenging terrain due to the many caves in the area, and difficulties around access to machinery was making it “incredibly difficult” for crews to gain the upper hand on the fast-moving blaze.
