Australian bushfires leave 4 dead in �day from hell�

AFP, PERTH: At least four people died in bushfires raging in parts of Western Australia, authorities said Wednesday, with a shocked local community lamenting the “day from hell”.
Several fast-moving blazes, sparked by lightning, were burning around Esperance some 750 kilometres (450 miles) southeast of Perth, with hundreds of firemen working round the clock in searing temperatures to put out the first serious fires ahead of the Australian summer. “Sadly, police have confirmed four fatalities,” state Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Wayne Gregson said, adding that two women and two men, in two separate cars, died trying to escape the flames. It is not known if the vehicles crashed or caught fire. “I can also record that at this stage there are three houses or buildings unconfirmed as being lost in those fires around Esperance,” said Gregson.
One of the men who died was reportedly a local farmer who had been driving to neighbouring properties to warn people before making his own escape. The other victims were said to be foreign backpackers but police would not confirm this.
Authorities advised local residents of an immediate threat to lives and homes. “The bushfire is moving in a north-easterly direction. Flames are up to two metres high,” the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) said in an advisory. “Homes in Salmon Gums and Grass Patch are under threat by fire now.”
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.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the government was ready to offer assistance. “Summer can be a very challenging and dangerous time in Australia as we know and this is a tragic event,” he said. “We are obviously ready to provide assistance whenever required.”
Bushfires are common in Australia’s hotter months. “Black Saturday”, the worst firestorm in recent years, devastated southern Victoria in 2009, razing thousands of homes and killing 173 people.

Australian bushfires leave 4 dead in �day from hell�

AFP, PERTH: At least four people died in bushfires raging in parts of Western Australia, authorities said Wednesday, with a shocked local community lamenting the day from hell. Several fast-moving blazes, sparked by lightning, were burning around Esperance some 750 kilometres (450 miles) southeast of Perth, with hundreds of firemen working round the clock in searing temperatures to put out the first serious fires ahead of the Australian summer. Sadly, police have confirmed four fatalities, state Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Wayne Gregson said, adding that two women and two men, in two separate cars, died trying to escape the flames. It is not known if the vehicles crashed or caught fire. I can also record that at this stage there are three houses or buildings unconfirmed as being lost in those fires around Esperance, said Gregson. One of the men who died was reportedly a local farmer who had been driving to neighbouring properties to warn people before making his own escape. The other victims were said to be foreign backpackers but police would not confirm this. Authorities advised local residents of an immediate threat to lives and homes. The bushfire is moving in a north-easterly direction. Flames are up to two metres high, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) said in an advisory. Homes in Salmon Gums and Grass Patch are under threat by fire now. 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. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the government was ready to offer assistance. Summer can be a very challenging and dangerous time in Australia as we know and this is a tragic event, he said. We are obviously ready to provide assistance whenever required. Bushfires are common in Australias hotter months. Black Saturday, the worst firestorm in recent years, devastated southern Victoria in 2009, razing thousands of homes and killing 173 people.