Hills fire contained after home destroyed
Hills fire contained after home destroyed
12 December 2006
published by www.thewest.com.au
Australia — Firefightershave contained a large fire in Perth’s hills which gutted one home and damagedtwo others this afternoon.
Houses in northern Kalamunda had been under threat from thelarge blaze, with fire authorities advising people in some areas to evacuatetheir homes.
One house in Persimmon Place was destroyed by fire and two were damaged.
A Fire and Emergency Services Authority spokesman said a number of peoplewere taken to hospital with smoke inhalation, including one firefighter.
Persimmon Place residents Alan and Jan Mackie said flames came within metresof their home and gutted a nearby house.
“I can hardly talk because of the smoke,” Mrs Mackie said.
“You could hear the TVs popping from the fire at the neighbours houseand the roof has collapsed.
“I was at home having lunch and I looked out and the sun lookedblack, we could see the fire brigade coming down the hill and saw the firecoming towards us.”
Mr Mackie, a volunteer bushfire with 20 years experience, said he feared forthe couple’s home when they looked out and saw flames in the trees.
“I’m a lot more confident than I was an hour and a half ago – when yousee the flames topping their way through the trees like that you are prettyworried because once it gets up in the trees there is not a lot you cando,” he said.
“But once the helitacs came along, they knocked it down and CALM wereable to suppress it. But the mulch in the garden is still smoking.”
Nineteen fire crews battled the blaze, supported by three helitacs andtwo fixed-wing water bombers.
The fire, which started about 12.30pm, was concentrated in an areabetween Persimmon Place and Brine and Snowball Roads. Residents were advised toevacuate the area.
Fire crews will continue to mop up the fire this evening.
