WA bushfire now contained
WAbushfire now contained
13 February 2007
published by www.thewest.com.au
Australia — Alarge bushfire which destroyed two homes in southern Western Australia has nowbeen contained, although a lot of mopping up remains to be done, fireauthorities say.
The blaze in the Porongorup National Park, 40km north of Albany, jumpedcontainment lines and burned down the two houses on farmland north of the park.
Telephone lines in the Porongorup area have been cut and the power is stilldown.
The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) said the fire had burntout most of the park, with 4,800 hectares of bush and farmland now razed.
But DEC spokesman Nigel Higgs said 200 firefighters, police and supportagencies, helped by six water bombers, now had it contained.
“The immediate threat to the Porongorup townsite and nearby houses andfarmland has now eased, Mr Higgs said.
“But residents in that area are advised to be vigilant for embers thatmay have dropped in unburnt sections of land.”
Twelve more fire trucks and earth moving equipment are being brought fromBunbury to bolster the firefighting effort.
An extra 14 local fire brigade units also are being brought in.
The fire began on private property on Sunday and was pushed into the nationalpark by northerly winds.
