National park ravaged by bushfire

National park ravaged by bushfire

13 February 2007

published by www.abc.net.au

Australia — The Porongurup National Park, a populartourist destination in Western Australia’s Great Southern region, has beenalmost entirely burned out by a major bushfire.

The fire, which began on Sunday afternoon, is still notcontained and residents in the area have been told to prepare to defend theirhomes or leave.

The Department of Conservation and Environment says sofar only one partially built house has been destroyed, but properties remainunder threat.

The department’s Rick Sneeuwjagt says firefighters arepreparing for a wind change overnight.

“We do expect the winds to become south-east andthat will mean that there will be another front that becomes the headfire,” he said.

“So we’re concentrating on the north-western flanksbefore the winds turn from the south-east. It’s a matter of setting yourpriorities to make sure that the fire doesn’t grow when the wind changes.”