Home destroyed by bushfire south of Perth

Home destroyed by bushfire south of Perth

05 April 2011

published by www.abc.net.au


Australia — Authorities say the blaze, which broke out in bushland behind Paddington Court in the suburb of Coolbellup on Tuesday afternoon, is suspicious.

The Fire and Emergency Services Authority says it was fast moving and more than a dozen fire crews and two helitacs were called in to fight it.

A nearby school had to be evacuated as the blaze advanced.

A teacher at the Perth Waldorf school, Cameron Egglington, told the ABC the fire came frighteningly close.

“When the fire went up we could smell it and we’ve locked down our school and got all our kids out,” he said.

Two elderly people have been treated for shock.

The Fire and Emergency Services Authority’s Murray Bawden says the fire is now contained and controlled in bushland but one home could not be saved.

“We have five Homeswest style units that were impacted by fire, one of those is totally involved and everything was lost,” he said.

“There are four others with various damage from patios burnt to eaves burnt.”

Police say the homes damaged by the bushfire had their evaporative air conditioners turned on.

They have urged residents to turn off their air conditioning units and close their windows.

Western Power is disconnecting power to houses while local government authorities assign emergency accommodation to those whose homes have been affected.

It is not yet known how the fire started but the Arson Squad has commenced an investigation.

The damage bill is estimated at $1 million.

A bushfire alert remains current for the area.


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