WA firefighters suffer burns in plantation blaze
WA firefighters suffer burns in plantation blaze
13 October 2012
published by www.watoday.com.au
Australia–– Update: Two firefighters who were flown to Perth with life-threatening injuries remain in intensive care, where they are in critical condition.
A 45-year-old woman who suffered burns to 60 per cent of her body is in critical condition and a 24-year-old woman suffering burns to 40 per cent of her body is in a critical but stable condition.
The two women were transferred by Royal Flying Doctor Service in two aircraft from Albany last night after suffering severe burns while responding to a fire at a pine plantation.
The pair were injured when winds changed direction and they were trapped by the fire.
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Firefighters continue to fight bushfire in which they were injured which has burned some 1000 hectares and continues to burn on private property adjacent to pine plantations near the Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve, east of Albany.
“It is contained but not controlled,” a FESA spokesman said.
Cloudy skies earlier today had prevented water-bombing weather conditions, the spokesman said, but conditions were more favourable now as it had begun to rain in the area.
Containment lines are currently being strengthened by 40 firefighters.
The Fire and Emergency Services Authority’s state duty director Bruce Jones said the injured firefighters were from the Department of Environment and Conservation.
“Preliminary reports state that the firefighters were caught when strong winds caused the fire to suddenly change direction on a slope,” Mr Jones said in a statement.
Three other firefighters were also injured and two fire trucks were burnt out, with a further three trucks partially damaged.
The incident will be investigated by fire investigators, police and other authorities.
Another bushfire northeast of Perth in Chittering Shire has been declared contained and brought under control after burning 200 hectares.