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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2015/nov/18/esperance-bushfires-four-dead-near-wa-town-rolling-report
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| Esperance bushfires: four dead near WA town – rolling report | Esperance bushfires: four dead near WA town – rolling report |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 12.37am GMT00:37 | |
| Previous reports that Scaddan Primary School, 50 kilometres from Esperance, has been destroyed in the fire might not be accurate. | |
| Primary schools at Scaddan, Grass Patch and Salmon Gums are reportedly closed, but Department of Education spokesman Ken Paris says it’s believed the schools are intact. | |
| “We believe that the infrastructure at this stage is all OK but we’ll await further advice particularly with regards to Grass Patch and Salmon Gums as the day unfolds,” he told the ABC. | |
| 12.31am GMT00:31 | |
| The Bureau of Meteorology says the fires are a result of “really hot and really dry” weather, unusually early in the season. | |
| Fewer significant wind shifts were anticipated today, and temperatures have fallen, with a high of 25 degrees Celsius forecast in Esperance. | |
| 12.27am GMT00:27 | |
| Fire commissioner addresses media | |
| Fire Commissioner Wayne Gregson is speaking to media now. | |
| Fire commissioner Wayne Gregson said firefighters responded to 111 fire incidents yesterday. pic.twitter.com/PyWCTUBwCT | |
| More than 300 people been evacuated as a result of the fires, and three houses had been destroyed. | |
| He said that there had been four deaths – a man in one car, and two woman and a man in another. | |
| Gregson hasn't heard of any other deaths besides the four reported. #EsperanceFires | |
| “We’re working as hard as possible to get these fires under control and return the community to normal. A full investigation will follow, as it inevitably does. ... We will let you know more information as it becomes available.” | |
| He said local firefighters had been “working tirelessly” to contain the fires across the state, and urged the community to pay attention to official warnings, with more bad weather forecast for Saturday, Sunday and Monday. | |
| “Please, people be aware of your surroundings and heed official warnings. Do not leave it to late to put your plan into effect. If you are asked to evacuate, please do so. ... It is not possible to stay and defend against these types of fires.” | |
| 12.13am GMT00:13 | |
| Fire Commissioner Wayne Gregson is about to address media on the state of the Esperance fires. Emergency warnings remain in place for Salmon Gums, Grass Patch, Mullet Lakes and Stockyard Creek. | |
| 12.06am GMT00:06 | |
| Documentary filmmakers Dave and Jennene Riggs posted these photos to Twitter late on Tuesday night, showing fire damage to land near Esperance. | |
| Filming fire damage to critically endangered Western Ground Parrot habitat near #Esperance #esperancefires pic.twitter.com/GJhAsB5A0L | |
| The area is home to the critically endangered western ground parrot – one of the rarest parrots in the world, and unique to Western Australia. There are thought to be 140 birds or fewer alive in the wild, and fire has been a significant contributing factor to their decline. | |
| 11.58pm GMT23:58 | 11.58pm GMT23:58 |
| The Department of Fire and Emergency Services will hold a media conference at 8.15am local time with the latest information on the fires. Calla Wahlquist is on her way there now. | The Department of Fire and Emergency Services will hold a media conference at 8.15am local time with the latest information on the fires. Calla Wahlquist is on her way there now. |
| Meanwhile, ABC News 24 is reporting that Scaddan Primary School, approximately 50 kilometres from Esperance, has been destroyed in the fire. The school was built in 1970 and opened in 1973; it has 31 students enrolled this year, aged between seven to 12. | Meanwhile, ABC News 24 is reporting that Scaddan Primary School, approximately 50 kilometres from Esperance, has been destroyed in the fire. The school was built in 1970 and opened in 1973; it has 31 students enrolled this year, aged between seven to 12. |
| 11.27pm GMT23:27 | 11.27pm GMT23:27 |
| Kate Sainty, 19, has sent us these startling images of the fire burning at Stockyard Creek and Mullet Lakes near Merivale, on the coast about 25km east of Esperance. | Kate Sainty, 19, has sent us these startling images of the fire burning at Stockyard Creek and Mullet Lakes near Merivale, on the coast about 25km east of Esperance. |
| Kate and her father, Michael Sainty, are both firefighters; her mother Carolyn is a crew organiser. These photographs were taken by Kate of the fire in Merivale on Monday. | Kate and her father, Michael Sainty, are both firefighters; her mother Carolyn is a crew organiser. These photographs were taken by Kate of the fire in Merivale on Monday. |
| It was sparked by lightning strike at about 4pm Sunday, and has since burned further east. So far 15,000ha has burned. | It was sparked by lightning strike at about 4pm Sunday, and has since burned further east. So far 15,000ha has burned. |
| Updated at 11.46pm GMT | Updated at 11.46pm GMT |
| 11.16pm GMT23:16 | 11.16pm GMT23:16 |
| Two of the people confirmed dead in the Salmon Gums/Grass Patch fire are reported to be a farmer and one of his workers, according to a report by the ABC’s Graeme Powell. Powell has also reported that as many as six people could have been killed in the fire but so far police have only found four bodies and confirmed four deaths. | Two of the people confirmed dead in the Salmon Gums/Grass Patch fire are reported to be a farmer and one of his workers, according to a report by the ABC’s Graeme Powell. Powell has also reported that as many as six people could have been killed in the fire but so far police have only found four bodies and confirmed four deaths. |
| Powell also spoke to DFES regional fire officer Trevor Tasker, who said it was the worst fire he had ever seen. | Powell also spoke to DFES regional fire officer Trevor Tasker, who said it was the worst fire he had ever seen. |
| “The wind and weather conditions were just – they all lined up, and it was just something that once it started there was no stopping it,” Tasker told ABC radio. | “The wind and weather conditions were just – they all lined up, and it was just something that once it started there was no stopping it,” Tasker told ABC radio. |
| The farmer and farm hand are reportedly believed to have crashed a car near Salmon Gums. | The farmer and farm hand are reportedly believed to have crashed a car near Salmon Gums. |
| “We believe that may be the case but until we get there this morning and have a good look we can’t really be sure,” Tasker said. | “We believe that may be the case but until we get there this morning and have a good look we can’t really be sure,” Tasker said. |
| Details of the deaths have not been confirmed to Guardian Australia by police. | Details of the deaths have not been confirmed to Guardian Australia by police. |
| 11.04pm GMT23:04 | 11.04pm GMT23:04 |
| ABC journalist Graeme Powell has tweeted that the fires at Esperance may have claimed the lives of up to six people; police have confirmed only four fatalities so far. | ABC journalist Graeme Powell has tweeted that the fires at Esperance may have claimed the lives of up to six people; police have confirmed only four fatalities so far. |
| WA Police media says it has no confirmation yet that more than 4 people have died. But @GraemePowell3 is reliable. https://t.co/zclkhU5vvA | WA Police media says it has no confirmation yet that more than 4 people have died. But @GraemePowell3 is reliable. https://t.co/zclkhU5vvA |
| 10.41pm GMT22:41 | 10.41pm GMT22:41 |
| My colleague Nick Evershed, Guardian Australia’s data editor, has put together a map showing the general location of the two bushfire emergency warning areas. This map is for general reference only; please check the alerts at the DFES website for current information. | My colleague Nick Evershed, Guardian Australia’s data editor, has put together a map showing the general location of the two bushfire emergency warning areas. This map is for general reference only; please check the alerts at the DFES website for current information. |
| Updated at 10.42pm GMT | Updated at 10.42pm GMT |
| 10.36pm GMT22:36 | 10.36pm GMT22:36 |
| Calla Wahlquist | Calla Wahlquist |
| Esperance shire president, Victoria Brown, spoke to ABC radio in Perth just before 6.30am local time. She’s been up since 4am at the control centre in Esperance and told breakfast host Gilllian O’Shaughnessy it was “the day from hell yesterday. Tragic.” | Esperance shire president, Victoria Brown, spoke to ABC radio in Perth just before 6.30am local time. She’s been up since 4am at the control centre in Esperance and told breakfast host Gilllian O’Shaughnessy it was “the day from hell yesterday. Tragic.” |
| Brown said the district’s volunteer firefighters had been working since Sunday to put out the majority of the fires started by lightning strike on Sunday, but lost control of two under catastrophic fire conditions on Tuesday. | Brown said the district’s volunteer firefighters had been working since Sunday to put out the majority of the fires started by lightning strike on Sunday, but lost control of two under catastrophic fire conditions on Tuesday. |
| “Everything started to happen so fast, and of course reports were coming in of what was happening on the ground and everyone wanted to know what was going on,” she said. | “Everything started to happen so fast, and of course reports were coming in of what was happening on the ground and everyone wanted to know what was going on,” she said. |
| “It’s going to have a massive impact on our community, unfortunately we are no stranger to this kind of disaster… but we have never had it on this scale.” | “It’s going to have a massive impact on our community, unfortunately we are no stranger to this kind of disaster… but we have never had it on this scale.” |
| An evacuation point has been set up at the Esperance Civic Centre. They will be hosting a community breakfast at 8am. | An evacuation point has been set up at the Esperance Civic Centre. They will be hosting a community breakfast at 8am. |
| 10.27pm GMT22:27 | 10.27pm GMT22:27 |
| Calla Wahlquist | Calla Wahlquist |
| There are two serious fires burning in the Esperance area, and two less serious fires that are nevertheless taking up firefighting resources. | There are two serious fires burning in the Esperance area, and two less serious fires that are nevertheless taking up firefighting resources. |
| The most serious fire is between Salmon Gums and Grass Patch. Salmon Gums is a small farming town 106km north of Esperance, on the Coolgardie-Esperance Highway. The fire started by a lightning strike near Cascade, 50km, at 7am Sunday and is burning on both sides of the highway between Salmon Gums and Grass Patch. So far it’s burnt through 300,000ha. | The most serious fire is between Salmon Gums and Grass Patch. Salmon Gums is a small farming town 106km north of Esperance, on the Coolgardie-Esperance Highway. The fire started by a lightning strike near Cascade, 50km, at 7am Sunday and is burning on both sides of the highway between Salmon Gums and Grass Patch. So far it’s burnt through 300,000ha. |
| An emergency warning remains in place and the fire is reported to be out of control an unpredictable, with flames up to 2m high. Police also just confirmed that four people had died in this fire – it’s not yet known how. | An emergency warning remains in place and the fire is reported to be out of control an unpredictable, with flames up to 2m high. Police also just confirmed that four people had died in this fire – it’s not yet known how. |
| The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) said this morning that it might try to evacuate people from Salmon Gums to Norseman, 97km north, via bus. | The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) said this morning that it might try to evacuate people from Salmon Gums to Norseman, 97km north, via bus. |
| The second serious fire is at Stockyard Creek and Mullet Lakes near Merrivale, near the coast about 25km east of Esperance. The fire is burning further east still. It started about 4pm Sunday, again by lightening strike. So far 15,000ha has burned. | The second serious fire is at Stockyard Creek and Mullet Lakes near Merrivale, near the coast about 25km east of Esperance. The fire is burning further east still. It started about 4pm Sunday, again by lightening strike. So far 15,000ha has burned. |
| An emergency warning is still in place for that fire but the latest information says it is contained and stationary, if not controlled. | An emergency warning is still in place for that fire but the latest information says it is contained and stationary, if not controlled. |
| Both fires were fanned by 97km gusting wind during a 42 degree day on Tuesday. A westerly wind change is expected to push both fires east today. | Both fires were fanned by 97km gusting wind during a 42 degree day on Tuesday. A westerly wind change is expected to push both fires east today. |
| Updated at 10.38pm GMT | Updated at 10.38pm GMT |
| 10.26pm GMT22:26 | 10.26pm GMT22:26 |
| Mic Fels, another Esperance farmer and app developer, tweeted on Tuesday afternoon that his wife and children moved to safety “with mad fire heading this way”. | Mic Fels, another Esperance farmer and app developer, tweeted on Tuesday afternoon that his wife and children moved to safety “with mad fire heading this way”. |
| Gusting norwester and 40 degrees fanning this one. Its a nasty one here pic.twitter.com/mwybFpbCxl | Gusting norwester and 40 degrees fanning this one. Its a nasty one here pic.twitter.com/mwybFpbCxl |
| At midnight he confirmed that his farm had been spared by a change in wind direction. | At midnight he confirmed that his farm had been spared by a change in wind direction. |
| We were spared by the late wind change but others not so lucky. Devastation and carnage across a massive front this afternoon. | We were spared by the late wind change but others not so lucky. Devastation and carnage across a massive front this afternoon. |
| Cool this morning, but woke to devastating news of lives lost last night. Esperance is in mourning. | Cool this morning, but woke to devastating news of lives lost last night. Esperance is in mourning. |
| 10.19pm GMT22:19 | 10.19pm GMT22:19 |
| Esperance farmer and former WA Nationals candidate Colin de Grussa tweeted on Tuesday afternoon that he had been ordered to evacuate his farm due to the bushfires. | Esperance farmer and former WA Nationals candidate Colin de Grussa tweeted on Tuesday afternoon that he had been ordered to evacuate his farm due to the bushfires. |
| Bye to the farm as we've been told to evacuate good luck to all #Esperance #bushfires pic.twitter.com/Yz9wcnjqpt | Bye to the farm as we've been told to evacuate good luck to all #Esperance #bushfires pic.twitter.com/Yz9wcnjqpt |
| This thing is a monster and nothing we can do to stop it. A sick feeling leaving this place #Esperance #bushfire pic.twitter.com/V0LW7B5bdM | This thing is a monster and nothing we can do to stop it. A sick feeling leaving this place #Esperance #bushfire pic.twitter.com/V0LW7B5bdM |
| At 6pm, he tweeted that it was “still 38deg here and incredible winds”: “Direction may change but that just makes it worse!” | At 6pm, he tweeted that it was “still 38deg here and incredible winds”: “Direction may change but that just makes it worse!” |
| A long night ahead chasing the #bushfire near #Esperance pic.twitter.com/PZtVK9boZq | A long night ahead chasing the #bushfire near #Esperance pic.twitter.com/PZtVK9boZq |
| It's just a sea of glowing embers out here will be a wasteland by the light of day. #bushfire #Esperance | It's just a sea of glowing embers out here will be a wasteland by the light of day. #bushfire #Esperance |
| This morning he apologised to those trying and failing to contact him: “if ever there was an incentive to fix our poor mobile coverage this is it”. | This morning he apologised to those trying and failing to contact him: “if ever there was an incentive to fix our poor mobile coverage this is it”. |
| 10.08pm GMT22:08 | 10.08pm GMT22:08 |
| Police confirm four fatalities | Police confirm four fatalities |
| Calla Wahlquist | Calla Wahlquist |
| WA Police have confirmed that four people died in the fire. Police spokeswoman Susan Usher issued this statement at 6am local time: | WA Police have confirmed that four people died in the fire. Police spokeswoman Susan Usher issued this statement at 6am local time: |
| “During last night, four people were located deceased in the fire area of Grass Patch, Salmon Gums and surrounding areas in the Shire of Esperance. | “During last night, four people were located deceased in the fire area of Grass Patch, Salmon Gums and surrounding areas in the Shire of Esperance. |
| “This morning five Disaster Victim Identification officers along with two Arson Squad detectives will fly to the area. | “This morning five Disaster Victim Identification officers along with two Arson Squad detectives will fly to the area. |
| “Officers from the Kalgoorlie District will also fly to the area later this morning to assist local officers. | “Officers from the Kalgoorlie District will also fly to the area later this morning to assist local officers. |
| “At this time, police cannot provide any further details in relation to the deceased and I don’t anticipate we will be able to provide you further details until inquiries are concluded.” | “At this time, police cannot provide any further details in relation to the deceased and I don’t anticipate we will be able to provide you further details until inquiries are concluded.” |
| 10.03pm GMT22:03 | 10.03pm GMT22:03 |
| According to the West Australian department of fire and emergency services, the Stockyard Creek bushfire has been contained, but not controlled, while the blaze near Grass Patch and Salmon Gums is moving slowly in a north-easterly direction. | According to the West Australian department of fire and emergency services, the Stockyard Creek bushfire has been contained, but not controlled, while the blaze near Grass Patch and Salmon Gums is moving slowly in a north-easterly direction. |
| It is burning both sides of the Coolgardie-Esperance Highway between Scaddan and Salmon Gums, and is described as “out of control and unpredictable”, with flames as high as two metres. | It is burning both sides of the Coolgardie-Esperance Highway between Scaddan and Salmon Gums, and is described as “out of control and unpredictable”, with flames as high as two metres. |
| In Perth, my colleague Calla Wahlquist is expecting to be updated by police shortly. | In Perth, my colleague Calla Wahlquist is expecting to be updated by police shortly. |
| Updated at 10.38pm GMT | Updated at 10.38pm GMT |
| 9.52pm GMT21:52 | 9.52pm GMT21:52 |
| There are fears up to four people have died in bushfires burning out of control near the Western Australian town of Esperance. | There are fears up to four people have died in bushfires burning out of control near the Western Australian town of Esperance. |
| Western Australian police said early this morning that they had received reports of multiple deaths in the fires. | Western Australian police said early this morning that they had received reports of multiple deaths in the fires. |
| The fires – started by lightning strikes – have been burning near the towns of Grass Patch and Salmon Gums, about 100 kilometres north of Esperance, and at Stockyards Creek, about 25 kilometres east. | The fires – started by lightning strikes – have been burning near the towns of Grass Patch and Salmon Gums, about 100 kilometres north of Esperance, and at Stockyards Creek, about 25 kilometres east. |
| An alert from the West Australian department of fire and emergency services – issued at 5.15am local time – was an “emergency warning” for residents of those areas: “You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive”. | An alert from the West Australian department of fire and emergency services – issued at 5.15am local time – was an “emergency warning” for residents of those areas: “You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive”. |
| We’ll update this live blog as we learn more. | We’ll update this live blog as we learn more. |