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| Australia Waroona fire threatens more towns after devastating Yarloop | Australia Waroona fire threatens more towns after devastating Yarloop |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A massive bushfire that devastated a small town is still burning out of control in Western Australia. | A massive bushfire that devastated a small town is still burning out of control in Western Australia. |
| About 95 houses in Yarloop, south of Perth, have been destroyed and three people are reported to be missing. | |
| Wind gusts of up to 60km/h (37mph) overnight fanned the blaze, dubbed the Waroona fire, to heights of 50m. | Wind gusts of up to 60km/h (37mph) overnight fanned the blaze, dubbed the Waroona fire, to heights of 50m. |
| The fire area is now 58,000 hectares and emergency warnings remain in place for Waroona, Harvey and surrounding areas including Preston Beach. | The fire area is now 58,000 hectares and emergency warnings remain in place for Waroona, Harvey and surrounding areas including Preston Beach. |
| A local politician told the BBC the fire "could well be the end" of Yarloop. | A local politician told the BBC the fire "could well be the end" of Yarloop. |
| Live updates: latest news on the bushfire | Live updates: latest news on the bushfire |
| Western Australia Fire Commissioner Wayne Gregson told a news conference that the fire in Yarloop was too intense to be tackled head-on. | Western Australia Fire Commissioner Wayne Gregson told a news conference that the fire in Yarloop was too intense to be tackled head-on. |
| He said four firefighters were injured battling the blaze and one fire truck was destroyed. | He said four firefighters were injured battling the blaze and one fire truck was destroyed. |
| 'Could be the end' | 'Could be the end' |
| A large thunderstorm hit the town of Pinjarra to the north of the fire zone at about 10:00 local time (02:00 GMT). | A large thunderstorm hit the town of Pinjarra to the north of the fire zone at about 10:00 local time (02:00 GMT). |
| Reports said lightning struck an evacuation centre in the town, injuring a man in his 50s and cutting power. | Reports said lightning struck an evacuation centre in the town, injuring a man in his 50s and cutting power. |
| The storm was understood to be heading towards the fire zone - a downpour of rain could ease conditions, but lightning strikes could also spark further fires. | The storm was understood to be heading towards the fire zone - a downpour of rain could ease conditions, but lightning strikes could also spark further fires. |
| Local politician Murray Cowper told the BBC that the loss of property was "significant". | Local politician Murray Cowper told the BBC that the loss of property was "significant". |
| He said firefighters told him the town's pub, bowling club and historic timber workshops had been destroyed. | He said firefighters told him the town's pub, bowling club and historic timber workshops had been destroyed. |
| "You've got seasoned firefighters who've been around for many years saying they've never seen anything like it," Mr Cowper said. | "You've got seasoned firefighters who've been around for many years saying they've never seen anything like it," Mr Cowper said. |
| "A big fireball came through and there was no way they were going to stop it. | "A big fireball came through and there was no way they were going to stop it. |
| "This could well be the end of the town." | "This could well be the end of the town." |
| Yarloop resident Alex Govanovich told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation the fire was "crazy - one fireball after another" with "devastating" winds. | Yarloop resident Alex Govanovich told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation the fire was "crazy - one fireball after another" with "devastating" winds. |
| A Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) spokesman said conditions were "very tricky", with wind gusts of up to 60km/h expected again on Friday. | A Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) spokesman said conditions were "very tricky", with wind gusts of up to 60km/h expected again on Friday. |
| Thunderstorms and sea breezes could add further unpredictability to the situation if they rapidly pushed the fire in new directions. | Thunderstorms and sea breezes could add further unpredictability to the situation if they rapidly pushed the fire in new directions. |
| Thunderstorm systems could also be generated within the fire itself, the spokesman said. | Thunderstorm systems could also be generated within the fire itself, the spokesman said. |
| What to do in a bushfire emergency | What to do in a bushfire emergency |
| For comprehensive advice see Western Australia's Department of Fire and Emergency Services' list of bushfire tips. | For comprehensive advice see Western Australia's Department of Fire and Emergency Services' list of bushfire tips. |