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| Western Australia bushfires: weather eases and ravaged town to be rebuilt | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The historic West Australian town of Yarloop will be rebuilt after a bushfire wiped out at least 121 homes, but the premier says it is likely to become an even smaller community. | |
| Colin Barnett met residents at the Pinjarra evacuation centre on Saturday and told reporters the state government would help rebuild public facilities at Yarloop, but he was unsure how many of the 545 people would return. | |
| “I’m sure there will be a Yarloop, but probably not a Yarloop of its previous size,” he said. | |
| Weather conditions have eased for firefighters battling the raging bushfires, but residents have been told to remain on high alert. | |
| An emergency warning remained for residents at Waroona, Harvey, Preston Beach, Lake Clifton, Myalup and surrounding areas. | An emergency warning remained for residents at Waroona, Harvey, Preston Beach, Lake Clifton, Myalup and surrounding areas. |
| The bushfires have been ravaging those areas since Wednesday, forcing hundreds of people to evacuation centres in Pinjarra and Australind. | The bushfires have been ravaging those areas since Wednesday, forcing hundreds of people to evacuation centres in Pinjarra and Australind. |
| In Yarloop two people were flown out, while 80 were evacuated by road and 16 refused to budge. | In Yarloop two people were flown out, while 80 were evacuated by road and 16 refused to budge. |
| One local says there’s “bugger all left” after fireballs ripped through the town of 545 residents on Thursday night, while another said the fire just couldn’t be stopped. | One local says there’s “bugger all left” after fireballs ripped through the town of 545 residents on Thursday night, while another said the fire just couldn’t be stopped. |
| “Once it hit the town there was no stopping it because the houses were just exploding,” Ron Sackville said from Yarloop, around 130km south of Perth. | “Once it hit the town there was no stopping it because the houses were just exploding,” Ron Sackville said from Yarloop, around 130km south of Perth. |
| “They were just going, one after the other. The town’s absolutely devastated.” | “They were just going, one after the other. The town’s absolutely devastated.” |
| As well as homes, the town has lost factories, a fire station, part of a local school and the heritage-listed Yarloop Timber Mill Workshops, which had been the most intact example of a historical railway workshop in Australia. | As well as homes, the town has lost factories, a fire station, part of a local school and the heritage-listed Yarloop Timber Mill Workshops, which had been the most intact example of a historical railway workshop in Australia. |
| Caretaker Phil Stanton said he did not know what to do now that the workshops and his home were gone. | Caretaker Phil Stanton said he did not know what to do now that the workshops and his home were gone. |
| “It’s bloody completely disappeared. It’s just a cloud of ash,” he said. | “It’s bloody completely disappeared. It’s just a cloud of ash,” he said. |
| Related: 'Like an atomic bomb': Western Australian bushfires threaten lives and homes | Related: 'Like an atomic bomb': Western Australian bushfires threaten lives and homes |
| Yarloop resident Kate Barry fled with her four children and photos, but their home was ruined. | Yarloop resident Kate Barry fled with her four children and photos, but their home was ruined. |
| “You couldn’t breathe. It was just raining ash,” she said. | “You couldn’t breathe. It was just raining ash,” she said. |
| A resident who stayed to protect his home, Alex Jovanovich, described the fire as crazy. | A resident who stayed to protect his home, Alex Jovanovich, described the fire as crazy. |
| “One fireball after another. The wind, it was that frigging strong, it was unbelievable, but I managed to save my house and I saved the house next door. | “One fireball after another. The wind, it was that frigging strong, it was unbelievable, but I managed to save my house and I saved the house next door. |
| “It’s devastating. There is bugger all left.” | “It’s devastating. There is bugger all left.” |
| Four firefighters have suffered injuries, but at least two of them were released from hospital with only minor injuries. | Four firefighters have suffered injuries, but at least two of them were released from hospital with only minor injuries. |
| Concerns about fatigue among firefighters means interstate help may be requested later. | Concerns about fatigue among firefighters means interstate help may be requested later. |
| Barnett, and the opposition leader, Mark McGowan, tweeted their support for residents. | |
| “Thanks to firefighters and volunteers still working to contain these destructive fires,” Barnett wrote. | |
| Emergency services minister Joe Francis said it was “very challenging” for the community but the government would do what it could to help. The fire, sparked by lightning, has burnt more than 58,000 hectares. | Emergency services minister Joe Francis said it was “very challenging” for the community but the government would do what it could to help. The fire, sparked by lightning, has burnt more than 58,000 hectares. |
| The Insurance Council of Australia has declared the fires a catastrophe. | The Insurance Council of Australia has declared the fires a catastrophe. |