This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/jan/10/wa-bushfires-bodies-found-in-two-burnt-out-homes-in-yarloop

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
WA bushfires: two bodies found in burnt-out homes in Yarloop WA bushfires: two bodies found in burnt-out homes in Yarloop
(35 minutes later)
Firefighters have been working in difficult conditions overnight to contain a bushfire, south of Perth, that has so far destroyed 121 homes and is believed to have killed at least two people. Firefighters were on Sunday morning working to contain a bushfire, south of Perth, that has killed at least two people and destroyed 128 homes.
West Australian police said on Saturday that human remains had been found in two burnt-out houses in the fire-ravaged town of Yarloop. Two NSW-based helicopters had left for Western Australia to help battle the fire. The choppers were set to join more than 60 firefighters from NSW who have been deployed to help fatigued crews battle a blaze raging since Wednesday.
They believe the remains could belong to two men, aged 73 and 77, who have been missing since the blaze swept across the town on Thursday night. Firefighters were set to take advantage of favourable weather conditions to build and consolidate containment lines around the fires south of Perth, the DFES said on Sunday morning.
No formal identification had been made, but the families of both men were advised of the developments. West Australian police believe the fire had claimed the lives of two men, aged 73 and 77, who have been missing since the fire swept across Yarloop on Thursday night.
Human remains were found in two burnt-out houses in the fire-ravaged town on Saturday.
No formal identification had been made, but the families of both men have been advised of the developments.
“Further forensic work will need to be undertaken once it is deemed safe to do so, and reports will be prepared for the WA coroner,” a police spokesman said.“Further forensic work will need to be undertaken once it is deemed safe to do so, and reports will be prepared for the WA coroner,” a police spokesman said.
Inquiries were ongoing into other people who have not been accounted for, he added.
Earlier on Saturday, police had said three people were missing from the blaze, which also wiped out at least 10 other structures in Yarloop, including historic buildings.Earlier on Saturday, police had said three people were missing from the blaze, which also wiped out at least 10 other structures in Yarloop, including historic buildings.
A family member, who did not want to be named, said on Saturday that she feared Malcolm Taylor had perished because no one had heard from him since Thursday evening before the fire ripped through the town, and he had not registered himself with authorities. Malcolm Taylor from Yarloop is one of the men feared dead, a family member said. The family member, who did not want to be named, said no one had heard from him since the fire destroyed the town, and he had not registered himself with authorities.
When she last spoke with the 73-year-old, who requires a hearing aid, he said he was going to stay at his house.When she last spoke with the 73-year-old, who requires a hearing aid, he said he was going to stay at his house.
An emergency warning remained in place for a large part of the region, where more than 70,800 hectares have been burnt since the lightning-sparked fire began on Wednesday.An emergency warning remained in place for a large part of the region, where more than 70,800 hectares have been burnt since the lightning-sparked fire began on Wednesday.
Four firefighters have been injured battling the blaze since Wednesday, while more than 60 NSW firefighters arrived on Saturday to help fatigued crews. Four firefighters had been injured battling the blaze.
Thousands of properties remain without power, and some 835 people have registered at evacuation centres. Thousands of properties remained without power, and some 835 people had registered at evacuation centres.
A community meeting was scheduled for 11.30am on Sunday at Waroona Recreation Centre.
Meanwhile, a total fire ban has been declared for parts of South Australia thanks to hot, dry and windy conditions.
Temperatures were tipped to reach close to 40C in parts of the state on Sunday, including 38C in Adelaide.
The Country Fire Service said “very hazardous fire weather conditions” were predicted in areas including Northwest Pastoral, Eastern Eyre Peninsula, Mid North, Mount Lofty Ranges, Yorke Peninsula, Riverland, Murraylands and Lower South East.
Residents of those regions were told to implement their Bushfire Survival Plan.