Wildfires destroy at least 35 homes in Australia

2011-02-07 07:55:31 GMT+7 (ICT)

PERTH, AUSTRALIA (BNO NEWS) -- At least 35 homes have been destroyed and one firefighter hospitalized as a large bushfire broke out in the western region of Australia, local media reported Sunday.

Since last night, around 100 firefighters have been fighting off the flames that has burnt at least 440 hectares of land at Roleystone, located in the southeastern part of Perth, Australia, Australia's ABC reported.

According to reports, a spark from an angle grinder ignited dry grass, which caused quick blazes to spread out quickly due to the 70 kilometer (43.4 miles) per hour winds, forcing hundreds of residents to flee the area.

"It's a hard, dedicated effort by all crews here and we all have a common goal to get this under control so there is no further damage or hardship for the community," said Australia's Fire and Emergency Services Authority spokesman Brad Stringer.

With residents being evacuated and relief teams fighting off the ongoing flames, locals remain uncertain whether the fires have reached their homes, but no casualties have been reported and excluding the hospitalized firefighter, no serious injuries have been reported either.

Meanwhile, another bushfire broke out around 60 kilometers (37,2 miles) southeast of Perth in Jarrahdale, prompting officials to issue an alert, and at Chittering, roughly 50 kilometers (31 miles) north of the city, another fire is being fought.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-02-07

Poor country, down under, first the flood, then wildfires. Maybe earthquake later, who knows, every kind of natural disaster..