Firefighters battle major bushfire near Perth in Western Australia
On Sunday, hundreds of firefighters confronted a significant bushfire near Perth, the capital of Western Australia. Authorities have urged residents in the path of the rapidly spreading fire to evacuate immediately.
Over 25 bushfires raged across the vast state on Sunday. Particularly at risk were the residents of the rural shires of Gingin and Chittering, located about 60 kilometers (37 miles) north of Perth, as reported by fire authorities.
Australia is currently experiencing a high-risk bushfire season, attributed to an El Nino weather pattern. This phenomenon is known for causing various extreme weather events, including cyclones, droughts, heatwaves, and wildfires.
A spokesperson from the state's Department of Fire and Emergency Services stated that 240 firefighters are actively engaged in containing the emergency-level blaze, the highest threat rating.
The agency's website advises, "If the way is clear, leave now for a safer place."
The fire, consuming 417 hectares (1,030 acres) of bushland, began on Saturday.
Australia's National Weather Service issued an "extreme fire danger" warning for parts of Western Australia on Sunday amid an ongoing heatwave. This heatwave, which started on Saturday, has brought unusually high temperatures to Perth. The city is expected to reach a maximum of 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit), surpassing its average January maximum by over three degrees.
The last two fire seasons in Australia have been relatively mild compared to the catastrophic 2019-2020 "Black Summer" bushfires. Those fires devastated an area as large as Turkey and claimed 33 lives. Firefighters Battle Major Bushfire Near Perth in Western Australia.
