Perth : Dozens of residents have been evacuated and at least 10 homes destroyed by a wildfire burning out of control on the northern fringe of the west coast city of Perth during heat wave spring conditions, authorities said Thursday.
There were no deaths reported, but several firefighters had sustained minor injuries, including smoke inhalation, Western Australia State Department of Fires and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm said.
The fire began Wednesday afternoon in a pine tree plantation on Perth’s northeast edge and was fanned overnight by 60-kilometre (37-mile)-an-hour winds, incident controller Clinton Kuchel said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Power poles had been damaged, and 544 homes were without power Thursday.
Around 130 people spent Wednesday night in an evacuation centre, Western Australia Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti said.
Klemm said the 150 firefighters battling the blaze would take several days to bring it under control.