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Western Australia Bushfires Force Evacuations, Highway Closures

Major bushfires in Western Australia's Fitzgerald River National Park have triggered urgent evacuation orders for residents and visitors in several towns, including Ravensthorpe. The fire, sparked by a lightning strike, has already burned through more than 60,000 hectares of land. A major highway has been closed, and an evacuation center has been established as the situation remains dangerous. Authorities have issued multiple emergency warnings for several out-of-control fires across the region.

Key Points: WA Bushfires Trigger Evacuation Orders and Road Closures

  • Evacuation orders for multiple towns
  • Major highway closed west of Ravensthorpe
  • Fire sparked by lightning, burnt 60,000+ hectares
  • Four major fires burning across southwest WA
2 min read

Major bushfires prompt road closures, evacuation orders in Australia

Major bushfires in Western Australia prompt urgent evacuations and road closures, threatening lives and homes across multiple regions.

"You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. - WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services"

Sydney, Jan 23

Major bushfires burning in the south of Western Australia have prompted road closures and evacuation orders for nearby towns.

The WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) said in a warning issued on Friday morning that a fire burning in the Fitzgerald River National Park, 420 km southeast of Perth on the state's south coast, is threatening lives and homes.

Residents and visitors of several surrounding towns, including Ravensthorpe with a population of around 2,000, have been ordered to evacuate if the way is clear.

"You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive," the DFES warning said.

Anyone who chooses to stay has been advised to shelter indoors before the fire arrives due to the threat posed by extreme heat.

The fire was sparked by a lightning strike in the national park on January 16 and had burnt through more than 60,000 hectares of land as of Friday morning.

A major highway has been closed west of Ravensthorpe, and an evacuation center has been opened in the town of Newdegate north of the fire.

The Fitzgerald River National Park bushfire was one of four major fires burning across southwest WA on Friday morning.

Evacuation orders have been issued for around 1,500 residents of four small towns located about 120 km southeast of Perth due to an out-of-control bushfire moving in a northeastern direction.

Lower-level emergency warnings have been issued for fires in the Dunn Rock Nature Reserve, 60 km north of the Fitzgerald River National Park, and near the small town of Green Range, 130 km southwest of the national park, Xinhua news agency reported.

People in the warning area for both fires have been told to monitor conditions and to consider leaving immediately.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
"You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive" – that warning sends chills down the spine. I hope the evacuation is swift and everyone stays safe. Australia's firefighting services are world-class, but facing multiple major fires at once is a huge challenge.
D
David E
Lightning strike as the cause... nature can be so cruel. It reminds me of the Uttarakhand fires. While the scale is different, the threat to life, homes, and precious national parks is the same. Global cooperation on disaster management is more important than ever.
A
Aditya G
The article mentions an evacuation center in Newdegate. I hope they have adequate facilities, medical support, and supplies for everyone, especially the elderly and children. Displacement is traumatic, no matter where in the world it happens.
S
Sarah B
Four major fires burning simultaneously is a nightmare scenario. While the focus is rightly on human safety, the loss of wildlife and biodiversity in those national parks and nature reserves is a tragedy we'll feel for decades. We are all connected on this planet.
K
Karthik V
A respectful criticism: The article could have provided a bit more context. Is this an unusually bad fire season for Western Australia? How does it compare to the 2019-20 Black Summer fires? That would help readers outside Australia understand the severity better.
M

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