Gumleaf
December 30th, 2009, 05:10 AM
19:15 AEST Wed Dec 30 2009
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/988740/temperatures-ease-spread-of-wa-bushfires
A devastating fire that destroyed 37 homes near the West Australian wheatbelt town of Toodyay has been declared a state natural disaster.
Premier Colin Barnett said in Toodyay on Wednesday that people who had lost their properties could be eligible for a $3,000 government hand-out that would be made available immediately through the Toodyay Shire.
He said agencies including child welfare services and power utilities were also being co-ordinated to respond to the "devastating" situation.
After touring the fire-affected area, about 4km south of Toodyay on Wednesday morning, Mr Barnett told reporters the scene had been one of devastation.
"It's a devastating fire with great destruction," he said.
"I want to express my sympathy to those who have lost their homes, over 30 houses destroyed by a very severe, very intense bushfire in the surrounding area of Toodyay.
"I'd like to acknowledge the efforts of firefighters and the police and the Shire of Toodyay.
"There's no doubt they saved lives last night.
"If you saw the destruction; homes totally destroyed, and (people) got to safety (with the help) of emergency services."
Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) chief operations officer Craig Hynes said the fire was on the "worst scale" with the potential for a "catastrophic result".
He said the advice for people to leave their homes could result in a backlash against the new fire safety provisions, under which people are advised to leave their properties rather than stay and save their homes.
But he said the fact that no lives had been lost appeared to vindicate the new official fire safety advice.
They were initiated nationally following the devastating Black Saturday fires in Victoria last February when 173 lives were lost.
Mr Hynes said he realised that people were desperate to return to their homes and this would be arranged "in a controlled way and as a priority".
"We're saying to people make your life a priority," he said.
Cooler conditions on Wednesday were proving a "friend of firefighters" but people should not get complacent, Mr Hynes said.
Neither he nor Mr Barnett would comment on the discovery of fire outbreaks near power infrastructure plants, which are being investigated as a possible cause of the fires.
"The fire did start near the power infrastructure, but we can't give a cause," Mr Hynes said.
Meanwhile, a catastrophic fire danger rating for Western Australia's goldfields region has been declared by the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM).
The eastern parts of the City of Kalgoorlie Boulder and the Shire of Dundas are included in the danger area, BoM said in a statement released on Wednesday afternoon.
Residents in the area are warned to be aware of fires that will be unpredictable, difficult to control and fast moving.
They have been urged to have a bushfire survival plan ready and prepare their homes for the possibility of an aggressive fire.
Temperatures in the area are forecast to hover in the mid to high 30s, with southwesterly winds.
Police Minister Rob Johnson, who was given an aerial tour of the stricken area, said he saw more than 30 destroyed homes and about five to 10 outbuildings.
He said the state's new aerial firefighting helicopters, which dump about 4,000 litres of water at a time, had saved at least five homes.
"Where they dumped the water, fire went around their homes," Mr Johnson said.
He also said the new fire safety provisions appeared to have worked well.
A community meeting was being held in Toodyay on Wednesday afternoon.
Toodyay residents are expected to be without power for several days as Western Power confirmed about 120 poles and 50 transformers had been destroyed in the fire.
In a statement released on Wednesday, a Western Power spokesperson said about 200 properties in the area were without power.
"Western Power is unable at this stage to connect generators and restore power to customers due to damage to the network," the statement said.
"Western Power expects some customers to be without power for a number of days."
Meanwhile, a Toodyay bushfire appeal has been launched by the Bendigo and Adelaide Banks philanthropic arm, Community Enterprise Foundation and the Salvation Army.
In a statement released on Wednesday afternoon, the bank announced it had opened an account to take donations to help people affected by the fire in the township 80km north-east of Perth.
Donated money would be used to fund a recovery day and allow local volunteers to speak with counsellors and support one another in the wake of the fires.
People wanting to donate to the appeal can log onto Bendigo Bank's website www.bendigobank.com.au or call any Bendigo Bank branch.
Toodyay Community Bank manager Grant McLeod said it was the second time the wheatbelt town had been struck by bushfires, one local was killed in 2006.
He called on Australians to support the community by making a donation.
"It's going to be a pretty tough road ahead and we need all the help we can get," Mr McLeod said.
"Many families have lost everything and I would like to encourage everyone to dig deep and give what you can."
Donations of $2 or more are tax-deductible.
© AAP 2009
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/988740/temperatures-ease-spread-of-wa-bushfires
A devastating fire that destroyed 37 homes near the West Australian wheatbelt town of Toodyay has been declared a state natural disaster.
Premier Colin Barnett said in Toodyay on Wednesday that people who had lost their properties could be eligible for a $3,000 government hand-out that would be made available immediately through the Toodyay Shire.
He said agencies including child welfare services and power utilities were also being co-ordinated to respond to the "devastating" situation.
After touring the fire-affected area, about 4km south of Toodyay on Wednesday morning, Mr Barnett told reporters the scene had been one of devastation.
"It's a devastating fire with great destruction," he said.
"I want to express my sympathy to those who have lost their homes, over 30 houses destroyed by a very severe, very intense bushfire in the surrounding area of Toodyay.
"I'd like to acknowledge the efforts of firefighters and the police and the Shire of Toodyay.
"There's no doubt they saved lives last night.
"If you saw the destruction; homes totally destroyed, and (people) got to safety (with the help) of emergency services."
Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) chief operations officer Craig Hynes said the fire was on the "worst scale" with the potential for a "catastrophic result".
He said the advice for people to leave their homes could result in a backlash against the new fire safety provisions, under which people are advised to leave their properties rather than stay and save their homes.
But he said the fact that no lives had been lost appeared to vindicate the new official fire safety advice.
They were initiated nationally following the devastating Black Saturday fires in Victoria last February when 173 lives were lost.
Mr Hynes said he realised that people were desperate to return to their homes and this would be arranged "in a controlled way and as a priority".
"We're saying to people make your life a priority," he said.
Cooler conditions on Wednesday were proving a "friend of firefighters" but people should not get complacent, Mr Hynes said.
Neither he nor Mr Barnett would comment on the discovery of fire outbreaks near power infrastructure plants, which are being investigated as a possible cause of the fires.
"The fire did start near the power infrastructure, but we can't give a cause," Mr Hynes said.
Meanwhile, a catastrophic fire danger rating for Western Australia's goldfields region has been declared by the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM).
The eastern parts of the City of Kalgoorlie Boulder and the Shire of Dundas are included in the danger area, BoM said in a statement released on Wednesday afternoon.
Residents in the area are warned to be aware of fires that will be unpredictable, difficult to control and fast moving.
They have been urged to have a bushfire survival plan ready and prepare their homes for the possibility of an aggressive fire.
Temperatures in the area are forecast to hover in the mid to high 30s, with southwesterly winds.
Police Minister Rob Johnson, who was given an aerial tour of the stricken area, said he saw more than 30 destroyed homes and about five to 10 outbuildings.
He said the state's new aerial firefighting helicopters, which dump about 4,000 litres of water at a time, had saved at least five homes.
"Where they dumped the water, fire went around their homes," Mr Johnson said.
He also said the new fire safety provisions appeared to have worked well.
A community meeting was being held in Toodyay on Wednesday afternoon.
Toodyay residents are expected to be without power for several days as Western Power confirmed about 120 poles and 50 transformers had been destroyed in the fire.
In a statement released on Wednesday, a Western Power spokesperson said about 200 properties in the area were without power.
"Western Power is unable at this stage to connect generators and restore power to customers due to damage to the network," the statement said.
"Western Power expects some customers to be without power for a number of days."
Meanwhile, a Toodyay bushfire appeal has been launched by the Bendigo and Adelaide Banks philanthropic arm, Community Enterprise Foundation and the Salvation Army.
In a statement released on Wednesday afternoon, the bank announced it had opened an account to take donations to help people affected by the fire in the township 80km north-east of Perth.
Donated money would be used to fund a recovery day and allow local volunteers to speak with counsellors and support one another in the wake of the fires.
People wanting to donate to the appeal can log onto Bendigo Bank's website www.bendigobank.com.au or call any Bendigo Bank branch.
Toodyay Community Bank manager Grant McLeod said it was the second time the wheatbelt town had been struck by bushfires, one local was killed in 2006.
He called on Australians to support the community by making a donation.
"It's going to be a pretty tough road ahead and we need all the help we can get," Mr McLeod said.
"Many families have lost everything and I would like to encourage everyone to dig deep and give what you can."
Donations of $2 or more are tax-deductible.
© AAP 2009