West Australian bushfire contained but not controlled

By Sarah Harvey

West Australian bushfire contained but not controlled

A massive West Australian bushfire that claimed two lives and destroyed more than 100 houses has been contained but not completely controlled, fire authorities say.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) has said some evacuees can return home but emergency warnings remain for many areas south of Perth including the town of Yarloop – all but destroyed by the fire which has burnt through more than 72,000 hectares of land.

The two people killed were both residents of Yarloop – they have yet to be formally identified, but police believe they are two men, aged 73 and 77, who had been missing.

The fire was started by lightning on Wednesday.

West Australia Premier Colin Barnett has declared the main area of the fire to be the scene of a natural disaster and eligible for emergency funds.

The fires are also causing issues for residents of wider Western Australia with road closures causing disruption to supply chains meaning food cannot be transported. Dairy farmers have been forced to ditch thousands of litres of milk with tankers unable to reach farms.

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