*Three Major Wildfires Ravage Western Australia*

January 28, 2007 03:10pm
Article from: AAP

FIREFIGHTERS are battling three major bushfires amid searing heat and
strong winds that have generated extreme fire danger warnings across
Western Australia.

Lightning sparked a huge blaze that raced through parkland and onto
private property near Jurien Bay, north of Perth, the Department of
Environment and Conservation (DEC) said.

DEC fire crews, volunteer bush fire brigades, Forest Products Commission
staff and Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) firefighters were
battling the blaze, as well as two other fires at Julimar Conservation
Park in the Perth hills and at Dwellingup, south of Perth.

The Jurien fire was burning in Lesueur National Park north of the
townsite, DEC said in a statement.

"North-west winds have pushed the fire out of the park and onto private
property but damage has been restricted to fences and a powerline,'' DEC
said.

The fire has burned more than 3000 hectares and the DEC warned campers
to leave the area.

Fire crews, water bombers and heavy earth-moving equipment are battling
to contain a lightning-sparked fire in the Julimar Conservation Park
between Chittering and Toodyay, north of Perth.

The fire, which has burned through 200 hectares, is threatening wildlife
but not private property.

DEC said a fire that had burnt 4500 hectares between Dwellingup and
Pinjarra, south of Perth, had been contained on private property on one
edge.

"But the department is concerned that there is still potential for
further escapes as temperatures reach into the 40s and northerly winds
put pressure on the southern boundary.''

Visitors have been evacuated from nearby Lane Poole Reserve.

FESA said there was an extreme fire danger warning today with a risk of
evening thunderstorms.