PERTH, Australia: On Thursday, it seemed that a raging wildfire on the fringes of Perth, a city on Australia’s west coast, had caused destruction or damage to several residences.
Emergency warnings were issued for Parkerville’s eastern suburb after a fire ignited on Thursday morning, cautioning residents about the life and home-threatening nature of the blaze. Aerial footage revealed at least one house destroyed and others engulfed in flames.
The full extent of the damage remains uncertain pending surveys by inspection teams within the fire zone. No immediate injuries were reported. Western Australia Premier Roger Cook expressed concern over the unsettling scenario at the intersection of Perth’s urban fringe and densely forested hills.
“We all have grave concerns for the fire and in Parkerville and our hearts go out to all those people who are involved in that incident,” Cook told reporters.
Klemm emphasized the heightened concern in Parkerville due to its history of significant fires causing home losses. He mentioned power cuts to over 150 properties and road closures.
Yvonne Blyth, a Parkerville resident, shared her preparedness by packing her car with her children’s Christmas gifts in case of evacuation. Despite the fire nearing her home of 18 years nestled in the forest, she observed it seemingly veering away.
“We’ve seen three or four fires now, but this was the closest one,” Blyth told Australian Broadcasting Corp.
“We all love living in the forest, but this is the scariest part of living around here. It’s absolutely terrifying,” Blyth added.
