Three people from the Western Australian town of Yarloop who had been unaccounted for have been found, after a massive bushfire destroyed almost 100 homes in the small town.
Firefighters battling the blaze near Yarloop. Photo: AFP / Department of Fire and Emergency Services
The blaze, referred to as the Waroona fire, has burnt more than 58,000 hectares and is threatening more towns south of Perth, including the dairy and beef town of Harvey, after breaching containment lines.
Conditions have been "extremely difficult", with the blaze unpredictable and fanned by heavy wind gusts, WA Fire and Emergency Services commissioner Wayne Gregson said.
"I believe we've had what I would suggest [are] catastrophic losses within Yarloop", he said.
"These are, as yet, to be definitively confirmed figures, but it appears that we've lost around 95 houses, a number of structures within the town site including some of the historical buildings, the workshops, some factories, and an impact at 70 percent on the demountable component of the local school," he said.
"Also losses to post offices, adjacent stores and our own fire station infrastructure."
Three helicopters dispatched to deliver supplies to the Yarloop fire ground are being used to evacuate residents, who are being taken to the Leschenault fire ground.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has briefed hundreds of people at the Australind evacuation centre.
The department said the fire is likely to continue burning south west towards Meelup, possibly reaching Binningup, north of Bunbury.
Department of Parks and Wildlife spokesman Allan Riley earlier said just 30 homes remained standing in Yarloop, after strong winds overnight fanned flames.
Many of the homes in the historic mill town are weatherboard and timber structures, according to deputy mayor Paul Beech.
Mr Gregson said "three or four" firefighting personnel had sustained slight injuries and a fire truck was also destroyed at Lake Clifton.
He said conditions were fierce and the blaze was "uncontrolled" and "very unpredictable".
"You get fires to a certain stage of intensity, where it makes little difference," he said.
"It would be like tipping a glass of water on a roaring bonfire. You can get to the stage where your suppression activity is not going to make a significant difference to the fire suppression efforts."
Emergency warning in place as hot, blustery conditions continue
Mr Gregson said authorities were still considering whether to request support from interstate, and it would depend on how long the fire burned.
Weather conditions are extremely hot in the area, with a top of 34°C predicted for the town of Harvey.
There were reports from Thursday night that flames were up to 50 metres high in the state forest.
A bushfire emergency warning remains in place for the shires of Harvey and Waroona, and surrounding areas including Preston Beach.
Residents in Preston Beach, Lake Clifton, Waroona, Yarloop and the small community of Cookernup have been told it is too late to leave, and they must seek shelter from the heat and flames.
People are being warned to take shelter before the fire arrives, as the extreme heat can kill well before the flames.
Those in other areas south of Riverdale Road have been urged to head south if the way is clear.
-ABC