Firefighters in Western Australia are battling relentless hot, dry and windy conditions as they struggle to bring a major blaze under control. Another eight major fires across WA were also being fanned by dangerous conditions with Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm warning there was little respite in sight. "This week's weather conditions are some of the most challenging firefighting conditions I have seen in many years and unfortunately, weather conditions are not easing over the coming days, in fact they are only going to get worse," he said. "We face the risk of new fires igniting and existing fires escalating, which would put extreme pressure on emergency services." Emergency WA said conditions around the Red Gully fire were testing containment lines.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 06, 2021 04:41 UTC