WA: Blaze continues to block highway in WA

AAP General News (Australia)
12-30-2007
WA: Blaze continues to block highway in WA

PERTH, Dec 30 AAP - Firefighters are battling to contain a bushfire that has burnt
more than 7,500 hectares, downed power lines and closed a major highway in Western Australia's
eastern goldfields region.

The fire, which has destroyed parts of Boorabbin National Park and unallocated Crown
land 80km east of Southern Cross, jumped containment lines earlier today and crossed to
the southern side of the Great Eastern Highway between the towns of Yellowdine and Coolgardie.

WA Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) incident controller Barry Hooper
said northerly winds of up to 45km/h and temperatures of 43 degrees compounded firefighting
difficulties.

The fire brought down power lines onto the highway.

"Police and DEC escorted vehicles in convoys through the fire area earlier this afternoon,"

Mr Hooper said.

"However, conditions are still unsafe, and the highway remains closed to unescorted traffic.

"DEC is aiming to have the highway reopened around 7pm (WDT)."

A south-westerly change is expected this evening but could bring gusts of up to 65
km/h and unpredictable fire behaviour.

AAP lk/jl/mn

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES WA NIGHTLEAD

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