Sydney, March 02: Firefighters gained control on Tuesday of a wildfire with flames up to 60 feet (18 meters) high burning near a small Western Australia mining community.
The Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia lifted an emergency warning issued Monday night that had urged residents to flee the blaze, burning near Eneabba, 170 miles (280 kilometers) north of Perth. The fire no longer threatened homes or lives, the fire authority said.
Nearly 50 firefighters brought the blaze under control on Tuesday, but authorities warned hot weather and changing wind conditions could cause flare-ups. Residents were urged to remain alert.
The fire, which began on Saturday, has consumed 76,600 acres (31,000 hectares) of land in the sparsely populated area.
Temperatures in Western Australia have been scorching throughout the Southern Hemisphere summer. On Tuesday, the mercury was predicted to rise to 106 degrees Fahrenheit (41 Celsius).
Wildfires are common during Australian summers, charring thousands of acres (hectares) and occasionally tearing through towns and cities.
Last year, 173 people were killed and more than 2,000 homes destroyed in one day as hundreds of fires burned across south-eastern Australia.
—–Agencies