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| Western Australia wildfires destroy 40 homes Two major blazes scorch more than 13,000 hectares of forest and farmlandWildfires possibly sparked by fallen power lines have roared across part of Western Australia, destroying almost 40 homes and sending hundreds of people fleeing for their lives. At least three people were injured, officials in the state said.Two major blazes broke out yesterday in a farming district north of Perth, forcing the evacuation of the township of Toodyay and threatening a second town, Badgingarra, further north.The two fires scorched more than 13,000 hectares (33,000 acres) of forest and farmland before cooler conditions helped hundreds of firefighters contain them.The state's premier, Colin Barnett, released emergency funds by declaring the fires a natural disaster. He praised those who fought to bring them under control."There is no doubt they saved lives last night," Barnett said after visiting burned-out homes in Toodyay. "If you saw the destruction, houses were totally destroyed and people were got to safety by the emergency services."The state's fire authority said at least 37 houses were destroyed.Two firefighters were treated for smoke inhalation and a third was treated for a heat-related illness. Farmers reported dead livestock. The extent of the damage was still being assessed, said Allen Gale, a spokesman for the emergency services.Police said fallen power lines were likely to have sparked the Toodyay blaze, since there were no other possible causes in the area.The managing director of electricity supplier Western Power, Doug Aberle, told national broadcaster the ABC that an independent investigator would head to the scene on Saturday. "If it's determined that it's caused by our negligence we will be paying compensation as appropriately determined, as we always do," he said, expressing his sympathy to the victims.Wildfires are common across Australian during the summer months but rarely claim so many homes.In February Australia experienced its worst fire disaster on record when hundreds of blazes raced across the south-east of Victoria state, killing 173 people and destroying more than 2,000 homes in a single day.AustraliaNatural disasters and extreme weatherguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Swiss man fined $290,000 for speeding in his Ferrari A millionaire Swiss Ferrari driver is given a record $290,000 (£180,000) speeding fine by a court. news.bbc.co.uk |
What are your views of defence cuts? The UK armed forces could be facing defence cuts of up to a fifth, a military think tank has predicted. Will you be affected by these cuts? newsforums.bbc.co.uk |
Both sides look to turn out voters in Senate race BOSTON (AP) -- Democrat Martha Coakley rolled out an eleventh-hour TV ad featuring President Barack Obama amid intense get-out-the-vote efforts by both parties on the eve of Tuesday's crucial Senate election in Massachusetts.... hosted.ap.org |
Ripped Picasso 'will be repaired for exhibition' in New York New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art says a Picasso painting damaged by a visitor will be repaired in time for its exhibition of his work in April.The Actor, from Picasso's rose period, now has a 15cm (6in) tear in the canvas's lower right-hand corner after a woman lost her balance and fell on the painting on Friday during an art class.The restored painting will be displayed as planned in the exhibition of 250 Picasso works drawn from the museum's collection, which will run from 27 April to 1 August. The museum has owned the painting since 1952.New YorkPablo PicassoMuseumsArtUnited Statesguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |