Wildfire Near Australia’s Perth Destroys 18 Homes

A wildfire persists in the suburban areas to the north of Perth, the capital of Australia’s Western Australia state. Despite the dedicated efforts of fire crews, the blaze continues to spread. Prime Minister Roger Cook of Western Australia reported an additional 8 houses rendered uninhabitable, bringing the total number of burned houses to 18. The Western Australian Fire and Emergency Services Department has announced financial aid—$4,000 for severely damaged or destroyed homes and $2,000 for houses with minor damage. The fire has ravaged over 1,820 hectares of land thus far.