
Smoke clouds swarm over a forest area in Kelmscott near Perth late Feb. 6, 2011 as bushfires continue to ravage the Perth hills district. The West Australian Fire and Emergency Authority (FESA) said 7 February that 59 homes have been destroyed. More than 100 firefighters are battling from the ground and air to contain the fires that are burning out of control in the bush-fringed suburbs of Perth. EPA/MEGAN GRAY AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

Flames rise amid smoke clouds over a forest area in Kelmscott near Perth late Feb. 6, 2011 as bushfires continue to ravage the Perth hills district. The West Australian Fire and Emergency Authority (FESA) said 7 February that 59 homes have been destroyed. More than 100 firefighters are battling from the ground and air to contain the fires that are burning out of control in the bush-fringed suburbs of Perth. EPA/MEGAN GRAY AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

The Premier of Western Australia, Colin Barnett inspects a property burnt to the ground in the bush fire damaged area in Roleystone near Perth, Australia, 07 February 2011. The West Australian Fire and Emergency Authority (FESA) believe 59 homes have been destroyed by a bushfire which has ravaged the Perth hills district. The Perth fires are the latest in a string of natural disasters to befall Australia and follow on from 10 years of drought. EPA/TONY MCDONOUGH

A water bombing helicopter flies into the smoke of a bushfire burning out of control on Perth's eastern edge, Australia's west coast on 06 February 2011. High winds hampered the efforts of 150 firefighters and six helicopters to douse the blaze that threatened homes on Perth's eastern edge. The outbreak in Perth coincides with the second anniversary of forest fires north of Melbourne that claimed 173 lives, destroyed 2,000 properties and blackened 450,000 hectares. EPA/LLOYD JONES AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

A bush fire burns out of control in the hills on Perth's eastern edge, Darling Range, on 06 February 2011, threatening homes and forcing the evacuation of more than 100 people. Around 150 firefighters and five helicopters battled the blaze. The outbreak in Perth coincides with the second anniversary of forest fires north of Melbourne that claimed 173 lives, destroyed 2,000 properties and blackened 450,000 hectares. EPA/LLOYD JONES AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

Hills residents at Armadale recreation centre are told of the destruction caused by the fire front which swept down valleys in the hills suburbs near Perth, Australia, 07 February 2011. The West Australian Fire and Emergency Authority (FESA) believe 59 homes have been destroyed by a bushfire which has ravaged the Perth hills district. The Perth fires are the latest in a string of natural disasters to befall Australia and follow on from 10 years of drought. EPA/TONY MCDONOUGH

Derryn Grosse (foreground) and Bennett Moran battle a bushfire at Roleystone using a rake and a gum tree branch in Perth Hills, Australia, 06 February 2011. The fast moving fire damaged or destroyed 35 homes at Roleystone. The outbreak in Perth coincides with the second anniversary of forest fires north of Melbourne that claimed 173 lives, destroyed 2,000 properties and blackened 450,000 hectares. EPA/LLOYD JONES AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT