Three German backpackers and a farmer have been identified as the victims of massive bushfires that tore through the scrub around Esperance, in Western Australia’s south east, today. The remains of the two men and two women were found in cars 60km north of Esperance and had been trying to flee the North Cascade fire, State Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Wayne Gregson said. Farmer Kyn Curnow, 45, had visited his neighbours to warn them of the danger before he died in an escape attempt.
Mr Curnow drove away from his farm in the Scaddan area, but was caught on the road as smoke reduced visibility. “He was warning someone to turn them around… they had to get out so he tried to turn them around,” volunteer firefighter Andy Johnston said. Mr Johnston said the fast-travelling fire caused “total destruction”. Esperance resident Mr Osbourne told 9NEWS Mr Curnow had hired foreign workers to help with a harvest, and said he believed they were the backpackers who also died in the fires.
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“I just heard they got caught getting out in the vehicles,” he said. Mr Curnow was a member of the Gibson Football Club, and the group this afternoon posted a tribute to the fire victims on its Facebook page. “Our hearts go out to the families and communities that have been affected by the fires…The loss of crop and livestock is terrible but the loss of life is the most serious of all. Now is the time for our club to unite…stay safe everyone,” the post read.
Another Esperance farmer, Mick Fels, who was forced to abandon his house, said the deaths were devastating for the tight-knit community. “We got our family out of the house when we realised that our property was in the line of the fire yesterday,” Mr Fels told the ABC. “The kids are crying. You’re chucking all the things in the car you can think of, like favourite teddy bears and books, our accounts and photo albums. “We were spared, but others were not so lucky.” At least three homes have been destroyed by three major bushfires burning in Western Australia's south, which were sparked by lightning at the weekend following "catastrophic" fire weather conditions. A 15,000-hectare bushfire has threatened lives and homes Stockyard Creek and Mullet Lakes, while the North Cascade has burned across 300,000 hectares moving in a north-easterly direction. WA Premier Colin Barnett said he was devastated to hear about the deaths.
Another Esperance farmer, Mick Fels, who was forced to abandon his house, said the deaths were devastating for the tight-knit community. “We got our family out of the house when we realised that our property was in the line of the fire yesterday,” Mr Fels told the ABC. “The kids are crying. You’re chucking all the things in the car you can think of, like favourite teddy bears and books, our accounts and photo albums. “We were spared, but others were not so lucky.” At least three homes have been destroyed by three major bushfires burning in Western Australia's south, which were sparked by lightning at the weekend following "catastrophic" fire weather conditions. A 15,000-hectare bushfire has threatened lives and homes Stockyard Creek and Mullet Lakes, while the North Cascade has burned across 300,000 hectares moving in a north-easterly direction. WA Premier Colin Barnett said he was devastated to hear about the deaths.
