The brother of a Vietnam veteran, believed to be one of two people killed in a bushfire that destroyed 128 homes in the West Australian town of Yarloop, does not blame authorities.
Bruce Taylor tried a few times to call his 77-year-old brother, Les, before the blaze tore through the town on Thursday night, but could not get through. Mr Taylor said his brother had not been in good health and may have been asleep when the bushfire ripped through Yarloop.
"I don't think there's any cause for blame on the death of my brother, I think it's just a sad circumstance," he told 6PR radio on Monday.
The brother of a Vietnam veteran, believed to be one of two people killed in a bushfire that destroyed 128 homes in the West Australian town of Yarloop, does not blame authorities.
Bruce Taylor tried a few times to call his 77-year-old brother, Les, before the blaze tore through the town on Thursday night, but could not get through.
"I was thinking that because he had a car that he may well have gone to an evacuation centre," Mr Taylor told 6PR radio.
"But knowing Les, he probably wouldn't have reported to one - he more than likely would have made his own arrangements."
Mr Taylor was forced to wait for news and tried to make enquiries with authorities to see if anyone had heard from his brother.
"There was no result there at all," he said.
Police finally visited the property on Saturday and informed the family that human remains had been found at the house, but DNA would be needed to confirm the victim's identity.
Mr Taylor said his brother had been unwell and may have been asleep when the bushfire ripped through Yarloop.
"I don't think there's any cause for blame on the death of my brother, I think it's just a sad circumstance," he said.
"He just wasn't able to be alerted."
Mr Taylor described his brother, who moved to Yarloop about three years ago, as a "dinky-di Aussie".
Shortly after leaving school, Les joined the army and fought in conflicts, including Vietnam where he was injured on duty, and eventually finished his service with the army after 18 years.
"He was very proud of his service," Mr Taylor said.
Mr Taylor said his brother, who he last spoke to at Christmas, was well-known and sociable among friends.
"He, in his own way, did share in the community and try to help people where he could because he didn't have a family that he had to do things for ... no close relatives ... so he looked outside into the community and that's part of the reason why he was quite well-known down there."
Dave Phillips said by the time he was able to reach his friend Les' house it had already been razed.
"We couldn't get there ... you've got a guy like Squizzy sitting at his table listening to his wireless and all he's hearing is they're evacuating Waroona, Hamel and Harvey," he said.
Mr Phillips said 90 per cent of people did not get a text message before the fire hit Yarloop.
Others have also been critical of the response to the bushfire, forcing the Department of Fire and Emergency Services to defend its actions.
