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Two WA firefighters still critical

Two women firefighters who suffered life threatening burns remain in a critical condition in Royal Perth Hospital.

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Source: AAP


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A spokesman for the hospital said on Saturday both had been badly burnt, with one in a critical condition and the other in a critical but stable condition.

WA Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) state duty director Bruce Jones said the firefighters were from the Department of Environment and Conservation and the local bushfire brigade who were responding to a fire in a pine plantation at Albany on Friday night.

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"Preliminary reports state that the firefighters were caught when strong winds caused the fire to suddenly change direction on a slope," he said in a statement.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service despatched two aircraft to Albany to transport the two women to Perth.

One aged 45 suffered burns to 60 per cent of her body and other aged 24 suffered burns to 40 per cent of her body, a Royal Flying Doctor Service spokeswoman said.

The incident will be investigated by fire investigators, police and other authorities.

FESA said the fire had burned some 1000 hectares and continued to burn on private property adjacent to pine plantations near the Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve, east of Albany.

"It is contained but not controlled," FESA said in an update on its website.

Forty Bush Fire Service and Department of Environment and Conservation firefighters are now strengthening containment lines, assisted by police, local State Emergency Service and other volunteers.

Another bushfire northeast of Perth in Chittering Shire has been declared contained and brought under control after burning 200 hectares.


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