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Communities Rally To Help Those Affected By Devastating Bushfires In Western Australia

Amid The Bushfire Devastation, Communities Offer Tents, Emergency Agistment
Photo taken on August 31, 2010 shows a forest fire which has already destroyed 2.600 hectares near the French southern city of Assas. AFP PHOTO / PASCAL GUYOT (Photo credit should read PASCAL GUYOT/AFP/Getty Images)
PASCAL GUYOT via Getty Images
Photo taken on August 31, 2010 shows a forest fire which has already destroyed 2.600 hectares near the French southern city of Assas. AFP PHOTO / PASCAL GUYOT (Photo credit should read PASCAL GUYOT/AFP/Getty Images)

Western Australian communities are rallying to help residents who have lost homes or been evacuated from devastating fires that have ripped through the town of Yarloop, south of Perth.

An emergency warning remains in place for several other Western Australian towns, including Preston Beach, Harvey, and Waroona.

But with reports much of the town has been destroyed and with hundreds evacuated from Yarloop and Harvey, residents have been benefiting from the kindness of strangers.

Many Western Australian residents are posting offers for beds, food, and clothes online.

Others are pledging to donate to assist those who have lost homes, possessions, or property.

“I am so sorry for your loss. I do not know how you move on from this but I am certain there will be lots of help out there for you to navigate through this horrendous situation you find yourself in. Many of us will donate as much as we can,” Joy Devenish said on Facebook.

Hi guys We have heard that people have lost houses in Yarloop if you have any clothes etc please take them to the...

Posted by Bunbury WA Crime Reports on Thursday, January 7, 2016

As details on what has happened in these small towns remains limited, local residents are turning to social media and community paper Facebook pages to share information and remain up-to-date.

Others are offering up their land to help house horses, pets, and other livestock placed at risk as the fires tear through paddocks and farmland.

The WA Equine Emergency Facebook group is collecting some of these offers.

“I'm in Pinjarra and have paddocks and stables too, as well as beds and can also have other animals,” Jay Delaney wrote on the page.

“I can be a bushfire buddy, can take at least 10 horses in a single paddock. We are in Hopeland and require a buddy who can accommodate stallions if necessary,” Fiona Wood-Ainslie wrote.

Anyone need somewhere to evacuate horses to?

Posted by WA Equine Emergency on Wednesday, January 6, 2016

In November, Western Australia showed its support for victims of a bushfire in Esperance that burnt through hundreds of thousands of hectares of land and killed four people. Businesses and organisations offered donations, counselling, and support for firefighters.

People who want to help the victims of the Waroona bushfire can donate to the Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery fund.

The Southbound festival has been cancelled due to the safety risk posed by the fire but festival organisers are working to let ticketholders donate part or all of their ticket refund to fire victims.

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