SHARE: Bushfires have devastated the Perth Hills. Here is how you can help

Over 500 people still remain unsure how much damage has been done to their homes.

500 people in limbo – waiting to see just how the Perth Hills bushfire may have changed their lives.

Authorities have confirmed 52 homes have been lost in the area, with one tragic death of a local man trying to save his home.

Four people who had been missing were accounted for late yesterday.

DFES Fire Commissioner Wayne Gregson, said additional homes had also been partially damaged, leaving hundreds unsure of the damage to their homes.

The blaze, which has now been contained, flared at Parkerville yesterday morning and quickly spread to surrounding areas, including Stoneville and Mount Helena.

There is speculation it was sparked by a fallen power pole or line on a privately owned property but authorities are investigating.

At a community meeting yesterday, attended by over 500 people, residents were told that the fire zone is still too dangerous to return to their properties, but they may be allowed to briefly return to their homes to inspect the damage this morning.

As the full scale of the damage began to emerge Acting Premier Kim Hames announced a $1 milllion contribution towards the Lord Mayor’s Distress Relief for the fire victims.

The West Australian Government has made emergency relief payments of $3,000 available to those who have lost their homes, and $1,000 to residents whose homes have been damaged.

The Federal Government has also made emergency relief payments available.

A Facebook page has been set up to assist victims of the fires.

Laura Bellomo and Jen Schelfhout set up the Perth Hills Bushfire Assistance page when they heard of the devastation in the area.

“People run out and grab their wallet, a change of clothes and a phone but don’t take other bits and pieces,” Ms Bellomo told the Northern Daily Leader.

She said she expected more people to accept donated items following the news at yesterday’s community meeting that road blocks would likely stay in place for a few days.

Meanwhile residents have accused emergency services of not providing enough information about the situation.

Mount Helena resident Noelene Michels told the ABC that community patience was wearing thin.

She said emergency services have been “keeping people in the dark” regarding the ongoing situation.

Roger Underwood, a bushfire specialist told Perthnow that the “stay or go” message had been simplified to the point where it had actually become “terribly dangerous”.

He said that residents were still attempting to clean their gutters as the bushfires approached.

He said this type of preparation should have been completed months ago.

“What happened in Victoria on Black Saturday is a lot of people left their homes and then they were caught on the roads and died in their cars. People have read about that and I think the two reasons people stay behind is because they think they can save their house and assets, and/or they think they’re safer there.

“This message has got around that you’ve got to stay or go and that is a terribly dangerous message because it’s an abbreviation of the message that was originally designed after Ash Wednesday – which was stay if you are well prepared, and if you decided to go, go early.

“That’s the full message and that’s the correct message.”

The rest of the country now faces their own fire threats this week as the weather moves across Australia:

 Victoria

•  Total Fire Bans declared for most of Victoria today.
• For immediate fire information: http://emergency.vic.gov.au/#now

 South Australia

•  There is a total fire ban declared for much of South Australia today including the Adelaide Metropolitan area, Flinders, Mid North, Mt Lofty Ranges and Yorke Peninsula.
• For immediate fire information: http://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/site/home.jsp

 NSW:

• NSW has a total fire ban
• For immediate fire information: http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au

Other links and how you can help:

•  For immediate fire information in WA : http://www.dfes.wa.gov.au

• The WA State Government provides a range of relief measures to assist communities recover from an eligible natural event including bushfire  www.dfes.wa.gov.au
•  Federal Government emergency relief payments: www.disasterassist.gov.au
• Perth Hills Facebook Assistance page: www.facebook.com/groups/perthhillsbushfireassistance

To Donate:

• Western Australian Bushfire Appeal to donate via Salvation Army: www.salvationarmy.org.au
• Facebook page for the appeal www.facebook.com/pages/Perth-Hills-Bushfire-Appeal
• To donate big-ticket items or volunteer accommodation: http://volunteeringwa.org.au
• To donate to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Council: http://wawrc.org.au/donateHome.html