More than 140 properties have been destroyed, including 121 homes in Yarloop, the West Australian Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) said.
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Wildfires are an annual summer event in Australia, but rising temperatures have prompted some scientists to warn that climate change could increase the length and intensity of the summer fire season.
Three people who had been unaccounted for earlier have now been located and evacuated to safety, The Australian reports.
The massive bushfire destroyed most of the buildings in Yarloop – emergency services have updated the number of properties destroyed to 143.
Yarloop residents spoke of how the bushfire tore through their town in just seven minutes, as aerial footage showed blackened ground, burnt-out shells of vehicles and houses reduced to brick fireplaces.
Officials have confirmed the bushfire, that has been raging for four days claimed its first lives, while two other people are still unaccounted for.
An emergency warning for the towns of Cookernup and Harvey has been downgraded to a watch and act.
“Once it hit the town there was no stopping it because the houses were just exploding”, he said.
Suncorp Group, which owns brands such as AAMI and GIO, said insurers were continuing to call for improved natural catastrophe mitigation strategies including better town planning to lessen the future impact of bush fires.
A family member said that no one heard from him since Thursday evening before the blaze.
“There’s very little of Yarloop left”. Conditions will remain hot – though not as extreme as they were this week – and windy into next week, which could make it a continued challenge for firefighters.
“I’m pleased to say that the overwhelming majority heeded our warnings”, he said.
“I went out the back and it was all around us”.
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“We have been at war with mother nature in the past week and I am proud of the way our people have responded”.
