AUSTRALIA – Multiple bushfires in Western Australia on Monday Dec. 15, reached emergency levels, threatening lives and property, amid non-functioning communication system.

On Monday, as five fires were at emergency level, the state’s emergency website crashed temporarily due to a data processing issue, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) said in a statement.

The issue was attributed to a technical issue, with the website now restored.

Around 250 firefighters tackled fires in the Midwest, near Warradarge and Mogumber, while other warnings were issued in Boonanarring, Cullalla, and parts of Chittering and Bindoon.

Some evacuation centers have been set up, including in Gingin and Mandurah.

By 8 pm (1200GMT), nine fires were at the “watch and act” level, prompting evacuation and preparation advice.

The fires in Nambeelup and Chittering were likely caused by lightning, according to DFES Assistant Commissioner Paul Carr.

The Warradarge fire burned over 7,000 hectares of land, closing parts of Brand Highway, while an earlier warning for Brigadoon and Gidgegannup was downgraded.

A fire in Chittering, believed to be deliberately lit, has been downgraded to an advice level as firefighters worked to contain it, according to DFES incident controller Murray McBride.

The fires came amid widespread power outages caused by storms that began Saturday and have affected up to 115,000 properties.