Raging wildfires have destroyed some 40 homes in Australia as flames engulfed around 2700 hectares of farming land north of the Western Australian capital Perth.

Hundreds of firefighters have been battling the inferno fuelled by searing heat and strong winds. Three firefighters have been treated for smoke inhalation and dehydration. Residents have been evacuated and state Prime Minister Colin Barnett has declared the blaze a natural disaster, freeing up emergency funds for those affected.

Wildfires are common during the summer in Australia and experts had warned that this year's fires could be particularly bad following one of the mildest winters on record. Cooler conditions and water-bombing helicopters are expected to get the fires under control.

Australia is still recovering from Black Saturday, when more than 2000 homes were lost in the state of Victoria last February in the country's worst natural disaster of modern times.

Wildfires in state of Victoria, Feb 2009, by ANP