Forest fire claims 44 houses in Australia

At least 44 houses have been destroyed in a forestfire on the outskirts of Australia's west-coast city of Perth, dpa quoted officials as saying Monday.The blaze at Parkerville, 35 kilometres west of Perth, is burningwithin containment lines after over 100 firefighters stopped a wallof flame that in places reached 20 metres.Department of Fire and Emergency Services spokesman Russell Jonestold national broadcaster ABC that more burned-out houses might befound as brigades moved through the hill country behind Perth.The fires took hold in strong winds that followed two consecutivedays of temperatures above 40 degrees.Hundreds of people staying in evacuation centres have yet to learnwhether they still have a home go to back to.