Fire closes Bungles

The Purnululu National Park (Bungle Bungle) has been closed and tourists evacuated.

Lightning strikes on Saturday evening and Saturday night started fires near the northeastern end of the park and northeast of Piccaninny Gorge.

The fires have spread and 14 Conservation and Land Management staff were fighting the fires on Tuesday night.

CALM spokesman John Gault said CALM officers were hoping to reopen the park tomorrow (Friday).

On Monday morning an eyewitness said the fires were spreading in different directions, fanned by variable winds.

Tour operators at Bellburn Camp said the fires lit up the sky on Monday evening.

The first lightning strike was witnessed by a group of Connections tourists on a tour with East Kimberley Tours.

Rain on Saturday afternoon and evening failed to extinguish the fires.