Western Australia's Bushfire Season Comes to a Smoky Close

Smoke from prescribed burns and bushfires in Western Australia has filled the skies south of Perth, with dozens of blazes burning across the state's southwest. Prescribed burns are intended to reduce the build-up of flammable fuels and reduce the severity of bushfires, but winds can still carry the smoke far from the source. The Parks and Wildlife Service issued a smoke alert for the area warning of reduced visibility and potential health effects for people with respiratory or cardiovascular illnesses.