NSW facing severe bushfire danger on Friday, RFS warns
Deteriorating weather has put firefighters on high alert again, with several parts of NSW facing severe bushfire conditions on Friday. The toll of the crisis engulfing the state continues to grow.
NSW
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Fire danger in some parts of NSW has risen to severe as hot, dry, windy conditions put an end to a brief reprieve for bushfire-hit areas of the state.
Raging fires over the past week have claimed four lives and destroyed more than 300 homes.
While conditions eased following a “catastrophic” danger rating earlier in the week, the forecast of hot, dry weather once again poses a threat on Friday.
More than 1300 firefighters have worked overnight on the 59 bush or grass fires currently burning across NSW at 6am, with 35 not yet contained. Five fires remain at the Watch and Act alert level. There's an increased risk of fire today with 8 areas under a Total Fire Ban. #NSWRFS pic.twitter.com/wMUxd9Z6kF
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) November 14, 2019
A severe fire danger rating is in place for the far north coast, north coast, Greater Hunter, Greater Sydney Region and Illawarra-Shoalhaven and large parts of the state are under total fire bans.
“Even though the situation has improved in many areas over the past couple of days, it’s still volatile and important to continue to closely monitor,” the Bureau of Meteorology NSW tweeted.
The fire at Bora Ridge burning southeast of Casino flared up to emergency level on Thursday, with eight others at “watch and act” level.
More than 1600 firefighters were battling some 60 bushfires on Thursday night, more than half of which were uncontained, the Rural Fire Service said.
As news broke that the death toll had risen to four, harrowing details emerged of the latest victim’s frightening last hours.
Barry Parsons’ body was discovered in bushland on the southern end of the Kyuna Track at Willawarrin, near Kempsey, on Wednesday night, five days after he was last seen.
The last post on a Facebook page in the 58-year-old’s name described Friday’s apocalyptic conditions.
“Seriously looks and sounds like apocolyse (sic) out there . F**ked up being on your own in these times,” it read.
Mr Parsons had reportedly been living alone in a shed in the remote area.
News of his death follows that of Julie Fletcher, 63, who died in the town of Johns River, and Wytaliba locals Vivian Chaplain, 69, and elderly man George Nole.
About 60 schools will remain closed on Friday.
The Insurance Council of Australia said insurers had received 730 claim applications, with initial losses totalling $80 million.
Originally published as NSW facing severe bushfire danger on Friday, RFS warns