NSW bushfire danger zones: latest warnings, what you need to know
Seven major fires in NSW have now been upgraded to emergency level with authorities warning it is now too late to leave some parts. LATEST INFORMATION HERE
NSW
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Seven Emergency Warning levels
Firefighters bracing for worsening conditions
Motorists told to avoid being on roads
Residents told too late to leave in some areas
Rural Fire Service chief Shane Fitzsimmons has a message for the state’s residents facing down fires: hang on.
Speaking about what he described was “an awful day” Mr Fitzsimmons said firefighters are preparing to receive a brief reprieve in the weather that he hopes will allow them to get on top of the fires ravaging parts of the state.
This comes as seven major fires in NSW have now been upgraded to emergency level with authorities warning it is now too late to leave some parts.
The fires are raging in Gospers Mountain, Green Wattle Creek, Grose Valley, Tianjara Currowan, Palmers Oaky and Clearys Lane, Wildes Meadow (Wingecarribee LGA).
“The next few days are going to be considerably better than what we are experiencing at the moment,” Mr Fitzsimmons said.
“And I understand the … next burst of hot air, hot weather, that is likely to impact is likely towards the end of next week or into the weekend.”
But there was also sobering news.
“We’re not going to get on top of these fires until we get some decent rain,” he said.
“We’ve been saying that for weeks and months. We are seeing a relentless pattern of hot, dry air, dominating out weather features at the moment.
“There is talk of shower activity coming into Christmas … indications are maybe 20mm in the north east of NSW.”
Other reports of 1mm in areas “is simply not going to do anything for the fire behaviour and the fire risk”, the RFS chief said.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology acting manager Jane Golding, the state is not expecting to see any “sustained rain” for the “next month or two’’.
Mr Fitzsimmons said he was yet to receive a conclusive report detailing the extent of the property damage but did confirm there had been no known deaths.
“We have had reports of homes being damaged and/or destroyed in the fires near Lithgow,” he said.
“And again this afternoon there was some report of getting close to buildings down near Balmoral but I haven’t got any confirmation of damage or destruction at this stage.
“I did have a firefighter reported needing some treatment from colleagues and ambulance intervention down at … the Wattle Creek fire at Balmoral.”
NSW Ambulance commissioner Dominic Morgan confirmed four people had been treated for heat exhaustion.
Mr Fitzsimmons said he was not aware of any of the fires merging to create super fire fronts.
“I am not aware of any fires merging today, but given the dryness of the landscape and the way these fires are burning we can’t rule out more of these fires continuing to grow and connecting up with each other,” he said.
The smoke that has blanketed Sydney in recent weeks was actually a blessing in disguise, Mr Fitzsimmons said.
“In the Greater Sydney environment we’ve seen the benefit of so much smoke around, insulating us once again and preventing some of the temperatures getting as high as we might have thought for this time of the day, which is a good thing,” he said.
Despite the good fortune, Mr Fitzsimmons said: “It’s been a tough day.”
A fire-generated thunderstorm has formed over the Currowan & Tianjara fires in the Shoalhaven, and another may form over the Gospers Mountain fire. This is a very dangerous situation. Monitor the conditions around you and take appropriate action. #nswfires #nswrfs pic.twitter.com/b1kiNNkB2e
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) December 21, 2019
“I’ve been looking at some of the weather stations, I’ve seen us tipping in to catastrophic down in the southern ranges,” he said.
“I think we’re only one indice off catastrophic down in through the Shoalhaven and the smoke seems to be working as an insulator in the Greater Sydney environment.
“We’re certainly tipping into severe and it might have been extreme already but we’re certainly not hitting the catastrophic at this stage but we’ve still got a couple of hours to go but hopefully we don’t get there.”
However, the RFS boss would not be drawn on the issue of lack of funding from the government.
Asked if the government was providing enough resources, Mr Fitzsimmons said: “Absolutely. We have got extraordinary support and co-operation.
“We’ve never seen the co-ordinated and multi agency approach in NSW working better.”
CATASTROPHIC BUSHFIRES
RFS has issued an emergency warning for the whole of Lithgow amid reports of homes on fire.
The warning is telling people to be aware of ember attacks. RFS volunteers said homes are burning along Donald St.
A hill behind the township is also alight.
A NSW RFS spokeswoman said the Grose Valley north of Katoomba was upgraded to an emergency level at 1.30pm.
This came as the Currowan and Tianjara fires on the NSW South Coast were upgraded to emergency just minutes later as the horrific summer conditions ramped up.
These maps show potential ember attack that may come from fires today & overnight, based on the current fire conditions & latest wind forecasts. Maps also illustrates potential for fires to break containment lines or spot over in areas. If in these areas you need to be ready now. pic.twitter.com/3hsbEwh07D
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) December 21, 2019
The Gospers Mountain fire, in the Lithgow and Hawkesbury areas, and Green Wattle Creek fire, south west of Sydney, were earlier upgraded to emergency level.
Meanwhile, in the Hunter Region, the Kerry Ridge fire was upgraded to watch and act level while the Upper Turon Rd fire in Palmers Oakley was adjusted to the same level.
“It is now too late to leave areas affected by the Grose Valley fires,” an RFS spokeswoman said.
According to the RFS website, anyone still in the Hartley Vale and Mount Victoria areas are urged to take shelter in a solid structure to protect from the heat of the fire.
In the Wollondilly area, it is now too late to leave the Hill Top area.
The Gospers Mountain affecting the Lithgow and Hawkesbury areas is at emergency level and it is now too late to leave Bell, Clarence and Dargan.
The immediate threat in the Lithgow, Hermitage Flat, McKellars Park and Cobar Park had eased, according to NSW Rural Fire Service.
Residents in Oaky Park, Morts Estate, Corney Town and Vale of Clwydd were being told to watch out for embers.
Over in Wolgan Valley, the fire had crossed Wolgan Road and was burning in the Ben Bullen State Forest.
In Kurrajong, the fire was “approximately” 8km west of the town.
In the south, residents in Hill Top were told it was too late to leave with the approaching Green Wattle Creek fire moving rapidly towards the town.
A NSW RFS spokeswoman said: “A warning has been issued for the areas of Bilpin to Kurrajong Heights, near Lithgow, about 12.30pm and that residents planning to evacuate should leave now.”
The townships along the Bells Line of Road were also given the same warning, the spokeswoman said.
Residents of those areas are advised to head east towards Richmond.
According to the RFS website, similar warnings have been issued for the Green Wattle Creek fire, which is threatening the Wollondilly area south west of Sydney.
Residents have been warned it is too late to leave the Hill Top area.
Anyone in the Burnt Flat, Paling Flat, Long Flat and Bullio areas who is planning to leave is advised to do so now and head towards Mittagong.