NSW bushfires: High temperatures and winds to bring firefighters’ biggest battle yet
Soaring temperatures and high winds have authorities fearing that a 400,000ha monster inferno could surge and join with a second bush blaze to form a mega fire circling Sydney. Exhausted firefighters are facing their biggest battle yet. DANGER MAP
NSW
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Tired NSW firefighters are continuing to grapple with dangerous conditions and soaring temperatures around the state as almost 100 bushfires rage, including two at emergency level to the west and south of Sydney.
Three fires near the state’s South Coast had by Thursday afternoon prompted an emergency warning, causing headaches for 1700 firefighters in the field.
An additional emergency warning was on Thursday afternoon declared for the persistent 411,000-hectare Gospers Mountain fire burning out of control on multiple fronts in the Wollemi National Park.
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Severe winds and surging temperatures have authorities fearing that the 400,000ha monster inferno could join with a nearby bush blaze to form a mega fire circling Sydney and leaving already exhausted firefighters with their biggest battle yet.
The biggest fire in the state, the Gospers Mountain blaze, has burned through more than 400,000ha north of the Blue Mountains National Park and has fire bosses worried about the possibility of it spreading south and merging with the Green Wattle Creek blaze tearing through the Kanangra-Boyd National Park.
Extreme fire danger warnings are in place for the Greater Sydney, Illawarra- Shoalhaven and Southern Ranges regions, while temperatures above 40C are expected statewide on Thursday and Saturday.
A statewide total fire ban will remain in place until at least midnight on Saturday and Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Thursday declared a week-long “state of emergency” granting special powers to the Rural Fire Service. RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons told reporters fire behaviour would be erratic due to volatile winds.
“While today is going to be a very bad day, dangerous day here in NSW, the forecast is that Saturday will be even worse, so we’re talking about very dangerous conditions over the coming days,” he said.
Mr Fitzsimmons said the main concern on Thursday would be fires surrounding Ulladulla and Batemans Bay on the South Coast, particularly the 100,000-hectare Currowan fire, as well as blazes behind the Warragamba Dam.
Both the Currowan fire and the Green Wattle Creek fire behind the dam were raised to emergency level on Thursday. Currowan has now been downgraded to Watch and Act.
The RFS said the 156,000-hectare Green Wattle Creek fire has crossed the railway line near Balmoral and advised people there – as well as in Buxton, Couridjah, Thirlmere, Tahmoor, Bargo and Yanderra – it is too late to leave. Three homes in the Balmoral area have been destroyed, the ABC reports.
The out-of-control Tianjara fire burning east towards Hyams Beach was also burning at emergency level and people in Jerrawangola and Wandandian have been urged to seek shelter as it is too late to leave.
At Gospers Mountain, fire activity has increased in the Itchenstoke area and the RFS says it is now too late to leave.
Mr Fitzsimmons said Australian Defence Force aircraft, logistics and operations expertise would be put to use fighting NSW fires over the coming days. “We know this is a precious time of year for families to connect and unite and spend time with one another but I would really reinforce the message of the premier to re-evaluate, consider and assess your travel options,” he said.
Air quality was hazardous or very poor across parts of the state on Thursday, and visibility levels across much of the Sydney basin were at hazardous level. The government’s “state of emergency” grants Mr Fitzsimmons the ability to control and co-ordinate resources and evacuate people from property. Mr Fitzsimmons will also be able to direct any NSW government agency to conduct or refrain from conducting its functions.
Ms Berejiklian says residents need to follow the advice of authorities over the next week and likely reconsider their Christmas plans.
“The decision to declare a state of emergency is not taken lightly. It normally only goes for seven days and you have to make sure conditions are serious enough for that declaration to be made,” she told reporters.
“You can’t afford for people to be complacent.”
