NSW heatwave puts firefighters on edge
Fire crews battling dozens of blazes across the state are bracing for a three-day heatwave in NSW coastal regions this weekend, re-elevating bushfire danger for many beleaguered communities.
NSW
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Scorching temperatures forecast for NSW over the weekend will fan the flames of a disaster that has already killed 25 people, injured dozens and destroyed almost 2400 homes.
Fire crews battling dozens of blazes across the state are bracing for a three-day heatwave in NSW coastal regions, re-elevating bushfire danger for many beleaguered communities.
Authorities, meanwhile, have confirmed an additional 25 homes in NSW were destroyed and almost 300 saved in the most recent blazes, taking the total number of losses this season to 2399.
The death toll from the state’s unprecedented bushfire season climbed to 25 last week after a man’s body was found in a NSW south coast home on Friday. The 59-year-old man’s remains were found in a house in Bodalla, southwest of Moruya, after a bushfire raged through the area on Thursday.
Three US firefighters also died on Thursday when their aerial water tanker crashed northeast of Cooma. The families of the three men are expected to visit the Peak View crash site today.
The Bureau of Meteorology says the fire risk across the most-populated areas of NSW is set to escalate from Friday, with the NSW south coast, southeast regions and ACT likely the worst affected.
Western Sydney could also experience temperatures of up to 45C. This is due to a system of hot air moving south of the Australian continent which will help drag hot air across the NSW coast.
“It looks like fire danger is ramping up as we head into the weekend and Saturday will be the peak day again,” BOM meteorologist David Wilke said. Northern NSW will also experience bushfire danger through to Sunday.
The RFS encouraged NSW residents to prepare for tough conditions this weekend.
There are currently more than 55 fires burning across NSW, while a blaze in the Orroral Valley in the Namadgi National Park in the ACT is at emergency level.
Shoalhaven City Council has still urged visitors to return to the south coast to inject some much-need cash back into the local tourism industry. Shoalhaven Tourism Advisory Group chair Rob Crow said most towns remain unaffected directly by bushfires and need help.