Sydney and NS feel the burn of a hot summer

BRAVE firefighters held flames away from homes as out-of-control fires burned across the state amid scorching temperatures today.

BRAVE firefighters today held flames away from homes as out-of-control fires burned across the state amid scorching temperatures.

More than 100 firefighters were tonight still battling a blaze which had burnt more than 180ha near Cessnock, but which they had earlier fought back just metres from dozens of homes.

And while a southerly change will bring cooler temperatures and some relief tomorrow, the mercury is expected to again soar and could top 40C again next week.

The fire rages out of control north of Cessnock. Picture: Peter Lorimer

Fire crews at work. Picture: Peter Lorimer

Property protection was a high priority. Picture: Peter Lorimer

Penrith peaked at 43.5C today, making it hotter than even Tibooburra in the far northwest which reached 42.7C in the afternoon.

As NSW Health warned people to monitor children and the elderly for heatstroke, Opposition education spokesman Jihad Dib raised concerns about the lack of airconditioning in some schools, particularly in halls where many end-of-term events were held.

The fire explodes through the tree tops. Picture: Peter Lorimer

“It’s really tough on the students, it can become so hot especially with all the lights blazing in the halls,” he said, adding a number of schools did not have the funds to run expensive airconditioners while others did not have the power capacity.

And many people were left to swelter in their homes, or seek relief elsewhere, with intermittent electricity blackouts in suburbs across Sydney from Wednesday night and into today.

Where there’s smoke ... Picture: Peter Lorimer

A possum flees from the fire. Picture: Peter Lorimer

A firefighter pauses to watch the possum get to safety. Picture: Peter Lorimer

More than 10 fires were burning tonight including at Cessnock, where residents had earlier been told to evacuate as the heat and strong northwest winds fanned flames, which continued to creep forward despite helicopter waterbombing.

A waterbombing helicopter targeting a blaze behind houses. Picture: Peter Lorimer

Rural fire services firefighters managed to push back the flames just metres from homes but residents ­will remain on alert overnight.

A Bureau of Meteorology forecaster said the heat was expected to “back off” around coastal areas tomorrow but warned the rest of the state would still endure ­extreme conditions.

Monitoring. Picture: Peter Lorimer

Blazing. Picture: Peter Lorimer

And while a cool front would soon send temperatures plummeting, they will spike again soon.

Fires were expected to keep burning overnight. Picture: Peter Lorimer

Waterbombing helicopters were a welcome sight. Picture: Peter Lorimer

“By next Wednesday it could reach up to 40C again.

“We want people to ensure they’re prepared and have a plan,” the spokesman said.