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NSW braces for severe heatwave as bushfire threatens Blue Mountains homes NSW braces for severe heatwave as bushfire threatens Blue Mountains homes
(32 minutes later)
Reports of properties burnt as New South Wales prepares for hot weather and continuing firesReports of properties burnt as New South Wales prepares for hot weather and continuing fires
New South Wales is preparing for severe heatwave conditions in the coming week as residents in the path of the major Gospers Mountain blaze were told it was too late to leave. NSW is preparing for severe heatwave conditions in the coming week after an emergency warning was issued for the major Gospers Mountain blaze on Sunday afternoon.
An emergency warning was issued on Sunday afternoon for the Gospers Mountain fire, which is more than 378,000 hectares in size, with reports properties had been burnt. The fire was at “watch and act” level early Monday after firefighters worked overnight to contain the blaze around Mt Wilson, Mt Tomah and Berambing, but there are fears a number of homes and buildings have been lost.
The Rural Fire Service said the fire was impacting Mount Wilson, Mount Irvine, Mount Tomah and Berambing. Embers were also falling in the Bilpin area and could start new fires ahead of the main fire front. “Fire activity has reduced and there is currently no immediate threat,” the NSW Rural Fire Service said.
Early on Monday the RFS advised residents in these areas that fire activity was increasing. “It is too late to leave. Seek shelter as the fire approaches. Protect yourself from the heat of the fire,” it said. “Firefighters are actively patrolling the fireground.”
One watch and act alert was also in place early on Monday. The fire ground stretches from the Lithgow area in the west, through the Hawkesbury area and towards the Central Coast in the east.
The RFS deputy commissioner, Rob Rogers, told ABC TV on Sunday evening there were reports of properties being impacted and some being alight. But authorities have warned there’s a risk that embers from the fire could fall in the Bilpin area, starting new blazes ahead of the main fire front.
A home at Mount Wilson was lost and several sheds and buildings at Mount Tomah were destroyed, the Daily Telegraph reported. So far the fire had burned through almost 380,000 hectares.
On Sunday an emergency warning was issued for Gospers Mountain and there were reports some properties had been lost in the Mt Tomah and Mt Wilson areas.
A home at Mount Wilson was lost and several sheds and buildings at Mount Tomah were destroyed, The Daily Telegraph reported on Monday.
The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast severe heatwave conditions will hit most of NSW by the end of the coming week.The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast severe heatwave conditions will hit most of NSW by the end of the coming week.
With 110 fires burning in the state the RFS is concerned about conditions from Wednesday onwards, according to Rogers. With 110 fires burning in NSW the RFS is concerned about conditions from Wednesday onwards.
“There’s going to be a lot of work going on over the next 24 hours to try and just see what we can do to protect as many properties as we can, but people should be under no illusions – we’re not going to get this fire put out – and we’re going to have to get through this next week of really hot weather with these fires being very active,” he told the ABC. “There’s going to be a lot of work going on over the next 24 hours to try and just see what we can do to protect as many properties as we can, but people should be under no illusions,” RFS deputy commissioner Rob Rogers said on Sunday night.
Total fire bans are in place for Monday for the far north coast, central ranges, New England, northern slopes and north-western fire regions, with the latter four under severe fire danger. “We’re going to have to get through this next week of really hot weather with these fires being very active.”
Six people have died and 2.7m hectares have been scorched so far this fire season. Some 724 homes, 49 facilities and 1,582 outbuildings have been destroyed. Total fire bans are in place for Monday for the Central Ranges, North Western, Northern Slopes and New England areas where the fire danger rating has been set at “severe”.
Six people have died and 2.7 million hectares have been scorched so far this fire season. Some 724 homes, 49 facilities and 1,582 outbuildings had been destroyed.