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NSW bushfires this week a taste of things to come NSW bushfires this week a taste of things to come
(7 days later)
New South Wales and Victoria have been warned to expect a fierce bushfire season, with the head of a government-funded research body warning that bushfire prospects are “as bad as we’ve seen in quite some time”.New South Wales and Victoria have been warned to expect a fierce bushfire season, with the head of a government-funded research body warning that bushfire prospects are “as bad as we’ve seen in quite some time”.
Dr Richard Thornton, chief executive of the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre, told Guardian Australia that the fires that have raged in NSW this week are “unusually early” but are consistent with a heightened risk of bushfires in the state over the coming months.Dr Richard Thornton, chief executive of the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre, told Guardian Australia that the fires that have raged in NSW this week are “unusually early” but are consistent with a heightened risk of bushfires in the state over the coming months.
A Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC forecast for bushfires this coming spring and summer states that “large areas” of southern Australia face a raised threat of fire, fuelled by an unusually warm winter and an abundance of burnable vegetation, grown after rain earlier in the year.A Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC forecast for bushfires this coming spring and summer states that “large areas” of southern Australia face a raised threat of fire, fuelled by an unusually warm winter and an abundance of burnable vegetation, grown after rain earlier in the year.
“This is as bad as we’ve seen in quite some time, especially in populated parts of NSW,” Thornton said. “The fires around Sydney have highlighted the fact there is an above average bushfire season expected in NSW this year. It’s not unprecedented, but 32-degree temperatures and howling winds make for pretty bad conditions.“This is as bad as we’ve seen in quite some time, especially in populated parts of NSW,” Thornton said. “The fires around Sydney have highlighted the fact there is an above average bushfire season expected in NSW this year. It’s not unprecedented, but 32-degree temperatures and howling winds make for pretty bad conditions.
“There is a high potential for bad fires this season in Victoria, NSW and Queensland. We have seen in the past few weeks that the risk has moved away from forested regions into grasslands, where fires can start quickly and change direction rapidly.”“There is a high potential for bad fires this season in Victoria, NSW and Queensland. We have seen in the past few weeks that the risk has moved away from forested regions into grasslands, where fires can start quickly and change direction rapidly.”
More than 60 fires broke out across NSW on Tuesday, as temperatures hit 30 degrees in some parts of the state. Two properties, one at Winmalee and one at Marsden Park in western Sydney, have been destroyed.More than 60 fires broke out across NSW on Tuesday, as temperatures hit 30 degrees in some parts of the state. Two properties, one at Winmalee and one at Marsden Park in western Sydney, have been destroyed.
The NSW rural fire service said on Wednesday that it was working to contain a bushfire around Winmalee and Hawkesbury Heights in the Blue Mountains, which has burned through more than 900 hectares of bushland.The NSW rural fire service said on Wednesday that it was working to contain a bushfire around Winmalee and Hawkesbury Heights in the Blue Mountains, which has burned through more than 900 hectares of bushland.
It warned that an increase in winds in the afternoon would pose an additional risk in the area. However, a number of other fires in the state have now been contained.It warned that an increase in winds in the afternoon would pose an additional risk in the area. However, a number of other fires in the state have now been contained.
A paper produced by the Royal Meteorological Society last year showed that there was a significant increase in bushfire conditions between 1973 and 2010. The study found that fire weather rose dramatically in 16 of the 38 sites examined across Australia. Experts have cited climate change as the cause behind the shift in bushfire seasons.A paper produced by the Royal Meteorological Society last year showed that there was a significant increase in bushfire conditions between 1973 and 2010. The study found that fire weather rose dramatically in 16 of the 38 sites examined across Australia. Experts have cited climate change as the cause behind the shift in bushfire seasons.
The fires have had an impact beyond damaged property, the NSW Rural Fire Service reporting that two firefighters were injured with burns and five more have needed medical assistance for smoke inhalation. The Asthma Foundation of NSW has warned the 700,000 people in NSW with asthma to take extra care due to the fires.The fires have had an impact beyond damaged property, the NSW Rural Fire Service reporting that two firefighters were injured with burns and five more have needed medical assistance for smoke inhalation. The Asthma Foundation of NSW has warned the 700,000 people in NSW with asthma to take extra care due to the fires.
Meanwhile, there are reports that the warmer winter and unseasonably hot spring weather has caused an early blossom. Winemakers in NSW have said that they have seen the earliest bud bursts, which is when wine grapes start to emerge, in 40 years.Meanwhile, there are reports that the warmer winter and unseasonably hot spring weather has caused an early blossom. Winemakers in NSW have said that they have seen the earliest bud bursts, which is when wine grapes start to emerge, in 40 years.
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