Bushfires are destroying homes on the NSW south coast as blazes rage across the state
Bushfires are destroying homes on the NSW south coast as blazes rage across the state
- Wildfires destroyed homes
- About 80 fires were burning in NSW
Homes have been lost on the NSW south coast after firefighters battled a major blaze overnight.
The NSW Rural Fire Service confirmed properties had been lost but could not say the exact number or location as field assessment teams had yet to arrive to conduct an assessment.
There were no reports of missing persons.
Crews got some relief when a cool southerly change moved across the fireground early Wednesday morning.
While the fire continues to burn near the popular holiday resort of Bermagui and neighboring Cuttagee and Barragga Bay, the threat warning has been downgraded to pay attention and act.
But Commissioner Rob Rogers urged residents not to be complacent as the fire danger remained and to stay abreast of RFS warnings.
Homes have been lost on the NSW south coast after firefighters battled a major blaze overnight
The NSW Rural Fire Service confirmed properties had been lost but could not say the exact number or location as field assessment teams had yet to arrive to conduct an assessment
“We know that property has been lost, we just don’t know how much, and that work will obviously continue this morning,” he told Nine’s Today Show on Wednesday.
‘The good news is that there are no reports of anyone missing at this time, which is good to hear, but we need to confirm that everyone is doing well in those areas as there are many scattered properties where firefighters were struggling to get in. .’
The south coast fire is still over 5,000 hectares in size and continues to burn near homes in the Cuttagee, Barragga Bay, Murrah, Bunga and Goalen Head areas.
“Firefighters are working in the area to slow the spread of the fire,” the RFS said.
The southerly change that moved through the fire pit overnight has brought cooler temperatures, higher humidity and some rain.
Evacuation centers remain in place in Bega and Narooma.
Conditions have also improved in other parts of NSW after firefighters battled about 80 bushfires on Tuesday.
Three total fire bans are in effect for Wednesday in the Greater Hunter and further inland in the Northern Slopes and North West areas, where fire danger ratings range from high to extreme.
“Warm to hot and dry, with fresh and gusty winds from the north expected on Wednesday,” the Bureau of Meteorology said.
The south coast fire is still over 5,000 hectares in size and continues to burn near homes in the Cuttagee, Barragga Bay, Murrah, Bunga and Goalen Head areas.
Temperatures reached 37.2 degrees Celsius at Sydney Airport on Tuesday, while the city centre, Penrith, Gosford and Nowra all reached 35 degrees Celsius
Temperatures reached 37.2 degrees Celsius at Sydney Airport on Tuesday, while the city centre, Penrith, Gosford and Nowra all reached 35 degrees Celsius.
Temperatures are as much as 15 degrees above the average October maximum for the same locations.
These highs are unlikely to be recorded on Wednesday, with temperatures forecast in the high 20s for Greater Sydney.
This bushfire season is expected to be the worst in NSW since the Black Summer of 2019-2020.
Prime Minister Chris Minns said predictions of a “horrific” bushfire season were one of the things keeping him awake at night.
‘I don’t want anyone to get too confident; this could be a very tough bushfire season,” he said on Tuesday.