Dozens of bushfires burn across New South Wales as crews battle high winds
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Version 0 of 1. Fifty-seven fires burned across New South Wales on Saturday, several out of control, as firefighters contended with strong winds. An emergency warning was issued for Cessnock in the Hunter Valley. Fire services warned people in the area around Racecourse Road at Cessnock to leave or seek shelter as a fast-moving fire approached. UPDATE- Fire now approaching township of Kearsley, Sth east of #Cessnock @nbnnews pic.twitter.com/cbhI0gmVfo A large DC10 air tanker helped crews on the ground fight the fire on multiple fronts. Watch and Act warnings were issued for out of control bushfires near the Pacific Highway at Balickera, north of Newcastle, and at King Creek near Wauchope on the mid-north coast. Total fire bans were declared along the NSW north coast, with winds up to 60km/h and temperatures in the mid-30s. In Sydney, former prime minister Tony Abbott donned his volunteer firefighting gear to help contain a blaze that broke out near houses in Castle Cove in Sydney’s north. A helicopter water bombed the fire that was burning behind properties, NSW Rural Fire Service said. Also on Saturday, a massive blaze at a car wrecking yard at Revesby in Sydney’s southwest caused thick black smoke to blanket the area. Two men were taken to hospital as 100 firefighters battled the fire. On Friday a bushfire destroyed at least one home and damaged other properties at Llandilo in Sydney’s west when it spread over 300 hectares. A 16-year-old boy has been charged with intentionally causing a fire and being reckless as to its spread and is due to face a children’s court next month. Two other people, a 21-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy, were arrested over the same fire but later released without charge, pending further inquiries. |