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NSW bushfires: emergency warning issued in Hunter and teenagers arrested over blazes NSW bushfires: Cessnock residents told it's too late to leave as bushfire threatens town
(35 minutes later)
Firefighters continue to battle dozens of bushfires across New South Wales, with residents of Karuah in the NSW Hunter region being told to take shelter as a bushfire front approaches the town. Residents in suburbs of Cessnock in the New South Wales Hunter Valley have been told it is too late to leave as a bushfire threatens the town.
The NSW Rural Fire Service issued emergency warnings on Saturday as firefighters and aircraft battle to contain the blaze. The NSW Rural Fire Service issued the emergency warning on Sunday afternoon telling residents of Abernethy and Kitchener to seek shelter.
The fire that started in Lone Pine Road, Balickera, crossed the Pacific Highway near Tarean Road and moved east along Scotts Road towards Karuah. It has now jumped the Karuah river. An emergency warning also remains in place for the Lone Pine fire at Port Stephens.
Nine Mile Creek residents should take advice from firefighters on the ground while residents of Limeburners Creek, Swan Bay and North Arm Cove are advised to monitor the situation closely. The Pacific Highway has been closed in both directions at Twelve Mile Creek. The fire started in Balickera and travelled east across the Pacific Highway and the Karuah river and is threatening the town of Karuah, where locals have been told to take shelter.
Firefighters and aircraft are battling both blazes as strengthening winds increase fire activity in the area.
Nine Mile Creek residents should take advice from firefighters on the ground while residents of Limeburners Creek, Swan Bay and North Arm Cove are being advised to monitor the situation closely.
The Pacific Highway has been closed in both directions at Twelve Mile Creek.
Several watch and act alerts have also been issued for the Forster-Tuncurry area on Sunday but the RFS says it has gained the upper hand.
Fire crews are battling out-of-control bushfires on Hind Avenue and The Lakes Way in Forster as well as grass fires on Churchill Road in Forster and Point Road in Tuncurry.
Firefighters continue to battle dozens of bushfires across New South Wales.
Hot and windy conditions are hampering firefighters’ efforts to battle blazes, with teenage boys blamed for starting two of them.Hot and windy conditions are hampering firefighters’ efforts to battle blazes, with teenage boys blamed for starting two of them.
Two 16-year-olds are believed to be behind a bushfire north of Newcastle that spread out of control after they lit a campfire on Saturday during a total fire ban in the Shoal Bay area near Port Stephens.Two 16-year-olds are believed to be behind a bushfire north of Newcastle that spread out of control after they lit a campfire on Saturday during a total fire ban in the Shoal Bay area near Port Stephens.
The fire burnt out an acre of bushland and the boys were detained by locals before they were arrested by police. They will be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act.The fire burnt out an acre of bushland and the boys were detained by locals before they were arrested by police. They will be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act.
More than 1100 firefighters spent Saturday battling 65 bushfires across NSW, including five out of control.More than 1100 firefighters spent Saturday battling 65 bushfires across NSW, including five out of control.
Firefighters in the NSW Hunter region spent Saturday night backburning in an effort to contain two major blazes that have burnt through a combined area of more than a thousand hectares of bushland.
On Sunday morning the NSW Rural Fire Service says the Lone Pine Road fire in Port Stephens has spread from Balickera to Limeburners Creek and the Wallaroo state forest and Karuah national park.
“This morning crews will be assessing the success of those backburns and be identifying further containment options in an effort to contain the fire,” the RFS said on Sunday.
The blaze forced the closure of the Pacific Highway in both directions at Twelve Mile Creek on Sunday morning.
At Cessnock, 175 firefighters worked through Saturday to battle a bushfire that burned through more than 515 hectares of land and threatened about 50 homes at Cessnock, Aberdare and North Kitchener. An emergency warning was twice put in place for the blaze but was on Saturday evening downgraded to a watch and act by the Rural Fire Service.At Cessnock, 175 firefighters worked through Saturday to battle a bushfire that burned through more than 515 hectares of land and threatened about 50 homes at Cessnock, Aberdare and North Kitchener. An emergency warning was twice put in place for the blaze but was on Saturday evening downgraded to a watch and act by the Rural Fire Service.
Building impact assessment teams were due to visit the fireground on Sunday to assess property damage.Building impact assessment teams were due to visit the fireground on Sunday to assess property damage.
“Overnight fire activity was quiet across the fireground,” the RFS said of that fire. “This enabled crews to start backburning in a number of areas in an effort to start controlling the fire.”“Overnight fire activity was quiet across the fireground,” the RFS said of that fire. “This enabled crews to start backburning in a number of areas in an effort to start controlling the fire.”
A watch and act alert has been downgraded to an advice notice for an uncontained blaze that closed the Pacific Highway at Kundabung on the NSW north coast, with firefighters protecting homes at nearby South Kempsey.
The blazes were fanned by hot and gusty conditions, with winds up to 89km/h blasting NSW on Saturday, with conditions easing at night.The blazes were fanned by hot and gusty conditions, with winds up to 89km/h blasting NSW on Saturday, with conditions easing at night.
A 16-year-old boy was charged on Saturday morning after a bushfire which destroyed at least one home and damaged other properties in Sydney’s west on Friday.A 16-year-old boy was charged on Saturday morning after a bushfire which destroyed at least one home and damaged other properties in Sydney’s west on Friday.
It began in the Llandilo area and spread over 300ha, prompting evacuations from schools and nursing homes before it was contained.It began in the Llandilo area and spread over 300ha, prompting evacuations from schools and nursing homes before it was contained.
The youth, who was arrested at Penrith, has been charged with intentionally causing a fire and being reckless as to its spread.The youth, who was arrested at Penrith, has been charged with intentionally causing a fire and being reckless as to its spread.
The RFS says NSW could continue to experience similar weather until a cool change on Wednesday.The RFS says NSW could continue to experience similar weather until a cool change on Wednesday.
“It will still be warm and dry on Sunday, heating up on Monday and on Tuesday – we could see some hot and windy weather before some possible cooler weather returns on Wednesday,” RFS inspector Ben Shepherd said.“It will still be warm and dry on Sunday, heating up on Monday and on Tuesday – we could see some hot and windy weather before some possible cooler weather returns on Wednesday,” RFS inspector Ben Shepherd said.