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Sydney's Royal national park still closed after bushfire that forced boat rescues Sydney's Royal national park still closed after bushfire that forced boat rescues
(about 3 hours later)
Blaze contained after hundreds of stranded visitors rescued from beaches Blaze contained as New South Wales endures hot, dry temperatures and large bushfire burns near Tamworth
Australian Associated PressAustralian Associated Press
Sun 21 Jan 2018 01.20 GMT Sun 21 Jan 2018 04.22 GMT
First published on Sun 21 Jan 2018 01.20 GMT
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The Royal national park south of Sydney will remain closed for the next two days after an out-of-control fire tore through bushland, forcing hundreds of hikers and tourists to be rescued by boat.The Royal national park south of Sydney will remain closed for the next two days after an out-of-control fire tore through bushland, forcing hundreds of hikers and tourists to be rescued by boat.
The blaze, which appears to have been deliberately lit on Saturday, had burnt through more than 600 hectares by Sunday morning. The blaze, which appears to have been deliberately lit on Saturday, had burnt through more than 600 hectares by Sunday afternoon.
Firefighters worked through the night to contain it and were continuing to carry out backburning on the eastern side on Sunday, the RFS said. Firefighters worked through the night to contain it and were continuing to carry out backburning on the eastern side on Sunday, the Rural Fire Service said.
Crews take a breather at Garie Beach after working through the night on the fire in the Royal National Park, south of Sydney. Great effort by all agencies working together. Pic: @SutherlandRFS #NSWRFS pic.twitter.com/RTNnm8zxAr Firies were also paying close attention to a large bushfire near Tamworth in the state’s north that had already destroyed more than 48,000 hectares, as winds strengthened on Sunday afternoon.
The national park will remain closed on Sunday and Monday with access only for residents. “No properties are under threat,” the RFS inspector, Ben Shepherd, said.
The blaze was being treated as suspicious with specialist investigators heading into the park on Sunday, a New South Wales police spokeswoman said. But increased fire activity had put pressure on a number of containment lines, he said. The blaze, which was burning in the Pilliga forest between Coonabarabran and Narrabri and to the east of Baradine, was at a “watch and act” level.
The RFS deputy commissioner, Rob Rogers, said it was lucky nobody was killed in the blaze and it was infuriating people could think of starting a fire on purpose. Meanwhile, the Royal national park will remain closed on Sunday and Monday with access only for residents.
“It is absolutely frustrating as I think the average person in the community finds it’s just unbelievable that people would do that. Given there was more than one fire obviously we are concerned about how the fires started,” he told Network Seven. Hundreds of visitors to the park were rescued by boat from beaches after becoming stranded.
“The frustrating thing is that luckily there was no one killed, but it could have quite easily been very different if it wasn’t for all the agencies working together,” Rogers said. “For those that left vehicles at Bundeena yesterday. You can return using the Cronulla Ferry service and drive out of the park,” the New South Wales RFS tweeted on Sunday.
Hundreds of visitors to the Royal national park were rescued by boat from beaches after becoming stranded, according to the RFS. The blaze was being treated as suspicious with specialist investigators heading into the park on Sunday, a NSW police spokeswoman said.
“There are a number of boats being utilised by surf lifesavers, NSW police force and some private citizens that are picking some people up from beaches in the area,” RFS spokesman James Morris said. The RFS deputy commissioner, Rob Rogers, said it was lucky nobody was killed in the blaze and it was infuriating that someone could think of starting a fire on purpose.
More than 100 firefighters battled the blaze on Saturday evening, supported by water bombers and aircraft. “It is absolutely frustrating as I think the average person in the community finds it’s just unbelievable that people would do that. Given there was more than one fire obviously we are concerned about how the fires started,” he told the Seven Network.
A large blaze north of Tamworth, in the state’s north, threatened properties close to Bundarra while firefighters brought a fire under control near Taralga that had also endangered homes. Both blazes have been downgraded to watch and act, the RFS said Sunday. “And look at the cost – this firefighting effort will cost millions of dollars. There is a cost of these things, let alone that trauma to the individuals,” he said.
NSW has endured hot, dry temperatures for several days, with Sunday expected to bring no relief. NSW has endured hot, dry temperatures for several days, with Sunday expected to bring no relief and more hot weather at the end of next week.
Total fire bans were declared for the southern ranges, central ranges, greater Hunter and north western regions on Sunday. Total fire bans had been declared for the southern ranges, central ranges, greater Hunter and north western regions on Sunday.
BushfiresBushfires
New South WalesNew South Wales
SydneySydney
(Weather)(Weather)
SydneySydney
(Australia news)(Australia news)
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