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| Australian bushfires: firefighters struggle to contain Hawkesbury blaze as catastrophic conditions forecast in WA | Australian bushfires: firefighters struggle to contain Hawkesbury blaze as catastrophic conditions forecast in WA |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Severe isolated thunderstorms forecast in Queensland, which could create dry lightning strikes that start more fires | Severe isolated thunderstorms forecast in Queensland, which could create dry lightning strikes that start more fires |
| Forty-degree heat and catastrophic conditions in Western Australia and lightning strikes in Queensland could intensify fires over the weekend as Australia enters its second week of sustained bushfires. | Forty-degree heat and catastrophic conditions in Western Australia and lightning strikes in Queensland could intensify fires over the weekend as Australia enters its second week of sustained bushfires. |
| As of Saturday morning, conditions in New South Wales had eased slightly but the NSW Rural Fire Service said an uncontrolled bushfire burning through more than 100,000 hectares near Sydney’s northwestern outskirts was unlikely to be contained before weather conditions worsen. | As of Saturday morning, conditions in New South Wales had eased slightly but the NSW Rural Fire Service said an uncontrolled bushfire burning through more than 100,000 hectares near Sydney’s northwestern outskirts was unlikely to be contained before weather conditions worsen. |
| Firefighters backburned through Friday night to try and get a handle on the massive Gospers Mountain blaze, which is burning in the Hawkesbury region. | Firefighters backburned through Friday night to try and get a handle on the massive Gospers Mountain blaze, which is burning in the Hawkesbury region. |
| NSW Rural Fire Service Inspector Ben Shepherd said the fire, which has been downgraded to a “watch and act” alert, “has now burnt out more than 100,000 hectares and it has destroyed six homes”. | NSW Rural Fire Service Inspector Ben Shepherd said the fire, which has been downgraded to a “watch and act” alert, “has now burnt out more than 100,000 hectares and it has destroyed six homes”. |
| “We’ve had reports that one further home may have been lost yesterday.” | “We’ve had reports that one further home may have been lost yesterday.” |
| The bushfire crisis is now set to intensify on both Australian coasts, with forecasters warning “there is not much end in sight” to a horrific fire season that has not even hit summer. | The bushfire crisis is now set to intensify on both Australian coasts, with forecasters warning “there is not much end in sight” to a horrific fire season that has not even hit summer. |
| Catastrophic conditions are forecast on Sunday in four regions of WA: east Pilbara coast, west Pilbara coast, east Pilbara inland and Ashburton Inland. | Catastrophic conditions are forecast on Sunday in four regions of WA: east Pilbara coast, west Pilbara coast, east Pilbara inland and Ashburton Inland. |
| The catastrophic rating was introduced in 2009 and is the equivalent of the conditions for Victoria’s Black Saturday bushfires. On Tuesday last week, Sydney experienced catastrophic conditions for the first time. | The catastrophic rating was introduced in 2009 and is the equivalent of the conditions for Victoria’s Black Saturday bushfires. On Tuesday last week, Sydney experienced catastrophic conditions for the first time. |
| Also on Sunday, Queensland’s Darling Downs and Granite Belt region will rise to an extreme fire danger, amid hot and dry winds gusts. | Also on Sunday, Queensland’s Darling Downs and Granite Belt region will rise to an extreme fire danger, amid hot and dry winds gusts. |
| Severe isolated thunderstorms will also develop, which, instead of bringing respite, could create dry lightning strikes that start more fires. | Severe isolated thunderstorms will also develop, which, instead of bringing respite, could create dry lightning strikes that start more fires. |
| “With those winds, particularly as they increase on Sunday, we are likely to see an increase in the fire dangers,” said the Bureau of Meteorology’s Jess Gardner. | “With those winds, particularly as they increase on Sunday, we are likely to see an increase in the fire dangers,” said the Bureau of Meteorology’s Jess Gardner. |
| In WA, a cauldron of hot air will develop on Saturday and sit over the state for days. | In WA, a cauldron of hot air will develop on Saturday and sit over the state for days. |
| On Saturday, Marble Bar was expected to reach 45C, Port Hedland 43C, Meekatharra 42C, Kalgoorlie 41C, Perth 38C and Broome 36C. | On Saturday, Marble Bar was expected to reach 45C, Port Hedland 43C, Meekatharra 42C, Kalgoorlie 41C, Perth 38C and Broome 36C. |
| On Sunday, conditions will worsen for many regions, with Kalgoorlie forecast to rise to 44C – which would break the city hottest temperature record, set in 1923. | On Sunday, conditions will worsen for many regions, with Kalgoorlie forecast to rise to 44C – which would break the city hottest temperature record, set in 1923. |
| Marble Bar is forecast to rise to 46C, Port Hedland and Meekatharra steady at 43C and 42C, Broome will rise to 38C and Perth will drop to 29C. | Marble Bar is forecast to rise to 46C, Port Hedland and Meekatharra steady at 43C and 42C, Broome will rise to 38C and Perth will drop to 29C. |
| The hot air will then sweep through the rest of the country, worsening fire conditions in NSW and Queensland by mid-week. | The hot air will then sweep through the rest of the country, worsening fire conditions in NSW and Queensland by mid-week. |
| “Unfortunately, we are in for the long haul and there is not much end in sight,” Gardner told AAP. | “Unfortunately, we are in for the long haul and there is not much end in sight,” Gardner told AAP. |
| In WA, extreme fire danger is forecast on Saturday for the east Pilbara inland, Gascoyne inland and south interior. | In WA, extreme fire danger is forecast on Saturday for the east Pilbara inland, Gascoyne inland and south interior. |
| In Queensland, severe fire danger is forecast on Saturday for the Darling Downs and Granite Belt, rising to extreme on Sunday. | In Queensland, severe fire danger is forecast on Saturday for the Darling Downs and Granite Belt, rising to extreme on Sunday. |
| And in NSW, Tuesday and Wednesday will be fire weather days, with “the weather conditions again deteriorating”, according to the bureau. | And in NSW, Tuesday and Wednesday will be fire weather days, with “the weather conditions again deteriorating”, according to the bureau. |
| Overnight, NSW firefighters took advantage of a southerly change that allowed them to strengthen containment lines. | Overnight, NSW firefighters took advantage of a southerly change that allowed them to strengthen containment lines. |
| As of Saturday morning, five fires in NSW were at a “watch and act” level, and none were at emergency. | As of Saturday morning, five fires in NSW were at a “watch and act” level, and none were at emergency. |
| The biggest danger is in the north of the state on Saturday – with severe ratings issued for New England, the Northern Slopes and northwestern regions. | The biggest danger is in the north of the state on Saturday – with severe ratings issued for New England, the Northern Slopes and northwestern regions. |
| Total fire bans are in effect in those areas, as well as the far north coast, on a day that will have temperatures moving into the mid-30s, very low humidity and gusty winds once again. | Total fire bans are in effect in those areas, as well as the far north coast, on a day that will have temperatures moving into the mid-30s, very low humidity and gusty winds once again. |
| “It’s a little bit like groundhog day,” Shepherd said. “Once again we’ve got severe fire dangers and such a huge area of fire that we are dealing with. | “It’s a little bit like groundhog day,” Shepherd said. “Once again we’ve got severe fire dangers and such a huge area of fire that we are dealing with. |
| “As conditions worsen this afternoon we could see properties threatened. Communities need to remain vigilant.” | “As conditions worsen this afternoon we could see properties threatened. Communities need to remain vigilant.” |
| A man suspected of starting a blaze which reached emergency level, at Guyra Road in Ebor, east of Armidale, was arrested on Friday. | A man suspected of starting a blaze which reached emergency level, at Guyra Road in Ebor, east of Armidale, was arrested on Friday. |