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NSW and Qld fires: crews backburn in NSW as Queensland braces for challenging conditions NSW and Qld fires: NSW fire devastation 'worse than expected', minister says as conditions set to worsen
(about 1 hour later)
South-east Queensland is expecting dry, gusty and erratic winds together with thunderstorms, bringing the risk of new fires Searing temperatures, low moisture and strong winds will likely prompt severe fire danger across NSW this week
There may be times on Sunday afternoon when firefighters won’t be able to get in front of a fire burning north of Toowoomba. Searing temperatures into the 40s, combined with strong winds and little moisture in the air will likely prompt widespread severe fire danger across New South Wales this coming week, the Rural Fire Service commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons, said on Sunday.
Crews may be pulled back from the fire-front to focus on protecting homes and property, for their own safety, the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services incident controller, acting inspector John Welke, said. His warning came alongside a bleak assessment from the emergency services minister, David Elliott, of damage from fires which sparked a state of emergency to be declared in NSW a week ago.
“It’s quite clear from the field of operations that we’ve inspected today that the devastation is probably beyond what anybody expected,” Elliott told reporters on a visit to affected areas around Kempsey and Port Macquarie on Sunday.
He was joined by the treasurer, Dominic Perrottet, who announced state government funding of $220,000 to help get communities “up and running back to normal as quickly as possible” while firefighters continue to battle blazes.
‘A worsening of conditions’
Fitzsimmons said there were likely to be “some fairly widespread severe fire dangers” this week as another mass of hot air was drawn down from the centre of the country.
“We are expecting to see a worsening of conditions, particularly as we start heading into Tuesday and then continuing through Wednesday and Thursday again,” he said.
More than 1,500 firefighters were battling blazes from the outskirts of Sydney right up to the Queensland border on Sunday “doing their best to try and secure as much as they can ahead of those worsening conditions”, he added.
Anxious residents of the Hawkesbury region, north-west of Sydney, were in a “sit and wait” situation, hoping a 119,000ha fire at Gospers Mountain can be contained and doesn’t spread to their homes.
“People are waiting for this week to be over I think,” the mayor, Barry Calvert, said as people cleared the areas outside their homes and firefighters conducted backburning in a bid to protect properties.
On Sunday afternoon there were 56 fires across the state, more than half of which were uncontained, the RFS said.
Fire danger ratings are severe in the far north coast, New England, the northern slopes and north-western regions, and very high in the greater Sydney, greater Hunter, central ranges and north coast regions.
Meanwhile a driver of a water truck was rushed to hospital on Sunday morning after the vehicle rolled over when he swerved to miss a car in Willawarrin, north-west of Kempsey.
The 44-year-old man, who was not driving an RFS truck, suffered suspected chest injuries in the incident.
Four people have died in NSW bushfires since 8 November and more than 300 homes have been confirmed razed.
More than 100 homes have been damaged while 785 sheds and other outbuildings have been damaged or destroyed.
Nearly 40 schools and other facilities have been impacted.
Exhausted firefighters, especially those in the state’s north who have been fighting fires for weeks, will be bolstered by crews from the south and west of NSW, as well as interstate crews and help from New Zealand, RFS Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers said.
Thunderstorms bring risk of lightning in Queensland
In Queensland crews may be pulled back from the fire-front to focus on protecting homes and property for their own safety, the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services incident controller John Welke, said.
The situation was a long way from over, with Welke expecting the fire in that region could continue for another week.The situation was a long way from over, with Welke expecting the fire in that region could continue for another week.
“The fire will move and we will struggle with it today,” he said. “Today is going to be an incredibly challenging day for us.”“The fire will move and we will struggle with it today,” he said. “Today is going to be an incredibly challenging day for us.”
Across the state 75 fires were burning, but those of most concern were in the Scenic Rim on the New South Wales border, at Ravensbourne north of Toowoomba and at Thornside east of Gympie. Across the state 75 fires were burning, but those of most concern were in the Scenic Rim on the NSW border, at Ravensbourne north of Toowoomba and at Thornside east of Gympie.
Thunderstorms, possibly severe, were likely in the south-east on Sunday afternoon, bringing the risk of lightning that could ignite new fires, together with gusty and erratic winds, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.Thunderstorms, possibly severe, were likely in the south-east on Sunday afternoon, bringing the risk of lightning that could ignite new fires, together with gusty and erratic winds, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
The fire danger forecast for the Darling Downs and Granite Belt was extreme, while the central highlands and coalfields, Maranoa and Warrego, and south-east coast districts were facing a severe fire danger.The fire danger forecast for the Darling Downs and Granite Belt was extreme, while the central highlands and coalfields, Maranoa and Warrego, and south-east coast districts were facing a severe fire danger.
A fire burning on Moreton Island was affecting the township of Cowan Cowan and travelling south towards Ben Ewa but was not threatening the Tangalooma area, QFES said. Waterbombing aircraft and ground crews were fighting the fire.A fire burning on Moreton Island was affecting the township of Cowan Cowan and travelling south towards Ben Ewa but was not threatening the Tangalooma area, QFES said. Waterbombing aircraft and ground crews were fighting the fire.
The Scenic Rim mayor, Greg Christensen, feared that only rain would stop the fire and there was little forecast.The Scenic Rim mayor, Greg Christensen, feared that only rain would stop the fire and there was little forecast.
“Everyone needs to be on their toes,” he said. “At the moment these fires [in the Scenic Rim] will still be running next weekend without any rain.”“Everyone needs to be on their toes,” he said. “At the moment these fires [in the Scenic Rim] will still be running next weekend without any rain.”
About 50 Scenic Rim farmers had already lost up to 50km of fencing and fodder in the fires, Christensen said.About 50 Scenic Rim farmers had already lost up to 50km of fencing and fodder in the fires, Christensen said.
Many of the farmers, who are also volunteer firefighters, are exhausted from battling bushfires that first hit the region in September.Many of the farmers, who are also volunteer firefighters, are exhausted from battling bushfires that first hit the region in September.
Mountainous terrain like the Mount Barney national park brought with it significant challenges for firefighting.Mountainous terrain like the Mount Barney national park brought with it significant challenges for firefighting.
QFES has tried to give some relief to tired volunteers, with firefighters from Tasmania and the Northern Territory supporting local staff.QFES has tried to give some relief to tired volunteers, with firefighters from Tasmania and the Northern Territory supporting local staff.
NSW fire crews backburn to protect homes
Meanwhile, people living near a huge out-of-control blaze on Sydney’s north-western outskirts faced an anxious wait to see if a sprawling fire can be contained amid a forecast of blisteringly hot, dry conditions.
The Gospers Mountain fire at Wollemi national park, which has been burning for weeks, has already consumed an area of more than 119,000 hectares, destroyed at least six homes, and is still spreading.
Residents in surrounding areas have been clearing up outside their homes while firefighters backburn in a bid to save properties threatened by the blaze.
The Hawkesbury mayor, Barry Calvert, said people had done all they can, and now faced an anxious “sit and wait” situation.
“People are waiting for this week to be over I think,” he said. “We have two or three days this week that are going to be 38C-40C and strong winds.
“I think they’ve done everything they can do and it’s just now a matter of holding [the fire] back if they can.”
The Rural Fire Service said the fire, which was at “watch and act” alert on Sunday afternoon, was unlikely to be under control before weather conditions deteriorate early next week.
People have been advised to have their fire plan ready and to be prepared to evacuate, the mayor said.
There are around a dozen homes on the fringes of the park but there are concerns the blaze could travel as far as St Albans, which has a population of around 200 people.
“[Firefighters] couldn’t control it because it’s in deep bush and now they’re just trying to manage it as best they can so there’s a lot of anxiety because if it gets out again then it’s very hard to stop it,” said Calvert.
NSW firefighters, especially those in the state’s north who have been fighting fires for weeks, will be bolstered by crews from the south and west of NSW, as well as interstate crews and help from New Zealand, Rogers said.
NSW government boosts bushfire aid by $200,000
More than $200,000 has been pledged by the NSW government to support areas of the state devastated by the bushfires as they begin a major clean-up and recovery.
Volunteer organisation BlazeAid will get $100,000 for fencing and materials, while $120,000 will be provided to local councils, the state treasury department said.
The treasurer, Dominic Perrottet, and the police and emergency services minister, David Elliott, visited affected areas around Kempsey and Port Macquarie on Sunday.
It is hoped the funding can help people in hard-hit areas start to pick up the pieces after a week which saw a state of emergency declared across NSW and “catastrophic” warnings issued.
“While our combat agencies continue to work tirelessly to contain these fires, we know that many kilometres of fencing has been destroyed and there is a large amount of debris to be cleared,” Perrottet said.
“This extra funding will assist communities devastated by bushfires here in northern NSW begin the recovery process.”
BlazeAid has base camps in Casino, Tenterfield, Ewingar and Ebor and the department said it’s considering locations to support fire-hit communities in the mid-north coast, such as Nymboida, Wingham and Nabiac.
The state government said it had already committed $160,000 to affected local councils, before Sunday’s announcement.
The federal government said it had paid $1,695,600 in support to people in NSW and Queensland in the past week.
Some 1,320 claims have been processed across affected regions of the two states since Sunday, the Department of Human Services said.