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Western Australia bushfire emergency continues as Sydney braces for a smoky Sunday Western Australia bushfire emergency continues as Sydney braces for a smoky Sunday
(about 2 hours later)
Towns north of Perth threatened by out-of-control blazes as mercury set to hit 40C, and 111 fires continue to burn in NSW Towns north of Perth threatened by out-of-control blazes as mercury set to hit 40C for third day, and 111 fires continue to burn in NSW
More than 6,000 homes have been saved but an emergency warning remains in place for a bushfire raging out of control north of Perth. Thousands of properties have been saved from a bushfire burning out-of-control north of Perth in Western Australia but lives and homes remain under threat.
On Sunday morning the blaze had already destroyed almost 12,000 hectares with about 400 firefighters battling to bring it under control. The fire near Yanchep has destroyed nearly 12,000 hectares, with about 400 firefighters battling to bring it under control ahead of another day of scorching temperatures.
They worked through the night conducting hazard reduction burns and consolidating containment lines. Heat records were expected to be broken in Perth on Sunday as the city braced for a third-consecutive 40C day.
On Sunday authorities said lives and homes remained in immediate danger in Guilderton, Woodridge, Gabbadah, Wilbinga, Caraban, Seabird, Yeal, Redfield Park, Sovereign Hill, Seatrees and Breakwater Estates. A forecast wind change for Sunday morning was also expected to make firefighting conditions more difficult.
Parts of Beermujllah, Muckenburra, Wanerie, Neergabby and Yanchap were also covered by the emergency alert. More than 6,000 homes have been saved, but confirmed losses so far include one house and a Yanchep service station. About 275 homes have also lost power because of the fire, Western Power says.
The fire has been burning since Wednesday and authorities feared it would continue to burn for several more days. Lives and homes remained under threat at Guilderton, Woodridge, Gabbadah, Wilbinga, Caraban, Seabird, Yeal, Redfield Park, Sovereign Hill, Seatrees and Breakwater Estates.
They said the blaze remained out of control and unpredictable. Parts of Beermujllah, Muckenburra, Wanerie, Two Rocks, Neergabby and Yanchap were also covered by the emergency alert.
Evacuation centres have been established at the Gumblossom Community Centre and the Granville Civic Centre where community meetings were set to be held on Sunday. A watch-and-act warning also covered parts of Yanchep, Two Rocks, Breton Bay, Seabird, Gabbadah, Wanerie, Ledge Point and Eglinton.
Confirmed losses so far included a home and a service station at Yanchep. The fire began on Wednesday and authorities feared it could burn for several more days.
However, Western Power advised that several hundred properties had lost power because of the blaze. Evacuation centres were set up at the Gumblossom Community Centre and Granville Civic Centre, where community meetings were set to be held at 10am and 2.30pm, respectively.
It said its crews had already replaced 27 power poles and more than 5km of lines in a push to have customers reconnected as soon as possible.  Water supplies to Woodridge risked being cut off, while residents at Two Rocks and Yanchep had been hit with disruptions to internet and mobile phone services.
“We have also had advanced scoping teams assessing the extent of the damage to the network further north of Yanchep,” it said. Meanwhile, Western Power said it had replaced more than 27 power poles and 5km of lines but more damage was expected.
“Early reports have estimated that over 100 poles and associated infrastructure has been damaged so far from the fire.” An emergency warning was also in place for parts of Yourdamung Lake, north-east of Bunbury.
The Water Corporation said supplies to Woodridge could be cut off on Sunday while People in Two Rocks were experiencing disruptions to Telstra NBN voice and data services, mobile services and ADSL broadband. Mobile phone services were also being disrupted in Yanchep.
The fire came amid soaring temperatures, with the mercury expected to hit 40C in Perth on Sunday for a record third December day in a row.
Winds were expected to shift westerly during the day, ahead of slightly milder conditions on Monday.
Meanwhile, in the east of Australia, Sydney was set for another hazy day from bushfire smoke blown across the city, while firefighters braced for worsening conditions as New South Wales heated up.Meanwhile, in the east of Australia, Sydney was set for another hazy day from bushfire smoke blown across the city, while firefighters braced for worsening conditions as New South Wales heated up.
Temperatures could reach the high 40s in the west of the state by Thursday, the Bureau of Meteorology said.Temperatures could reach the high 40s in the west of the state by Thursday, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
There were 111 fires burning across the state on Saturday night, 60 of them not contained.There were 111 fires burning across the state on Saturday night, 60 of them not contained.
Some 1,500 firefighters were tackling the blazes and there was no let-up on the horizon, Greg Allan from the RFS said.Some 1,500 firefighters were tackling the blazes and there was no let-up on the horizon, Greg Allan from the RFS said.
“We will see conditions deteriorate with worsening weather early into mid-next week. We’re going to be seeing a lot more higher temperatures across the state,” he said.“We will see conditions deteriorate with worsening weather early into mid-next week. We’re going to be seeing a lot more higher temperatures across the state,” he said.
Places such as Cobar, Broken Hill and Griffith were predicted to see temperatures above 40C in the coming week, the Bureau of Meteorology said.Places such as Cobar, Broken Hill and Griffith were predicted to see temperatures above 40C in the coming week, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
Total fire bans were issued for the central ranges, northern slopes and north-western areas amid very high fire danger ratings on Sunday and more bushfire smoke would affect the Sydney basin, the fire service said.Total fire bans were issued for the central ranges, northern slopes and north-western areas amid very high fire danger ratings on Sunday and more bushfire smoke would affect the Sydney basin, the fire service said.
“Smoke from fires burning on the outskirts of Sydney will settle across the Sydney basin again overnight and tomorrow,” the RFS tweeted on Saturday evening.“Smoke from fires burning on the outskirts of Sydney will settle across the Sydney basin again overnight and tomorrow,” the RFS tweeted on Saturday evening.
“There is a possibility the smoke will clear slightly but remaining dense throughout the day.“There is a possibility the smoke will clear slightly but remaining dense throughout the day.
The Ruined Castle fire in the Blue Mountains remained at watch and act level on Saturday night.The Ruined Castle fire in the Blue Mountains remained at watch and act level on Saturday night.
Some 724 homes, 49 facilities and 1,582 outbuildings had been destroyed so far this fire season. Six people have died and 2.7 million hectares have been scorched.Some 724 homes, 49 facilities and 1,582 outbuildings had been destroyed so far this fire season. Six people have died and 2.7 million hectares have been scorched.