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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2019/dec/21/australia-bushfires-catastrophic-conditions-declared-for-nsw-after-horror-day

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NSW fires live updates: winds fan flames as bushfires bushfires destroy properties in Lithgow – latest NSW fires live updates: winds fan flames as bushfires destroy properties in Lithgow – latest
(32 minutes later)
Strong winds continue to fan flames in bushfires outside Sydney after a horror day in South Australia has left two dead and 23 firefighters injured. Follow for the latest news and updates Strong winds continue to fan flames in fires outside Sydney after a horror day in South Australia has left two dead and 23 firefighters injured. Follow for the latest news and updates
We are going to end the live blog here for the night. We will be back in the morning, but here’s a summary of what has happened today.
A day of catastrophic conditions, high-40s temperatures and mass road closures.
Emergency-level fires were issued across three states: NSW, South Australia and Victoria.
In SA, a second person was confirmed killed, and one seriously injured, in the Adelaide Hills. A man also died in a car crash yesterday at Lameroo. SA premier Steve Marshal confirmed the man was a 24-year old from Queensland, and the crash itself started a fire that injured a resident.
23 firefighters were also injured, one seriously.
Five homes, 28 buildings and 16 vehicles have been destroyed.
In Victoria, the Marthavale fire in East Gippsland quadrupled in size overnight, growing so large it created its own weather.
The Brookville and Tambo Crossing, Wattle Circle, Stirling fires went to emergency warning levels but were downgraded on Saturday night
In NSW, the huge Gospers Mountain blaze and the Green Wattle Creek fire both returned to emergency after easing overnight
There are four fires at emergency warning level: Gospers Mountain, Currowan fire, Owendale, and Upper Turon, Palmers Oaky.
The Green Wattle Creek fire was downgraded to watch and act late on Saturday evening, with rain.
The massive Gospers Mountain fire crossed Bells Line of Rd in Bilpin today, and has reportedly destroyed at least six homes in Lithgow.
A strong southerly came through in the evening but while temperatures dropped, it caused the fires to behave erratically.
Most of the major roads that closed during the day have reopened but people are being urged to delay Christmas travel.
Prime minister Scott Morrison is believed to have landed back in Sydney tonight. His office has told reporters he is back, but he hasn’t been spotted since the flight landed around 8pm AEDT tonight. He was spotted early this morning still in Hawaii
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese said there had been no transparency around the trip, and “media enquiries were met with misinformation, at best” after the PM’s office initially told reporters he was not in Hawaii
The NSW RFS has set up a dedicated donations fund for the families of two firefighters who died on Thursday after their truck overturned near the Green Wattle Creek fireground.
Stay safe, everyone.
Brookville fire in Victoria downgraded to watch and act.Brookville fire in Victoria downgraded to watch and act.
The federal government is extending the emergency payments to people affected by fires in the Blue Mountains, Lithgow, and Singleton.The federal government is extending the emergency payments to people affected by fires in the Blue Mountains, Lithgow, and Singleton.
We now have three fires at emergency warning level in New South Wales: Currowan fire, Gospers Mountain fire, and Upper Turon Rd, Palmers OakyWe now have three fires at emergency warning level in New South Wales: Currowan fire, Gospers Mountain fire, and Upper Turon Rd, Palmers Oaky
Amid all that rain, the Green Wattle Creek fire has been downgraded to watch and act.Amid all that rain, the Green Wattle Creek fire has been downgraded to watch and act.
Here’s the latest on the road closures in NSW from AAP:Here’s the latest on the road closures in NSW from AAP:
Transport for NSW on Saturday evening reopened the Hume Motorway between Sutton Forest and Narellan, as well as the Picton Road at the M1 and the Princes Highway between Falls Creek and north of Milton.Transport for NSW on Saturday evening reopened the Hume Motorway between Sutton Forest and Narellan, as well as the Picton Road at the M1 and the Princes Highway between Falls Creek and north of Milton.
In the Blue Mountains, the Great Western Highway earlier reopened in both directions between Katoomba and Lithgow but the Bells Line of Road and Chifley Road are closed between Kurrajong and Lithgow.In the Blue Mountains, the Great Western Highway earlier reopened in both directions between Katoomba and Lithgow but the Bells Line of Road and Chifley Road are closed between Kurrajong and Lithgow.
Stretches of Megalong Road, Jenolan Caves Road, the Castlereagh Highway and Bowen Mountain Road remain shut.Stretches of Megalong Road, Jenolan Caves Road, the Castlereagh Highway and Bowen Mountain Road remain shut.
Train lines between Campbelltown and Moss Vale, to the south, and westwards between Katoomba and Bathurst have also been impacted.Train lines between Campbelltown and Moss Vale, to the south, and westwards between Katoomba and Bathurst have also been impacted.
What a sight - rain! From Mike Bowers at the Green Wattle Creek fire near Bargo.What a sight - rain! From Mike Bowers at the Green Wattle Creek fire near Bargo.
Rain at the Green Wattle Creek fire, my colleague Mike Bowers reports.Rain at the Green Wattle Creek fire, my colleague Mike Bowers reports.
Just a sense of how close it is to Lithgow.Just a sense of how close it is to Lithgow.
Daily Telegraph reporting on the locations of the six homes lost in Lithgow.Daily Telegraph reporting on the locations of the six homes lost in Lithgow.