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Fresh emergency warnings for two Blue Mountains fires, as toll of destroyed properties soars Fresh emergency warnings for two Blue Mountains fires, as toll of destroyed properties soars
(about 1 hour later)
A fresh emergency warning was issued for Blue Mountains residents after a bushfire at Springwood flared up on Saturday afternoon.A fresh emergency warning was issued for Blue Mountains residents after a bushfire at Springwood flared up on Saturday afternoon.
Firefighters and helicopters were battling the out-of-control 2152-hectare fire with intensified activity near Muru Avenue and St Columba's High, the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) said.Firefighters and helicopters were battling the out-of-control 2152-hectare fire with intensified activity near Muru Avenue and St Columba's High, the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) said.
"Be alert to burning embers. Put out any spot fires which start where you are," the RFS advised. Several roads in the area were closed."Be alert to burning embers. Put out any spot fires which start where you are," the RFS advised. Several roads in the area were closed.
More than 300 properties in the lower Blue Mountains had previously been confirmed damaged or destroyed by bushfires, the RFS said. Springwood hospital, with 24 patients and 17 staff, was evacuated as a precaution.
"At present Springwood Hospital is not under direct threat from the fire, today's evacuation is pre-emptive," Nepean local health district incident controller Clair Ramsden said.
Patients were to be taken to the Nepean Hospital and are expected to stay there until at least Wednesday.
More than 300 properties in the lower Blue Mountains have been confirmed damaged or destroyed by bushfires, the RFS said.
After assessing 95% of the fireground in Springwood and Winmalee the RFS established that 193 properties had been destroyed and 109 damaged on Thursday and Friday.After assessing 95% of the fireground in Springwood and Winmalee the RFS established that 193 properties had been destroyed and 109 damaged on Thursday and Friday.
On Saturday, 83 fires were burning across the state including 19 uncontained blazes.On Saturday, 83 fires were burning across the state including 19 uncontained blazes.
Emergency warnings were also sent out to properties around Bell, which were threatened by a large fire burning in Lithgow on the western side of the Blue Mountains.Emergency warnings were also sent out to properties around Bell, which were threatened by a large fire burning in Lithgow on the western side of the Blue Mountains.
The RFS said the blaze, which has burnt through 30,000 hectares, had intensified and residents were advised to take shelter.The RFS said the blaze, which has burnt through 30,000 hectares, had intensified and residents were advised to take shelter.
"Fire activity has intensified in the Bell area," a spokesman said. "There's about 20 properties in the community of Bell which are under threat at the moment."Fire activity has intensified in the Bell area," a spokesman said. "There's about 20 properties in the community of Bell which are under threat at the moment.
"We have upgraded it to an emergency warning and we're sending out emergency alert phone messages in that area right now.""We have upgraded it to an emergency warning and we're sending out emergency alert phone messages in that area right now."
The Defence Department has launched an investigation into whether the Lithgow fire was caused by training activity.The Defence Department has launched an investigation into whether the Lithgow fire was caused by training activity.
On Saturday Defence confirmed an investigation was under way into the fire that started on Wednesday, the same day explosive ordnance training was taking place at the Marrangaroo training area.On Saturday Defence confirmed an investigation was under way into the fire that started on Wednesday, the same day explosive ordnance training was taking place at the Marrangaroo training area.
"Defence is investigating if the two events are linked," it said in a statement."Defence is investigating if the two events are linked," it said in a statement.
The same fire has caused millions of dollars worth of damage to the historic Zig Zag railway.The same fire has caused millions of dollars worth of damage to the historic Zig Zag railway.
Ten carriages, accommodation carriages, historic sleeping carriages, a meeting room, workshop, office and sleepers were ruined by the fire on Thursday and Friday, at cost of up to $4m, Zig Zag Railway board member Alexander Robinson-Mills told AAP.Ten carriages, accommodation carriages, historic sleeping carriages, a meeting room, workshop, office and sleepers were ruined by the fire on Thursday and Friday, at cost of up to $4m, Zig Zag Railway board member Alexander Robinson-Mills told AAP.
The tourist attraction has been closed since June last year for safety upgrades and had been "close" to reopening, Mr Robinson Mills said. It would now be up to a year before it was ready to carry passengers again, he said.The tourist attraction has been closed since June last year for safety upgrades and had been "close" to reopening, Mr Robinson Mills said. It would now be up to a year before it was ready to carry passengers again, he said.
Elsewhere RFS deputy commissioner Rob Rogers described Saturday's conditions as a "pause" before higher temperatures and increasing winds returned on Sunday.Elsewhere RFS deputy commissioner Rob Rogers described Saturday's conditions as a "pause" before higher temperatures and increasing winds returned on Sunday.
"It's just calmed down a little bit and obviously we're bracing ourselves for these worsening conditions," Rogers told ABC radio."It's just calmed down a little bit and obviously we're bracing ourselves for these worsening conditions," Rogers told ABC radio.
"What we have is a time for the crews to anticipate the weather coming ahead and try and get as much containment as possible and prevent that fire threatening major population centres when we get worse weather," he said."What we have is a time for the crews to anticipate the weather coming ahead and try and get as much containment as possible and prevent that fire threatening major population centres when we get worse weather," he said.
NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell, visiting the central coast on Saturday, said firefighters had done "an extraordinary job".NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell, visiting the central coast on Saturday, said firefighters had done "an extraordinary job".
O'Farrell received a briefing from RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons and local firefighters before flying over fire-affected country in the Port Stephens area.O'Farrell received a briefing from RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons and local firefighters before flying over fire-affected country in the Port Stephens area.
Firefighters in the area are continuing to battle an out of control bushfire near Wyong which has so far destroyed four properties.Firefighters in the area are continuing to battle an out of control bushfire near Wyong which has so far destroyed four properties.
The fire has been downgraded from an emergency warning to a "watch and act" as temperatures in the region cooled on Saturday.The fire has been downgraded from an emergency warning to a "watch and act" as temperatures in the region cooled on Saturday.
The Wyong fire has burnt more than 2500 hectares, damaged historic buildings in Catherine Hill Bay and caused the death of a 63-year-old man who suffered a heart attack defending his home in Lake Munmorah.The Wyong fire has burnt more than 2500 hectares, damaged historic buildings in Catherine Hill Bay and caused the death of a 63-year-old man who suffered a heart attack defending his home in Lake Munmorah.
O'Farrell described the actions of two girls who allegedly lit a grass fire in Sydney on Friday as "sheer stupidity".O'Farrell described the actions of two girls who allegedly lit a grass fire in Sydney on Friday as "sheer stupidity".
Police arrested and questioned the girls, aged 12 and 13, after members of the public reported them for allegedly trying to start a fire in a reserve in western Sydney.Police arrested and questioned the girls, aged 12 and 13, after members of the public reported them for allegedly trying to start a fire in a reserve in western Sydney.
"It is absolutely disappointing that we have a report of two people allegedly seeking to light fires," O'Farrell told reporters at Wyong RFS headquarters."It is absolutely disappointing that we have a report of two people allegedly seeking to light fires," O'Farrell told reporters at Wyong RFS headquarters.
"But what's great about this incident is that the public has done exactly what the authorities want them to do, they've seen suspicious activity and rung police or RFS."But what's great about this incident is that the public has done exactly what the authorities want them to do, they've seen suspicious activity and rung police or RFS.
On Friday a large fire was still out of control in the NSW southern highlands, but several other blazes in the area were brought under control.On Friday a large fire was still out of control in the NSW southern highlands, but several other blazes in the area were brought under control.
The 8100 hectare fire was listed at the "watch and act" alert level on Friday evening and was ripping through bush near Balmoral, Yanderra, Bargo, Pheasants Nest and Wilton.The 8100 hectare fire was listed at the "watch and act" alert level on Friday evening and was ripping through bush near Balmoral, Yanderra, Bargo, Pheasants Nest and Wilton.
Houses have been destroyed and damaged in the area, but it's unclear how many have been lost. On Friday the Insurance Council of Australia said there had already been 550 claims totalling $30m, with the number expected to rise sharply.Houses have been destroyed and damaged in the area, but it's unclear how many have been lost. On Friday the Insurance Council of Australia said there had already been 550 claims totalling $30m, with the number expected to rise sharply.
Five other smaller fires – at Camden, Mittagong, Yerrinbool and two at Leppington – were brought under control and had been giving the lowest alert level, "advice," the RFS said.Five other smaller fires – at Camden, Mittagong, Yerrinbool and two at Leppington – were brought under control and had been giving the lowest alert level, "advice," the RFS said.
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