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NSW bushfires: brief respite, but firefighters expect worse to come NSW bushfires: brief respite, but firefighters expect worse to come
(about 2 hours later)
Firefighters around NSW are bracing for worsening conditions as they battle the bushfires that have already burned hundreds of homes.Firefighters around NSW are bracing for worsening conditions as they battle the bushfires that have already burned hundreds of homes.
Easing conditions overnight allowed the Rural Fire Service (RFS) to downgrade bushfires at Springwood and Mount Victoria and the State Mine fire in the Blue Mountains, as well as the Balmoral bushfire in the Southern Highlands, to a "watch and act" level. Residents of the township of Bell were warned to evacuate on Sunday morning as the huge fire between Lithgow and the Blue Mountains was upgraded to emergency status.
But temperatures and winds are expected to pick up from Sunday afternoon and a total fire ban is now in place across Sydney, the Hunter, Shoalhaven, the central ranges and the Illawarra. Anyone in the area who was unprepared to defend their property should leave immediately and head west to the evacuation centre at Lithgow, the Rural Fire Service (RFS) said.
RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons has bunkered down with specialist forecasters from the Bureau of Meteorology and will brief the premier, Barry O'Farrell, at RFS headquarters later on Sunday. A grim-faced premier Barry O'Farrell warned residents across the state to brace for the possibility of mass evacuations in the coming days, amid dire weather forecasts.
"The state's in for challenging days ahead," he told reporters at RFS headquarters on Sunday.
The RFS says 208 homes have already been destroyed in the bushfires that have been raging across the state since Thursday, and more than 60 fires continue to burn.
The premier said hot, dry conditions were expected to sweep over populated areas from Sunday afternoon and authorities were bracing for more destruction across the Blue Mountains.
"That will involve decisions being made about asking people, particularly in fringe areas, to leave their homes for their safety," he said.
"Undoubtedly, that will cause distress to those people and it may cause wider controversy.
"But it's clear that at times like this it's better to be safe than sorry."
Conditions eased temporarily overnight, allowing the RFS to downgrade bushfires at Springwood and Mount Victoria, as well as the Balmoral bushfire in the southern highlands, to a "watch and act" level.
A total fire ban is now in place across Sydney, the Hunter, Shoalhaven, the central ranges and the Illawarra.
RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons added his concerns about the weather conditions to come.
"I'm increasingly concerned about the potential for significant fire runs and consequential damage if the weather conditions materialise like they're indicating they could over this week," he told the Seven Network."I'm increasingly concerned about the potential for significant fire runs and consequential damage if the weather conditions materialise like they're indicating they could over this week," he told the Seven Network.
About 200 firefighters have travelled to the firegrounds from interstate and that number could be increased.About 200 firefighters have travelled to the firegrounds from interstate and that number could be increased.
"We're looking at bolstering that number ... particularly in light of what's expected to be some pretty deteriorating, awful conditions over the coming days," Fitzsimmons said."We're looking at bolstering that number ... particularly in light of what's expected to be some pretty deteriorating, awful conditions over the coming days," Fitzsimmons said.
He paid tribute to the firefighters and volunteers who have worked to protect lives and homes from the blazes that broke out on Thursday.He paid tribute to the firefighters and volunteers who have worked to protect lives and homes from the blazes that broke out on Thursday.
"[We've got] men and women doing some pretty extraordinary work. Time and time again you're hearing extraordinary stories of what they were being confronted with, decisions and actions that they took," he said."[We've got] men and women doing some pretty extraordinary work. Time and time again you're hearing extraordinary stories of what they were being confronted with, decisions and actions that they took," he said.
"They've all got each other's back and right at front of mind, they're trying to do all they can for their local communities.""They've all got each other's back and right at front of mind, they're trying to do all they can for their local communities."
The Bells Line of Road has been closed in both directions between Tadrosse Lane and the Great Western Highway.
Between Mount Victoria and Bell, the Darling Causeway was also closed in both directions on Sunday morning, and buses were replacing trains between Lithgow and Mount Victoria.
Motorists have been urged to avoid all bushfire-affected areas and drive with extreme caution in areas that are experiencing heavy smoke and poor visibility.Motorists have been urged to avoid all bushfire-affected areas and drive with extreme caution in areas that are experiencing heavy smoke and poor visibility.
Two girls were charged on Saturday with lighting a grass fire in western Sydney.Two girls were charged on Saturday with lighting a grass fire in western Sydney.
Police allege the girls – aged 12 and 13 – were spotted lighting fires in a reserve at Bonnyrigg on Friday.Police allege the girls – aged 12 and 13 – were spotted lighting fires in a reserve at Bonnyrigg on Friday.
Officers went to the reserve and saw two girls running away. A short time later, two girls were arrested at a nearby business and questioned at Fairfield police station.Officers went to the reserve and saw two girls running away. A short time later, two girls were arrested at a nearby business and questioned at Fairfield police station.
They were released pending further inquiries before being charged on Saturday with causing or setting fire to property.They were released pending further inquiries before being charged on Saturday with causing or setting fire to property.
They are due to appear in the children's court on 4 December.They are due to appear in the children's court on 4 December.
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