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Australia fires: NSW Blue Mountains fires 'could merge' Australia fires: NSW Blue Mountains fires 'could merge'
(about 4 hours later)
Bushfires in Australia's New South Wales could merge to form a massive blaze, the fire commissioner has said, as teams battle fires across the state. Fire fighters in Australia's New South Wales have worked throughout the day to battle bushfires across the state, amid fears three blazes could merge.
Three fires near Lithgow, a city by the Blue Mountains, are thought to be at risk of merging into one fire front.
New South Wales has been badly hit by bushfires after the hottest September on record. It has declared a state of emergency.New South Wales has been badly hit by bushfires after the hottest September on record. It has declared a state of emergency.
Officials say conditions are likely to worsen this week. Early on Monday, the fire commissioner said three fires near Lithgow could be at risk of joining into one fire front.
NSW Rural Fire Services Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said that the fire at State Mine in Lithgow was at risk of merging with the fire at Mount Victoria. Officials say conditions will worsen this week, with a peak on Wednesday.
NSW Rural Fire Services Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons told a news briefing early on Monday that the State Mine fire was at risk of merging with a fire at Mount Victoria.
"Modelling indicates that there's every likelihood under the forecast weather conditions that these two fires, particularly up in the back end of the mountains will merge at some point... there is every likelihood that these two fires will join up," he said."Modelling indicates that there's every likelihood under the forecast weather conditions that these two fires, particularly up in the back end of the mountains will merge at some point... there is every likelihood that these two fires will join up," he said.
He added that in a "worst-case scenario" the fire could merge with a third fire at Springwood but said: "With the continued success of the fire-fighting effort, let's hope that it doesn't extend all that far eastward."He added that in a "worst-case scenario" the fire could merge with a third fire at Springwood but said: "With the continued success of the fire-fighting effort, let's hope that it doesn't extend all that far eastward."
Fire crews have been back-burning - a controlled burn aimed at managing a fire - to try to prevent the fires merging. Speaking at the end of the day, he said the fires at Springwood and State Mine were still burning.
In a briefing on Monday morning, Mr Fitzsimmons said that 58 blazes were still burning, with 14 out of control. "Advice back from the Springwood fire area is that the fire... is still very active and is still burning in the valley system," he said.
At the State Mine fire, planned back-burning - a controlled burn aimed at managing a fire - had been thwarted "by the forward spread of the main fire front," he said.
Remote area teams would be working on Monday night to try to secure the Blackheath community near Mount Victoria, Mr Fitzsimmons said.
"It's a very difficult and challenging operation," he said. "They're going down very deep gorges... right down to creek lines."
Around 800 personnel from interstate fire departments are expected to arrive on Tuesday to assist in fire-fighting efforts.
Dry weather conditions had made firefighting efforts difficult on Monday, Mr Fitzsimmons added.
"The challenge is that most of the thunderstorm activity and lightning activity we are seeing is unaccompanied by any moisture."
NSW declared a state of emergency on Sunday, allowing emergency services to order mandatory evacuations, and cut gas and power supplies if needed.NSW declared a state of emergency on Sunday, allowing emergency services to order mandatory evacuations, and cut gas and power supplies if needed.
"While it may cause distress, I would rather be apologising for inconvenience than dealing with devastation and despair," Mr Fitzsimmons said. Caroline Russell from Winmalee, in the Blue Mountains area, told the BBC that people were scared and getting ready to leave.
Caroline Russell from Winmalee, in the Blue Mountains area, told the BBC that she had seen the fire move closer and closer to her home over the past few days. "We're about one or two streets away from the fire. So, it's extremely hot; it's very scary and it's a little bit panicked around here at the moment," she said.
"We were quite worried initially. What we thought was back burning seemed to get out of control. That's when we saw the water bombers come over," she said. "We're packed and ready to go. Everything's ready in the car. We're just waiting on the... response now as to whether we need to evacuate or not."
"The fire brigade say we're in no immediate danger at the moment but we should keep a watch on the situation. We're constantly monitoring it." Exhausted fire fighters
Exhausted firefighters
Fire fighting efforts are set to continue this week, with weather conditions expected to be the most challenging this Wednesday, with warm weather and strong winds predicted.Fire fighting efforts are set to continue this week, with weather conditions expected to be the most challenging this Wednesday, with warm weather and strong winds predicted.
"The challenging aspect of the forecast is that they're forecasting a strengthening of winds for Wednesday now, only by another 10km/h (6mph), but that's still going to be quite problematic," Mr Fitzsimmons said.
One man has died - possibly of a heart attack - while trying to protect his home. Hundreds of people have been left homeless by the bushfires.One man has died - possibly of a heart attack - while trying to protect his home. Hundreds of people have been left homeless by the bushfires.
Australia's military is investigating whether a training exercise using explosives may have started the State Mine bushfire.Australia's military is investigating whether a training exercise using explosives may have started the State Mine bushfire.
On Monday, an 11-year-old boy in the Port Stephens area was charged with deliberately lighting two fires on 13 October. Another boy, 15, has also been arrested over the fires, local media say, citing police.On Monday, an 11-year-old boy in the Port Stephens area was charged with deliberately lighting two fires on 13 October. Another boy, 15, has also been arrested over the fires, local media say, citing police.
One of the fires, at Heatherbrae, led to Newcastle Airport being shut and forced hundreds of people to evacuate, local reports said.One of the fires, at Heatherbrae, led to Newcastle Airport being shut and forced hundreds of people to evacuate, local reports said.
With hundreds of houses already destroyed disaster welfare centres have been set up where families can start the planning needed to rebuild their lives, the BBC's Jon Donnison, who is near the community of Winmalee in the Blue Mountains, reports.With hundreds of houses already destroyed disaster welfare centres have been set up where families can start the planning needed to rebuild their lives, the BBC's Jon Donnison, who is near the community of Winmalee in the Blue Mountains, reports.
Most of the fire fighters are volunteers - many look exhausted, and some have even lost their homes, our correspondent adds.Most of the fire fighters are volunteers - many look exhausted, and some have even lost their homes, our correspondent adds.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
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