Australia - NSW - Worst bushfire days in years.

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marlywings

marlywings

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Live blog: Emergency warnings in place for New South Wales bushfires

An unknown number of homes have been lost as New South Wales suffers one of its worst bushfire days in years.

Emergency warnings have been issued for bushfires burning out of control near Lithgow, Wollongong, Newcastle, Muswellbrook, Wyong and the Blue Mountains.

Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons says "if we get through with less than 100 homes destroyed today, we have been lucky".

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-17/live-blog3a-nsw-bushfire-emergency/5028762
 
Emergency warnings are in place for fires:

•burning in the direction of Mt Tomah and near Oaky Park, Morts Estate, Clarence, Dargan, Doctors Gap and Hartley near Lithgow
•near Hank Street in the Heatherbrae area in Newcastle
•near the villages of Balmoral, Yanderra and Bargo north west of Wollongong
•around Springwood in the Blue Mountains
•in the areas of Hungerford Creek and Blackjack Mountain near Muswellbrook
•near Ruttleys Road north of Wyong

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-17/live-blog3a-nsw-bushfire-emergency/5028762
 
Blue Mountains -
Have had one powercut today -
Just watching a helicopter circling in and out of the smoke now coming over the Blue Mountains from some of the fires in Blackheath area (I presume). I'm OK, and keeping an eye out. Thanks for the updates Marlywings.
 
NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell is speaking at the RFS Headquarters at Lidcombe.

"It's suspected that by the time we've finished counting it will at least be in the hundreds," Mr O'Farrell says of the homes lost.

"These conditions are not going to be over quickly ... It will take days ... I suspect if we get through that without the loss of life we should all thank God for miracles."

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/latest-ns...-october-17-20131017-2vo14.html#ixzz2hxtPNS1N
 
7:10pm: RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said:

‘‘This is as bad as it gets. You’re talking people losing everything they own. You’re talking key community infrastructure being destroyed by fire today. You’re talking massive dislocation to arterial roads and transport corridors.

"We haven’t even taken an assessment yet of the utilities that have been damaged or destroyed. There’s talk of water treatment centres, there’s talk of power-line infrastructure."

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/latest-ns...-october-17-20131017-2vo14.html#ixzz2hxthQDBy
 
Stay safe all our friends in the area! We'll keep track of you all through here!
 
I have family preparing to evacuate now. This is scary.
 
I just spoke to them, they're walking out the door as I type this. I feel sick in the stomach.

Please pray that they are able to stay safe. The house is insured and can be replaced, although it would still be devastating.
 
We'll send our positive thoughts and prayers to yours, and all the people affected by the fires, fruity.

:grouphug:

So glad that you are okay, FigTree.

Let's hope that everyone gets through this without loss of life. :please:


We had amazing strong, hot winds blowing all day yesterday, and were on high fire alert, police patrolling the hills and outskirts - keeping their presence high to deter those firebugs out there. Then last night some cooling rains came in. I'm hoping for cooling rains for NSW too.
 
9:32pm: In that vein ...

WIRES, the NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue & Education Service, says if you rescue an animal that has been burnt, wrap it loosely, place it in a cardboard box, keep it in a dark, quiet and warm place. Then call them on 13000WIRES for further advice.

9:33pm: Speaking on ABC24, Police and Emergency Services Minister Michael Gallacher said the full devastation wouldn't be known until daybreak.


http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/latest-ns...-october-17-20131017-2vo14.html#ixzz2hyZBeDtK
 
Thousands of people have been evacuated as emergency warnings are in place for bushfires burning out of control near Lithgow and the Blue Mountains, Muswellbrook, Newcastle and Wyong.

A cooler front is passing through the state, but not before temperatures hit the mid-30s and wind gusts reached 90kph earlier today.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/
 
I can't go to sleep, I keep on checking on fire info...

I saw snow today (yep I'm in VIC), looked out the window and saw fresh snow on the mountains in the distance, snow down to 1000m today down here. It makes it so hard for me to get my head around that this can be happening whilst I stoke my fire only 8 or so hours away!

I just can't imagine how everyone is coping. Take care Guys!
 
Figtree, I've been thinking about you all day! I am so relieved to hear you are safe, I was going to email you to check on you! Keep us posted please & be safe :)

Have been watching the news coverage all night, very sad. I'm getting eerie flashbacks to the Black Saturday Fires. I will pray no lives are lost overnight. Fire wrecks total devastation on lives, to see people lose their homes this way is horrific and makes my heart heavy.
 
Pics on TV now ... 34 uncontained fires, 90 fires burning around state, worst fires in 10 years, many little spot fires near where homes are ... commissioner says this is as bad as it gets ... help pouring in, salvos and aid for evacuated peope, police for security.
 
Also, I've never seen the sky so murky and red in my life. It was incredible, the air was so thick. I live out of harm's way and the smell of smoke is drifting into my house. I couldn't imagine being in the midst of it! :(
 
Wow, devastating and frightening pics. :( Stay safe everyone - all are in my thoughts! :grouphug:
 
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