*Aussie Bushfires burn 1700 hectares*

November 18, 2006 11:40am
Article from: AAP

AUSTRALIA - FIREFIGHTERS are still battling to control two bushfires
which have been burning since Monday in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney.

The first fire, 2km north of Mount Victoria, is now mostly contained but
has burnt out nearly 1,100 hectares of private property and parkland.

About 600 hectares of parkland have been devastated by the second fire,
about 5km north of Blackheath in the Grose Valley.

The NSW Rural Fire Service says the fire is burning in difficult and
inaccessible terrain but water bombing aircraft are slowing its progress.

Fire crews will today again attempt to tackle the fire directly where it
is accessible.

The Darling Causeway remains closed to traffic, and motorists are
advised to use either the Great Western Highway or Bells Line of Road as
alternate routes.

The fires are believed to have been started by lightning strikes.