One dead, seven homes razed in Aussie Wildfires
Pastor Dale Morgan
*One dead, seven homes razed in Aussie Wildfires*
By Katherine Danks and Peter Jean
September 25, 2006 01:00am
Article from: AAP
AUSTRALIA - A MAN died, seven homes were destroyed and residents
evacuated as bushfires fuelled by strong winds and high temperatures
swept New South Wales yesterday.
In an ominous sign for the summer ahead and vindicating recent warnings
by authorities that the fire season would start early and be severe,
wild fires fanned by hot winds of up to 100km/h broke out in more 50
locations in the state.
The bushfires and winds caused power blackouts to more than 100,000
homes in the southern highlands, Western Sydney and the south coast and
burned out more than 2000 hectares of bushland.
Electricity was also cut to areas in Sydney's north and west, the Blue
Mountains, and Central Coast.
A 52-year-old motorcyclist died when his bike was struck by a tree
branch which fell during strong winds at Kangaroo Valley, on the south
coast.
Four houses were razed near Picton, southwest of Sydney, and three more
were destroyed near Cattai, in Sydney's northwest.
A woman was flown to Sydney's Liverpool Hospital after a tree branch
fell on her at Thirlmere, near Picton.
She suffered neck and head injuries and was reported to be in a stable
condition.
Five fires were also burning in the Hunter Valley, one of which came
within several hundred metres of property at Redhead, an outer southern
suburb of Newcastle.
Homes at Burrill Lake, near Ulladulla, in the Shoalhaven district on
NSW's south coast were evacuated this morning as a large fire approached.
NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Commissioner Phil Koperberg said
yesterday’s fire conditions were almost unprecedented for September.
“We've not had a day like this in September in history,” he told ABC
television.
“Winds were over 100km/h for much of the day and it was a very, very
difficult day for firefighters.”
Conditions were improving last night as temperatures dropped and cooler
weather was expected in most affected areas today.
Firefighters were beginning backburning in many areas.
Residents in fire-affected areas were urged to remain on alert
throughout the night in case spotfires broke out.
Hundreds of firefighters were involved in battling the blazes but aerial
waterbombing was hampered because of treacherous winds.
Two firefighters who fought the bushfire near Redhead were taken to
hospital and treated for minor burns and smoke inhalation.
A man and his two sons watched helplessly as his family home southwest
of Sydney was torn apart by fire.
The 59-year-old asked not to be named because his mother, who owns the
house, is in a nursing home and has not been told the property has been
destroyed.
The home was engulfed in flames just after 2pm (AEST) after a bushfire
fanned by winds over 60km/h swept through the area.
The man said he arrived at the house on Bakers Lodge Road in Oakdale
near Wollondilly about 3pm yesterday but two chimneys were all that
remained.
Speaking next to the burning structure, he said he only had time to save
two of his mother's three chickens in a nearby pen.
“I just looked around to see what was what,” he said.
“This has always been home base.
“I don't know how to break the news to her (my mother).
A receptionist at the Redhead Bowling Club near the centre of the small
coastal town said the fire burned precariously close to homes.
“It's about 100m away, and my house is about four houses up,” she said.
“I can't really see too much, apart from the smoke.”
The bushfires and high winds caused power blackouts for more than
150,000 homes in parts of western and northern Sydney, the Blue
Mountains and the central and south coasts.
A spokeswoman for Integral Energy said the strong winds were hampering
repair crews and many customers might have to wait until tomorrow for
power to be restored.
The State Emergency Service said it had received more than 2000 calls
for assistance - mostly for wind damage to properties, in Sydney, the
Blue Mountains, Hunter Valley and South Coast.