Australian Firefighters battle three Wildfire blazes
Pastor Dale Morgan
Australian Firefighters battle three Wildfire blazes
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By Adam Bennett
October 01, 2007 07:34pm
Article from: AAP
AT least two homes were lost as New South Wales firefighters today
fought two major bushfires in a disturbing start to the official
bushfire season.
More than 230 firefighters and three water-bombing aircraft were working
to control blazes near Mt Kuringai, north of Sydney, and another near
Port Stephens, north of Newcastle.
The Port Stephens fire has claimed homes in the villages of Salt Ash and
Oyster Cove, NSW Fire Service spokesman Murray Hillan said.
"There are reports of two properties lost with a potential threat to
others," Mr Hillan said.
"It's a fire of about 150ha (in size) and we've got three aircraft on it
and about 100 firefighters."
He said residents of Oyster Cove had been evacuated to the local RSL and
sporting club at the height of the blaze this afternoon.
The other major fire was burning in the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park,
north of Sydney, where 130 firefighters were battling to establish
control lines over an area of about 140ha.
"It is burning in fairly rugged bushland," Mr Hillan said.
About 60 campers had been moved out of the national park's Basin Reserve
camping area, which lies in the fire's path, but no property was in danger.
Strong westerly winds had pushed the fire across West Head Rd, with the
blaze expected to burn itself out as it headed towards the ocean.
A third fire burning in the Royal National Park, south of Sydney, was
brought under control earlier today.
About 5ha of rugged bushland was burnt out near Bundeena after the blaze
broke out shortly after midnight (AEST).
Newly appointed NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons
said a doubling of the expected windspeed, and a reduction in humidity,
had caused the rapid spread of the fires.
However, easing winds later tonight should ease some of the pressure on
firefighters, he said.
"We're expecting to see wind continue into this evening, up until at
least midnight, when it should abate somewhat and allow the firefighters
to get the upper hand in establishing their containment lines, and
continuing to protect property, particularly up in the Port Stephens
area," Mr Fitzsimmons told Network Ten.
Mr Fitzsimmons said the cause of the fires were "highly suspicious",
with arson a possibility.
"We'll be conducting investigations into those fires and working closely
with the police to identify what the likely emission source was," he said.
"In the absence of lightning you can't help but assume that they are
very suspicious."
Mr Hillan said it was concerning to see such fires on the first day of
the official bushfire season.
"What it shows us is a day of hot windy weather will bring on the
bushfires."
"People might have thought that with the recent rain that we had that we
might be in for a bit of respite.
"But I think, just one day of hot windy weather shows that bushfires are
capable of starting up and moving on.
"We've had a lot of growth that has come with the rain, and with the
drought the ground is dry and the moisture gets sucked up very, very
quickly."