Another total fire ban in place for Sydney as death toll rises to four – “You haven’t had bushfires like these bushfires before”
By Helen Pitt, Lisa Visentin, Laura Chung, Jenny Noyes, and Sally Rawsthorne
14 November 2019
(The Sydney Morning Herald) – A total fire ban is in place in Sydney and seven areas across the state today, as the death toll from NSW bushfires has climbed to four and two men were charged over lighting fires during Wednesday’s fire ban.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian identified the fourth fire victim as Mr Barry Parsons, 58, and offered her condolences to his family in Parliament.
Mr Parsons lived in a shed two kilometres from the nearest road in the north of the state near Kempsey, and was last heard from Friday, when he wrote on social media:”Seriously looks and sounds like apocalypse out there.”
NSW Police said local residents found his body on the southern end of the Kyuna Track at Willawarrin, about 34 kilometres north-west of Kempsey, about midnight on Wednesday. […]
Commissioner of NSW Rural Fire Service Shane Fitzsimmons warned conditions would likely worsen today, with temperatures expected in the mid 30s, low humidity and strong winds expected. Total fire bans will be in place in Sydney, Far North Coast, North Coast, Hunter, Central rangers, New England and Illawarra/Shoalhaven and northern slopes.
“We have about 59 fires burning in NSW, 30 of them still uncontrolled but fortunately none at emergency level. We have 1500 firefighters in the field as we speak, 500 trucks and 70 aircraft,” Ms Berejiklian told parliament on Thursday afternoon. […]
South of Taree, Police closed the highway at Possum Brush as fire crews chased spot fires on several flanks of the Hillville fire as westerly and easterly breezes converged over the fire ground.
One exhausted Taree crew, dejected after running out of water trying to save property next to the Pacific Highway at Possum Brush had their spirits lift as thank you notes from children were found in their packed provided lunches. [more]
Another total fire ban in place for Sydney as bushfires death toll rises to four
Australians ordered to flee flames as fires rage in east and west
By Colin Packham
12 November 2019
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian officials on Wednesday ordered residents and tourists to get out of the way of fast-approaching flames as firefighters struggled to contain more than 150 bushfires raging on both the east and west coasts.
While cooler weather overnight brought some relief for firefighters in New South Wales (NSW) state, of which Sydney is capital, attention shifted to its northern neighbour, Queensland, where more than 80 fires threatened lives and homes.
Authorities issued a “leave immediately” warning, the highest level, for several areas including Noosa, a beachside holiday destination 150 km (93 miles) north of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland.
“We’re expecting people to listen to the warnings and work on their bushfire survival plans and, if in doubt, now is the time to leave,” said Greg Christensen, mayor for the Scenic Rim regional council in Queensland.
“This is a very challenging season,” Christensen told reporters. “You haven’t had bushfires like these bushfires before.”
A private water-bombing helicopter crashed while battling a fire west of Brisbane, though the pilot escaped with minor injuries, Queensland Fire & Emergency Services said.
Across the country, in Western Australia, officials were responding to two emergency bushfires that had destroyed two homes and damaged another.
The fires have sparked increasingly acrimonious debate over climate and fire-prevention policies, with the ruling conservative Liberal Party and the minor opposition Australian Greens exchanging barbs.
Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce was among those who have suggested that climate activists were at least partly responsible for the fires by lobbying to reduce so-called back burns, fires deliberately lit to clear dry undergrowth.
Independent lawmaker Zali Steggall said it was very “unbecoming of our parliament” for Joyce to make such remarks. […]
There is unlikely to be a near-term respite from hot and dry conditions.
“We will not have all these fires contained and locked up for many, many weeks,” NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons told reporters in Sydney.
“Unfortunately, what we need is rain.” [more]
Australians ordered to flee flames as fires rage in east and west
