Two New South Wales Rural Fire Servicemen who died while fighting fires overnight have been identified as Deputy Captain Geoffrey Keaton, 32, and firefighter Andrew O’Dwyer, 36.
Both men - fathers from the Horsley Park Brigade - died after their truck rolled at Buxton, south-west of Sydney about 11.30pm on Thursday. Three other passengers were injured in the rollover and were treated by paramedics at the scene. Another three royal fire servicemen were injured in a separate incident and taken to hospital with severe burns, where two remain in induced comas.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian urged people to reconsider their travel plans over the Christmas period as the bushfire tragedy continued to grip large parts of Australia’s east coast. Premier Berejiklian confirmed at least 20 homes were destroyed by fire and another 20 feared lost on Thursday. A state-wide total fire ban remains in place across NSW. Meanwhile 60 fires continue to burn across Queensland, where at least one property was lost overnight.
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Homes lost in NSW as two emergency fires burn out of control | Sky News AustraliaThe NSW Rural Fire Service has confirmed that dozens of properties have been lost as two blazes burn at emergency level as rising heat and strong winds wreak havoc across the state.\n\nThe Green Wattle Creek fire south west of Sydney is now affecting the communities of Balmoral, Bargo and Tarmoor, with homes expected to be lost as the ferocious blaze rips through the region.\n\nThe Rural Fire Service has confirmed three firefighters, two men and one woman, have suffered serious burns while fighting the blaze near Balmoral.\n\nThe Gospers Mountain blaze in the Hawkesbury is also at an emergency level, with authorities concerned the 400,000-hectare monster inferno could join with another large bushfire.\n\nThe fires has also caused the Hume Highway to be closed between Narellan Road, Campbelltown and Mittagong.\n\nSydney authorities have warned commuters to expect delays as the train system struggles to cope with the extreme heat.\n\n
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Three firefighters seriously injured in NSW fires | Sky News AustraliaTwo men and one woman have suffered serious burns injuries while fighting the Balmoral fire near the Bargo area of New South Wales.\n\nA 36-year-old man and a 56-year-old man have suffered face and airway burns and will be airlifted for treatment.\n\nAnother female crew member has smoke inhalation and minor burns and will be transported by road to hospital for treatment and assessment.\n\nOver 100 fires are burning across the state and dozens of homes have been lost, with extreme heat and strong winds fanning flames.\n\nTwo emergency warnings at Currowan and Tianjara have been downgraded but two emergency warnings remain in place at Green Wattle Creek and Gospers Mountain. \n\nThere are concerns the Green Wattle Creek fire will head towards town of Tarmoor due to a southerly change in the wind.\n\nRural Fire Safety Commissioner Shane Fitsimmons says firefighters that have lost their own homes are “shattered” but “they know there’s a job to do” to protect their community.\n\nImage: News Corp Australia\n
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Fears 40 homes have been destroyed across NSW | Sky News AustraliaUp to 40 homes so far have been destroyed across NSW on Thursday as unpredictable winds and heat ravage the state, with the premier telling Sky News conditions will deteriorate further on Saturday.\n\nAccording to Ms Berejiklian, some of the 20 properties destroyed around the Balmoral region could have belonged to firefighters who “have sacrificed their own wellbeing to help others and have found they have lost their own properties”.\n\n'It is a very difficult situation,' she said.\n\nAccording to authorities 20 properties have been confirmed destroyed, while there are unconfirmed reports 20 more have been lost as the Green Wattle Creek fire burns at emergency level south west of Sydney.\n\nThe Gospers Mountain blaze in the Hawkesbury is also at an emergency level, with authorities concerned the 400,000-hectare monster inferno could join with another large bushfire.\n\nThree firefighters, two men and a woman, have been injured while fighting the Balmoral blaze.\n\nThe two men suffered serious burns, while the female crew member has smoke inhalation and minor burns and will be transported by road to hospital for treatment and assessment.\n\nMs Berejiklian said while conditions will ease on Friday, the weekend poses a real risk to firefighters.\n\n “As bad as today has been, as difficult as today has been, the weather conditions on Saturday will be worse, and we please ask everyone to take the advice of experts”.\n\n
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Two volunteer firefighters killed, three injured battling bushfire in NSW | Sky News AustraliaAt least two NSW Rural Fire Service volunteer firefighters have died after their truck rolled in Sydney's south west.\n\nThe truck is believed to have hit a tree before rolling off the road at Buxton.\n\nThe driver and front passenger died at the scene, while three other passengers were injured and treated by paramedics.\n\nPremier Gladys Berejiklian declared a seven day State of Emergency on Thursday as five districts face extreme fire danger over weekend.\n\nMeanwhile, an emergency warning is in place for the Green Wattle Creek fire burning south-west of Sydney.\n\nResidents in Nattai, Pheasants Nest, Buxton, Couridjah, Thirlmere, Tahmoor, Bargo and Yanderra should seek shelter as it is too late to leave.\n\nThe Gospers Mountain blaze, in the Hawkesbury area, is also at emergency level.\n\nResidents in Bell, Clarence, Dargan and the Darling Causeway, Bilpin, Mt Wilson, Mt Irvine and Itchenstoke should be aware that it is too late to leave.\n\n\n
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NSW fires updates: Two RFS volunteers die as bushfires ravage stateThe NSW bushfire crisis has taken another devastating turn overnight, with confirmation that two volunteer firefighters were killed and a further three injured in a crash on a fireground near Sydney. Follow our live blog as the state braces for deterior...
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