Firefighters are battling to contain a large grass fire which erupted in western Sydney on Monday.
The fast-moving blaze began burning just before 1.50pm near Nepean Rugby Park at Hickeys Lane in Penrith, in the city’s west.The fire has been creeping towards industrial warehouses nearby as more than 10 fire trucks worked to extinguish the blaze.Smoke is covering much of the Penrith area. Picture: Facebook
Waterbombing aircraft are on the way with both the Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue NSW crews trying to keep it contained.“Firefighters from FRNSW and RFS are on scene of a fire burning in the vicinity of Hickeys Lane. The fire is burning in a NW direction between Hickeys Ln & Castlereagh Rd,” the Rural Fire Service said in a tweet.“Those in the vicinity should monitor conditions.”
Motorists are being urged to avoid the area and keep out of the way of responding emergency vehicles.Ash could be seen falling from the sky and landing on nearby homes and businesses. Firefighters are on high alert with the mercury hitting a top of 31C, with the hot and dry conditions set to continue.
The mercury is forecast to hit 35C on Tuesday before dropping to 32C on Wednesday, with the heat causing worry that more fires could break out.A 3.7 magnitude earthquake has rocked a small town in southwestern Victoria, the second quake to hit the area in two days.The government is exploring a new system that would allow Australians caught in natural disasters to access phone coverage regardless of where they are.
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