With the worst of a distorting southerly blast over, NSW authorities say they must now count the cost of a horror day on the state's fire grounds.
Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons described the day as"awful" for firefighters, with up to 20 homes lost to the immense Gospers Mountain fire northwest of Sydney alone.At least two more properties were razed near Batemans Bay on the south coast, and others at Balmoral southwest of Sydney.
Southerly winds moving upstate on Saturday evening fanned flames in new directions and caused erratic fire behaviour, before creating cooler conditions for the 3000 firefighting and emergency personnel in the field.With forecasts predicting close to a week of advantageous conditions across NSW, Mr Fitzsimmons said his crews would 'make hay'.Two total fire bans will nevertheless be in place on Sunday in the Northern Slopes and North Western regions, under"very high" fire danger.
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