Communities in southern NSW are waking to news of widespread property damage after a massive blaze spread rapidly overnight, causing new fires and explosions. Follow our live blog for the latest updates
There are three fires burning at "emergency" warning level on Sunday morning.
These include the Border fire, near the coast at the Victorian border, the new Morton fire in Bundanoon, north of the Shoalhaven river, and the Green Wattle Creek fire to Sydney's south-west. It is too late to leave for Southern Highlands residents in Bundanoon, Wingello, Penrose, Meryla, Exeter, Avoca, Fitzroy Falls and surrounding areas after the Morton fire crossed the Shoalhaven river last night. Residents are advised to seek shelter as the fire approaches.Fire conditions today are less severe than yesterday, with a "high" or "very high" fire danger rating in all areas of NSW, but a total fire ban remains in place across the state.
The RFS said residents in Bundaoon, Berrima, Wingello, Penrose, Exeter and Fitzroy Falls had missed their window to leave and urged them to shelter in place. A second firefront is expected to hit another section of Bundanoon on Sunday morning.The spread of the fire was far greater than what the RFS had forecast under its worst-case scenario predictive mapping technology. A southerly change last night brought gusts brought gusts of up to 128 kilometres per hour, hitting Nowra about 7.
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