The New South Wales Rural Fire Service commissioner has defended the organisation’s preparations ahead of this devastating bushfire season as crews use the cooler weather to strengthen containment lines ahead of worsening conditions this weekend.
Shane Fitzsimmons told Sky News “prescribed burns are not the only solution to bushfires.
Unreasonably dry weather put much of the state in drought creating a tinderbox situation and early bushfire season”. “Health issues in some of our capital cities were also a concern”. Image: Getty
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Funeral held in Sydney for NSW RFS volunteer firefighter Andrew O'Dwyer | Sky News AustraliaA guard of honour has been formed to farewell heroic New South Wales volunteer firefighter Andrew O'Dwyer at his funeral service in Sydney on Tuesday. \n\nMr O'Dwyer died on December 19 fighting the Green Wattle Creek fire near Buxton in Western Sydney \n\nThe young father and his deputy captain, Geoffrey Keaton, lost their lives when a tree fell in the path of their firetruck causing it to roll.\n\nPrime Minister Scott Morrison, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian and state Emergency Services Minister David Elliott were among the mourners.\n\nThe 36-year-old leaves behind his wife Melissa and young daughter Charlotte.\n\nImage: Getty
Read more »
NSW crews embrace rain to prepare for hot weekend | Sky News AustraliaFirefighters across New South Wales are using the cooler weather to strengthen containment lines before conditions heat up later this week. \n\nNSW RFS Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers told Sky News “there has been scattered rainfall over quite a wide spread area, enough to calm things down. It has hindered back burning but we are certainly not complaining about any rain at this point”.\n\nSo far this fire season New South Wales has lost 1,588 homes as more than 130 bush and grass fires still burning across the state with half of those yet to be contained.\n\nTemperatures are expected to soar above 40 degrees in addition to strong gusty winds this weekend.\n\nImage: News Corp Australia\n
Read more »
Authorities fear NSW, Vic fires could merge into mega blaze | Sky News AustraliaFire authorities say they fear a blaze at Corryong in Victoria's north-east will merge with fires in southern New South Wales. \n\nThe state control centre said it would fly an aircraft over the area to inspect how close the blazes are to linking up but a heavy smoke haze is keeping planes grounded. \n\nMore than 1.2 million hectares of land has been burned so far, with more than 200 homes lost in Victoria. \n\nMeanwhile, the death toll in NSW has climbed to 20 after a 71-year-old man, who was reported missing on New Year's Eve, was confirmed dead. \n\nPolice found his body near his home in Nerrigundah in the state's south east on Monday. \n \nAll bushfires across the state are now at the lowest alert level with residents returning to their homes to inspect the destruction.\n\nImage: News Corp Australia
Read more »