The heat of the fast-approaching summer is with us now "downunder", worsening the already dire drought. Now the fires have started in the past few weeks and the heat (41 degrees celsius in Sydney) of the past couple of days has made the eastern states a tinder-box. Rain is sorely needed and those accustomed to prayer have been praying for rain. Here's this morning's news report:
| 08:55 AEST Wed 27 Nov 2002 | |
| Cool-down set to aid firefighters More moderate weather conditions were expected to help firefighters battling over fifty fires across NSW which have destroyed factories and a home, and cut power to thousands. The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) was expecting a change on Tuesday night and more moderate conditions on Wednesday. RFS spokesman John Winter said a south-easterly change would bring some respite to the state's coastal strip. "That's only ahead of weather conditions on Thursday and Friday which carry with them extreme fire dangers," Mr Winter said. A total fire ban in the Hunter region indicated troublesome weather was expected, a cause for concern given the severe fires burning in the area, he said. Fire bans have been declared for the Hunter, north west slopes and plains and northern rivers areas. Mini explosions at two factories near Newcastle complicated firefighting efforts as high temperatures fuelled bushfires across NSW on Tuesday. A treated pine factory and a neighbouring tyre business at Blackalls Park were seriously damaged with several explosions rocking the buildings. Two fires, one at Teralba, near Newcastle, and another at Londonderry and Llandilo, in Sydney's west, would continue to be of most concern to firefighters today with tankers and some aircraft being deployed to fight the blazes. The fires claimed a shed at Llandilo and a home at Blackalls Park while causing superficial damage to another home at nearby Teralba. Firefighters continued to work on containment lines for the 55 fires still burning around the state. Other fires of concern were also still burning near Eurobodalla, Shoalhaven and Kiama on the south coast, near Gosford on the central coast, Gloucester in the state's north, two near Singleton and one at greater Cessnock in the Hunter Valley. Thousands of NSW residents remained without power after the fires destroyed power poles north of Newcastle. About 11,000 residents were still without power on Wednesday after fire burnt through power poles and destroyed two feeders on the western side of Lake Macquarie. Energy Australia said crews had been forced to abandon repair work because of embers and debris falling from trees but had resumed repair work at first light. It was not yet known when power would be restored and at times up to 30,000 homes were without electricity for two-hour intervals. "In an area from Wangi to Teralba on the western side of Lake Macquarie, approximately 11,000 customers are without supply at this stage," an Energy Australia spokesman said. Extra crews have been brought in from the Central Coast, Maitland and Upper Hunter to restore power as quickly as possible but repairs were unlikely to be completed today. "We are appealing to Lake Macquarie and Newcastle residents to keep electricity needs to essential use," the spokesman said. RFS spokesman John Winter said extremely low humidity and high temperatures had also brought with them unusual fire behaviour never seen before. "The most extraordinary thing out there was that well-mown lawns with 2cm high grass, were burning," he said. "That just shows how dry the ground and grass was." Mr Winter said about 20 homes in the Awaba area, south of Newcastle, were expected to come under threat but sufficient number of fire tankers had been brought in to fend off fires around the properties. He said about 20 farm properties were also being threatened by fire in nearby Rhyhope. Cheers, Ozzie | |