Fire danger rating in parts of NSW rises to severe as hot, dry, windy conditions end a brief reprieve of bushfire-hit areas of Australia
By Australian Associated Press
A fresh emergency warning was issued for the Hawkesbury on Sydney’s outskirts on Friday for a fast-moving fire, as hot, dry and windy conditions returned to bushfire-hit areas of New South Wales.
The warning was issued for a persistent 80,000-hectare blaze at Gospers Mountain, which was burning in the direction of Colo Heights. Those in the town should leave immediately towards Wilberforce, the Rural Fire Service warned.
It was one of four emergency warnings issued on Friday afternoon.
Residents of the town of Ebor, near Armidale were warned just after 2.30 pm AEDT to “seek shelter as the fire front arrives” due to a large bushfire.
A third emergency warning, for the Carrai East fire near Kempsey, was issued at 3.15 pm AEDT. The RFS said the bushfire has broken containment lines on the northern side and was burning in the Mines Road area, towards Temagog.
The fourth warning was was for an out of control fire in Richmond Valley in the state’s north, burning in the area of Bungawalbin and New Italy.
In Queensland, residents are evacuating from the path of a fast-moving bushfire in the Pechey forest raging towards Ravensbourne.
Fire crews and water bombers are attacking the blaze north of Toowoomba that has sparked an emergency warning for people to get out because it will soon be too dangerous to leave.
On Friday afternoon it was racing from Grapetree Road at Peachey towards Ravensbourne. The dangerous fire is expected to impact Purtill Road, Garvey Road, Ravensbourne Tip Road, Mount Jockey Road and McQuillan Road. People leaving the area should head southwest along Esk Hampton Road towards Toowoomba.
Warnings remain in place for residents of Woodgate and nearby Kinkuna Waters, south of Bundaberg.
A worrying fire at Thornside, west of Gympie, has been downgraded to watch and act.
The Cobraball fire near Yeppoon in central Queensland continues to worry authorities given the difficult weather conditions expected in coming days.
The blaze, which destroyed 15 of the 16 homes lost in Queensland over the past week, is 90 percent contained but that could change when high winds arrive.
Damage assessments were continuing, with Queensland Fire and Emergency Services saying the number of homes lost could rise.
But QFES assistant commissioner Tony Johnstone said crews had done a remarkable job protecting property.
“It’s really hard to say how many houses we’ve saved but I’d say in excess of 300 or 400,” he told ABC radio.
Temperatures to soar over the weekend
Temperatures near major fire grounds are expected to soar beyond 30C on Friday and into the weekend.
Almost all of Queensland was expecting high or very high fire danger on Friday and there was a chance of severe thunderstorms in the south-east that were forecast to produce little rain.
The drought-stricken Darling Downs and Granite Belt region, west of Brisbane, was facing severe fire danger for at least the next three days.
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