Strong winds and widespread heatwaves fuel fire threat
Kat Wong and William Ton |
A widespread heatwave combined with gusty winds have created ample tinder for dangerous fires across swathes of eastern Australia.
Temperatures are set to rise to the low 40s in parts of Sydney and NSW as heatwave warnings are issued for multiple, heavily populated areas.
The central and western parts of Queensland and areas in Western Australia’s northwest are also set to sweat through the sweltering conditions.
But the areas of greatest concern remain in NSW coastal and inland areas, where strong winds could fan any flames.
“As we see temperatures in the high 30s to the low 40s, and strong and gusty winds, (it) is a perfect combination for fires to develop and grow if they do get going,” Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Dean Narramore told ABC TV on Saturday morning.
A total fire ban is in place across Sydney and many parts of central NSW as forecast thunderstorms risk sparking more fires.
More than a dozen homes and shacks, outbuildings and cars were damaged and two firefighters were injured fighting an out-of-control fire at Dolphin Sands on Tasmania’s east coast on Friday.
Crews in Tasmania are continuing to investigate its cause as they deploy air and ground tankers to contain the fire, which has burnt more than 700 hectares.
While the fire is at watch and act level, Tasmania Fire Service has urged people not to return.
“Emergency services and contractors are currently going through areas of the fireground to make it safe and assess the damage that has been caused,” commissioner Jeremy Smith said.
Some residents will be without power for a week after TasNetworks confirmed severe fire damage to dozens of power poles in the Dolphin Sands area.
But cooler temperatures and showers washing across the island state on Saturday will likely bring relief to fire crews.
An emergency warning for residents near Beni Road, outside Dubbo, was downgraded, as was a bushfire at Bulahdelah on the NSW mid-north coast, on Friday evening after easing conditions helped firefighters gain the upper hand.
Temperatures are expected to ease from Sunday for most of NSW and southern Australia.
But the heat is expected to build across northern Australia and WA, returning to much of the country early next week, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
“We’re in that cycle now with heat just continuing to move across the country,” Mr Narramore said.
Victorians faced milder temperatures as a cold front and thunderstorms wash over after hot, dry, windy weather on Friday.
Firefighters were working to contain a bushfire in Markwood, 280km northeast of Melbourne, which has affected at least three properties.
AAP
