Dozens of homes are under threat in the Hunter region of New South Wales from an out-of-control bush fire as up to 150 different blazes lash Australia’s east coast.
The New South Wales Rural Fire Service announced on Sunday morning there were 82 fires burning across the state – with a further 50 raging in Queensland.
The fire in the Salt Ash area north of Newcastle has intensified on Sunday due to strong winds – and residents have been told it is too late to leave.
Strong winds fanning the flames of the Salt Ash bush fire in New South Wales’ Hunter region on Sunday have forced the NSW RFS to issue an emergency warning to residents – telling them it was too late to leave and to take shelter
Firefighters are working to stem the movement of the Salt Ash fire, which had burned through over 1700 hectares of land as of midday on Sunday
As of midday on Sunday, an emergency warning had been sent to residents in Salt Ash and the fire had burned through 1704 hectares of land.
They are being urged to take shelter and follow the bush fire survival plan, which includes keeping grass low and having a cleared area around the home.
In Tabulam in northern New South Wales on Saturday, meanwhile, three rural volunteers narrowly survived being caught in an escalating grass fire which lashed against their truck.
Residents of Salt Ash have been advised to follow a bush fire survival plan before taking shelter in their homes – which includes making sure the grass around their houses is cut low
Volunteer firefighters battling a fire in Tabulam in northern NSW near the Clarence River (pictured) were forced to run for their lives after an escalating fire surrounded their truck on Saturday
The fire in Salt Ash (pictured) is one of around 150 fires currently being tackled by firefighters across the Australian east coast
Two of the volunteers had to run to a nearby shed as the fire flared around their truck, while the other sheltered within their truck until the blaze passed.
A fire at Woodstock near Ulladulla on the NSW south coast also burned out of control on Saturday – tearing through more than 4000 hectares of land.
On Friday, a helicopter pilot fighting the bush fires in NSW’s south died when his red water-bombing bucket became snagged in the branches of a tree in Woodstock.
The pilot, Allan Tull, had around 8,000 hours of total flying time and 3,000 hours of firefighting experience from the sky.
The RFS warned the windy conditions exacerbating the fires would not ease until Wednesday – meaning some areas would remain on a ‘Very High’ fire danger.
The regions designated as ‘Very’ High risk for Sunday were Greater Sydney, North Coast, Northern Slopes, New England and the Far North Coast.