Firefighters ‘are in it for the long haul’ with no significant rain expected until next year – as lightning sparks even MORE bushfires
- NSW firefighters are desperately trying to take advantage of easing conditions
- They say they’re ‘in for the long haul’ with the blazes set to burn into next year
- Widespread lightning saw new fires spark overnight, Rural Fire Service said
NSW firefighters are desperately trying to take advantage of easing conditions across the state, but say they’re ‘in for the long haul’ with unprecedented bushfires set to burn until significant rain arrives some time in 2020.
Total fire bans are in place in three northern NSW regions facing very high and severe fire danger, while 117 blazes continue to burn with 71 yet to be contained.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a warning on Thursday for the northern slopes and northwestern fire areas, saying ‘very hot and dry conditions will cause dangerous fire conditions’.
NSW firefighters are desperately trying to take advantage of easing conditions across the state, but say they’re ‘in for the long haul’ with unprecedented bushfires set to burn until significant rain arrives some time in 2020
A severe thunderstorm warning for northeast NSW was also issued by the bureau, with the storms expected to bring with the possibility of even more fires.
‘Widespread lightning saw several new ignitions overnight, more lightning expected this afternoon,’ the Rural Fire Service tweeted on Thursday.
An RFS spokeswoman said while conditions had eased across many fire grounds, there was still a lot of work for firefighters to do.
‘Unfortunately, what we need is significant rainfall and that’s just not predicted till early next year,’ she told AAP. ‘We’re certainly in it for the long haul.’
Firefighters in the field are currently taking advantage of the easing conditions to conduct backburning operations.
The RFS confirmed on Wednesday that 724 homes, 49 facilities and 1582 outbuildings had been destroyed so far this fire season. Some 2.7 million hectares have been scorched.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a warning on Thursday for the northern slopes and northwestern fire areas, saying ‘very hot and dry conditions will cause dangerous fire conditions’
The federal government on Thursday announced an $11 million funding boost to support aerial firefighting efforts.
NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet has also pledged to do ‘whatever it takes’ to help firefighters battling the state’s bushfire crisis.
‘We have thousands of firefighters on the frontline risking their lives and we stand with them,’ he told reporters.
‘I have indicated to (Emergency Services Minister David Elliott) and (RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons) that any financial support they need to ensure communities are safe once these bushfires have passed, they will have.’