Firefighters are battling more than 160 bushfires across NSW after 100 fresh blazes are ignited in 24 hours
- More than 160 fires are burning across NSW as residents are told to stay vigilant
- NSW RFS said 100 bush and grass fires were started within a 24 hour period
- Fires burning as far south as the VIC border and as far north as the QLD border
More than 160 bushfires are burning across New South Wales after a host of fresh blazes were started in 24 hours.
The New South Wales Rural Fire Service released a statement on Thursday morning warning of 163 bush and grass fires burning right across the state.
As of 6am on Thursday 64 of the blazes ‘were not contained’.
A map showed fires burning as far south as the Victorian border, as far west as Clifton Downs and as far north as Woodenbong.
There are currently more than 150 bush and grass fires burning across New South Wales after almost 100 fresh blazes began within a 24 hour period (firefighters pictured battling a blaze in NSW)
‘With more than 150 fires burning across NSW and the forecast of more hot and windy weather for the weekend please use this time to prepare,’ a NSW RFS statement read.
‘Review your bush fire plan, prepare your properties and discuss as a household what you will do if threatened by fire.’
Another RFS statement said around 100 new fires had ‘kicked off’ over the ‘past 24 hours’ after wild thunderstorms and dry conditions.
‘Crews will work over coming days to control this large number of fires ahead of forecast elevated fire danger on Saturday,’ a post read.
A New South Wales Rural Fire Service statement said lightning strikes had started a large number of fires across parts of the state and have warned residents to prepare their fire plans (A NSW firefighter is pictured assessing a fire)
The Bureau of Meteorology said thunderstorms which hit Sydney on Tuesday afternoon and the state’s northeast in the evening had produced large hailstones and damaging winds – while lightning also sparked fresh fires.
One persistent blaze on Myall Creek Road at Bora Ridge, south of Casino, was on Wednesday night downgraded from ‘watch and act’ to ‘advice’ level.
Currently all the fires are rated as ‘advice’ which means there is no immediate danger but people have to stay up to date in case the situation changes.
The bushfires also prompted calls from NSW Labor for the state’s auditor-general to investigate whether firefighters have the resources and support they need.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the NSW RFS for further comment.