Desperate police are scrambling to get people out of their homes and to safety as a huge mega blaze named ‘The Monster’ by locals threatens 20,000 lives, while residents and battle the fire with their garden hoses.
The Gospers Mountain mega blaze is moving rapidly in Lithgow, northwest of Sydney, after winds kicked up the flames with the fire front now just metres from houses.
Fire crews and police have spent the day door-knocking and warning residents of the imminent danger and urging them to leave, as five homes have been destroyed.
But defiant residents have remained at their properties, using their garden hose and buckets to attempt to save their houses, despite the fire destroying an area six times the size of Singapore.
Police were seen pulling people out of their homes as the flames inched closer, with footage captured by Seven News showing officers running to houses.
Emergency crews were so desperate for people to leave their homes they began to throw things at windows to alert people inside.
A southerly wind of up to 90km/h began rolling through the southern coast of NSW on Saturday afternoon, hitting Sydney at 5pm causing the fires to pick up speed.
The Gospers Mountain mega blaze is moving rapidly in Lithgow (pictured), northwest of Sydney, after winds kicked up the flames with the fire front now just metres from houses
Fire crews and police have spent the day door-knocking and warning residents of the imminent danger and urging them to leave
Horses are seen in a paddock as the Gospers Mountain Fire impacts Bilpin, northwest of Sydney, on Saturday
Residents (pictured) are battling fires with garden hoses as they attempt to save their homes from a fire so terrifying it has been named ‘The Monster’
Defiant residents have remained at their properties, using their garden hose and buckets to attempt to save their houses
NSW Rural Fire Service crews fight the Gospers Mountain Fire as it impacts a structure at Bilpin, northwest of Sydney on Saturday
The Gospers Mountain Fire is seen impacting a property in Bilpin, northwest of Sydney, as the blaze remains out-of-control on Saturday
Police were seen running up to houses and pulling people out as the flames inched closer to properties in Lithgow
‘This will bring erratic fire conditions to the Green Wattle Creek fire at about 5pm. The Grose Valley fire and Gospers Mountain fires will be affected at around 6pm.’ the NSW RFS Tweeted, referring to the emergency-level fires close to Sydney.
In a terrifying day for the state, the fires at Gospers Mountain, Green Wattle Creek and Shoalhaven were all upgraded to emergency level – with residents told it was now too late to leave.
The Currowan and Tianjara fires in the Shoalhaven were so powerful that they caused fire-generated thunderstorms which happen when rising, turbulent air draws in cooler air and causes lightning, high winds and sometimes rain – but not directly over the blazes.
‘This is a very dangerous situation. Monitor the conditions around you and take appropriate action,’ RFS wrote on Twitter.
Resident Rob Corney has remained at his Lithgow property and told the Daily Telegraph the fire is rapidly moving, with ten fire trucks and more than 40 firefighters battling the fire.
‘I’m not going anywhere because I’ve got nowhere else to go. I’m not starting from scratch again,’ he said.
On Saturday, ‘The Monster’ continued to rage as temperatures soared to 40C and strong westerly winds whipped across the fireground.
The fire in the Wollemi National Park is currently burning on multiple fronts and has merged with other fires.
It has also spawned new fires including the Grose Valley fire which is coming from the northeast to threaten the Blue Mountains suburbs of Mount Victoria and Blackheath.
It is thought to be the largest bushfire from a single spark in Australia’s history, and is burning across a challenging terrain which firefighters cannot reach.
‘Today has been an awful day,’ NSW Rural Fire Services Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said of the conditions which were rated ‘catastrophic’, the highest level of danger.
By late afternoon, six fires in the state were rated at emergency level, including two around Sydney.
‘We have seen property impacted and lost. We have 3,000 firefighters and emergency services personnel out there dealing with the fires,’ Fitzsimmons told a media conference.
The Currowan and Tianjara fires in the Shoalhaven were so powerful that they caused fire-generated thunderstorms which happen when rising, turbulent air draws in cooler air and causes lightning, high winds and sometimes rain – but not directly over the blazes
Horses in a paddock as the Gospers Mountain Fire impacts Bilpin as conditions are expected to worsen across much of the state
A NSW Rural Fire Service firefighter is seen fighting the Gospers Mountain Fire as it impacts properties at Bilpin on Saturday
A water bombing helicopter battles the Green Wattle Creek Fire as it threatens homes in Yanderra in the south west of Sydney
The raging infernos continue to close in on Sydney, with the Gospers Mountain fire now burning across 450,000 hectares
NSW Rural Fire Service crews fight the Gospers Mountain Fire as it impacts a property at Bilpin northwest of Sydney
Other towns across NSW have been issued with the terrifying warning that it is now ‘too late to leave’ as firefighters endure one of the worst bushfire days yet.
A notification was sent to residents on the NSW coast saying the storms are due to a strong southerly change late on Saturday afternoon.
‘Some fires on the south coast have generated thunderstorms ahead of the change. The change will increase winds and see erratic fire behaviour. These are dangerous fire conditions. Do not be in the path of a fire,’ the warning read.
Officials released several stark emergency warnings on Saturday afternoon, saying it is too late to escape and residents should ‘seek shelter’.
New South Wales motorists who plan to load up their cars and drive to family and friends on Saturday were warned to cancel all travel plans.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said families should avoid travel, as the ‘unpredictable’ conditions could see fires become ‘very dangerous quickly’.
Christmas is likely to be cancelled for the hundreds of Australians forced to flee their homes, and others have been told not to risk travelling to see friends or family.
Other towns across NSW have been issued with the terrifying warning that it is now ‘too late to leave’ as firefighters endure one of the worst bushfire days yet. Pictured: a water bombing helicopter in Yanderra, south-west of Sydney
A burnt Christmas decoration lies on the ground (pictured) in front of a house recently destroyed by bushfires on the outskirts of the town of Bargo on Saturday
Residents in Bilpin (pictured) have been told to evacuate as the Gospers Mountain fire reaches emergency levels on Saturday
The town of Bilpin (pictured) has been on high alert as the Gospers Mountain fire rages on Saturday, and residents have now been told to leave
Firefighters stare down a raging bushfire at Bilpin in NSW’s Blue Mountains (pictured), next to a major road and dangerously close to homes
As fires rage across the country, officials are now considering closing the Princes Highway, cutting off communities across NSW and Victoria.
The Hume Highway was closed at lunchtime on Saturday between Campbelltown and Alpine, causing travel chaos for hundreds of motorists.
In a major blow for Christmas drivers, the Great Western Highway was closed at lunchtime on Saturday in both directions at Marrangaroo, west of Lithgow, between Reserve Road and Barton Avenue.
Roadtrippers preparing to travel to see friends or family this Christmas have been warned to delay their trips.
‘If anyone was considering driving south of Nowra today please don’t, Ms Berejiklian warned.
‘We’re concerned the three active fires in that region could suddenly become very dangerous quickly. When things are at catastrophic level it means unpredictable wind temperatures wind conditions and also active fires.
‘Please do not do anything that’s going to put you in harm’s way. We know just a few days before Christmas family and friends are getting together.
The Bilpin fire, on the outskirts of Sydney, is threatening homes and communities (pictured) as firefighters struggle to contain the blaze
A resident (pictured) uses a commercial watering machine to hose down his property as the Grose Valley Fire approaches Bilpin on Saturday
Firemen inspect a house recently destroyed by bushfires (pictured) on the outskirts of the town of Bargo on Saturday
Hundreds of fires blazing across NSW, Queensland, Victoria and Adelaide on Saturday (pictured) as scorching temperatures and high winds make them difficult to contain
‘We know it might be stressful to change your plans. We would much rather everybody was safe and not in harm’s way.’
NSW is in a state of emergency, as 129 fires rage across the state as of 5pm Saturday, 50 of which are out of control and impossible to contain.
Fire officials also issued a grave warning that the escalating conditions may make it impossible for them to save those caught in the flames.
Scorching temperatures across Australia on Saturday will see some of the worst conditions yet for the country’s exhausted firefighters.
New South Wales Fire crews are still mourning the loss of two brave volunteers who died after battling the Green Wattle Creek fire on Thursday evening.
Andrew O’Dwyer, 36, a father-of-three and Geoffrey Keaton, 32, also a father, had courageously fought the fire as part of the Horsley Park RFS bridage.
On Saturday morning, the brigade went back out to tackle the blazing inferno, dedicating their battle to their fallen mates.
‘In true Horsley Park spirit, our crew are heading out today as part of a Cumberland Zone Strike Team in memory of Geoff and Andrew,’ the team wrote on its Facebook page.
Smoke from a bushfire is seen near Gumeracha in the Adelaide Hills (picture) on Saturday
A firefighter is seen tackling a fire near Gumeracha in the Adelaide Hills (pictured) on Saturday
A Woodside resident battles a fire (pictured) as it crosses Ridge Road at Woodside in the Adelaide Hills in Adelaide on Friday
The Cudlee Creek fire destroys a plot of land at Woodside (pictured), just 40 minutes outside of Adelaide, on Friday
‘To all crews in the field today, stay safe and look after each other.’
Two people were declared dead after a night of raging bushfires in South Australia, and hundreds of homes are on the brink of destruction.
One resident died in the Adelaide Hills as a fire ripped through the area, and another in a car crash in Lameroo.
At least 23 firefighters have been taken to hospital with injuries after battling more than 100 fires across South Australia, some just 40 minutes from the centre of Adelaide.
South Australian Premier Steven Marshall told reporters: ‘There has been a further death in the Charleston area in Adelaide.
‘This is of course on top of the death which occurred in Lameroo. This was a result of a car crash in the Lameroo area which ignited the fire which was in that area yesterday.’
‘My fear is this is only the tip of the iceberg. It is going to a real scene of devastation, especially for those people in the Adelaide Hills who have been most affected to date.’
John Glatz, the former Oakbank Racing Club chairman, is in an induced coma in an intensive care unit, ABC reported.
A home lost to a bushfire (pictured) in Buxton as the Green Wattle Creek fire threatens homes in the south west of Sydney
A firefighter struggles to tackle a fire in the NSW town of Bargo on Friday evening, which is reported to have destroyed more than 50 homes
He is thought to have suffered burns to 60 per cent of his body as he stayed behind in a desperate attempt to save his horses and home.
Blistering heat is escalating the fire risk with Adelaide reaching 43.9C following the hottest night on record.
Temperatures throughout the state soared to the high 40s, while Keith reached a scorching 49.2C.
In Victoria, after days of blistering heat a cool change has brought dangerous dry lightning, increasing the fire danger for firefighters tackle more than 100 blazes across the state.
Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley said the 21,000 hectare Grampians bushland fire was so intense it had ‘created its own weather’, triggering lightning and spot fires.
On Saturday morning, a 47-year-old man was charged with lighting three bushfires in the Roxburgh Park area on Friday night.
He has been charged with 11 charges including intentionally cause bush-fire and criminal damage by fire.
Fires swept areas of Lexton, Victoria on Friday (pictured) as conditions worsened thanks to high temperatures
Victoria Police evacuated a number of people from Lexton after it was threatened by the fire at Amphitheatre (pictured)
The Bargo fire (pictured) continued to burn overnight, after reducing the area to an ‘apocalyptic wasteland’
The charges also relate to a series of fires dating back to October this year.
On Friday 110 fires were already burning, but another 33 started in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Around 27 of these are out of control.
Locals have been told it’s too late to leave the Tambo Crossing and Ensay areas, as the huge fires in east Gippsland burns out of control.
‘You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. The safest option is to take shelter indoors immediately. It is too late to leave,’ Victorian officials warned.
Over 200 additional trucks from the NSW Fire and Rescue Service and RFS have been allocated on Saturday and residents are being urged to be prepared to leave.
‘If you’re somewhere you have to go down a single road, you’re in a very heavily vegetated area, then our message is think very carefully about staying in that area,’ RFS deputy commissioner Rob Rogers said.
‘And maybe, not necessarily evacuate, but go somewhere else in the heat, go to the beach, go to a shopping centre, go somewhere that’s not bushfire prone.
‘Firefighters will do their best to look after your house but we just want to get through the day with lives in tact.’
Burnt-out property is seen following the Green Wattle Creek Fire in NSW on Friday (pictured). It’s feared 40 homes have been lost in the bushfire that tore through the area