50 Bushfires And Counting In NSW, Victoria - At Least 20,000+ Hectares Already Burned - SMH

[hatrack]

The New South Wales Rural Fire Service says its firefighters face a massive task this weekend, as they try to bring dozens of fires under control before the arrival of more hot, windy weather next week. Meanwhile, firefighters are continuing to battle a large bushfire in Victoria's south-west.

Fires in New South Wales have now burnt out tens of thousands of hectares of bushland across the Blue Mountains, the Hawkesbury and the Wollemi National Park. In total, there have been more than 50 fires around the state since the start of the week.

Fire crews are now hoping to take advantage of milder weather to secure fire containment lines before the conditions worsen again on Wednesday or Thursday.

But Rural Fire Service spokesman Simon Heemstra says it will still be dangerous for firefighters this weekend. "Temperatures will be getting up into the low 30s and we are still having westerly winds up to 40 kilometres an hour," he said.

EDIT

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200611/s1797168.htm

[NNadir]

1. We have a Bushfire here that is consuming our future, our economy, our military,

our friendships, nevermind our forests and our air.

[Dead_Parrot]

2. And you can't even use him to toast marshmallows. nt