Bushfires Threaten Sydney Homes
Bushfires Threaten Sydney Homes
29 August 2009
published by www.embraceaustralia.com
Australia — Bushfires are once again striking fear into the heart of Australians, this time South of Sydney where fires have been raging since Thursday.
An emergency has been declared by the NSW Rural Fire Service who are deploying water-bombing aircraft in an attempt to halt the spread of the fire, currently threatening homes in the Shoalhaven area as well as spreading to areas South of Sydney. Residents have been warned to prepare their homes.
The regions to the South of Sydney are home to many people who have immigrated to Australia, including many British expats. Sydney continues to be one of the most popular cities for those considering immigrating to Australia, as well as many holidaymakers. However the bushlands bordering the city are prone to bushfires, particularly in the hot months of January and February.
In February of this year, Australia suffered the worst bushfire in history, in the southern state of Victoria where more than 170 people were killed. Many of the bushfires were thought to have been started deliberately.
The cause of the fires now sweeping across Southern Sydney has yet to be determined, but with worsening conditions expected today and wind gusts of up to 80km per hour, firefighters are struggling to contain it and are using backburning techniques to try to prevent the fires reaching the Princes Highway.
