Lightning strikes spark nine remote bushfires in the Blue Mountains
Lightning strikes spark nine remote bushfires in the Blue Mountains
23 January 2018
Published by https://www.9news.com.au/
AUSTRALIA – Firefighters will today respond to multiple fires burning in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, that were sparked by a series of lightning strikes.
Video of reconnaissance flights by the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) shows up to nine fires burning in bushland in the Blue Mountains National Park and the Hawksbury as a severe thunderstorm moved through the region.
Crews worked through the night to contain three blazes north of the Great Western Highway in the Grose Valley, while four other fires were sparked in the Blue Labyrinth, south of the highway and north of the Warragamba Dam.
There were also two fires in the Yengo National Park, east of Putty Road in the Hawkesbury.
The RFS said there is no immediate threat posed to homes, with all of the fires burning at an ‘advice’ level and in remote bushland.
Residents are being advised to monitor conditions, and to check and follow their bush fire survival plan.
A severe fire danger warning is in place for the Southern Ranges and Southern Slopes today, with more hot conditions forecast for the state.
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Smoke continues to blanket southern Sydney and the NSW south coast following blazes in the Royal National Park.
The fire along Sir Bertram Stevens Drive, which is believed to have been deliberately lit, has ripped through more than 2050 hectares of land since Saturday.
Firefighters remained on scene overnight to strengthen containment lines after gaining the upper hand yesterday afternoon amid continued hot and dry conditions.
The park, which was filled with hikers and tourists when the fire broke out on Saturday, will remain closed today.
NSW RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said it appeared the blaze was deliberately lit.
Another blaze at Bannaby in the Southern Tablelands was yesterday afternoon upgraded to a ‘watch and act’ level, as strong winds put pressure on containment lines.
The 1800-hectare fire was at 9pm last night burning out of control, approximately five kilometres to the north-east of Taralga, with firefighters helping residents prepare their properties along a number of roads.
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