A large, out-of-control bushfire continued to burn near Bega on Wednesday. Moderate winds and a lack of rain are expected to play havoc with dozens of unseasonable bushfires burning throughout New South Wales.
This ongoing wind and dry conditions have made it difficult for firefighters to get the upper hand on the unseasonable bushfires which are still burning at Mount Kingiman west of Milton, North Nowra, Bega, the Blue Mountains and the Richmond and Clarence valleys.
The Bureau of Meteorology was forecasting damaging winds for the state’s southeast on Thursday, including for a possible blizzard above 1900m.
Very high fire danger is predicted on Thursday for the New England, >Juthy Sahanorthern slopes and far north coast regions while more than 80 fires were burning overnight all along the Great Dividing Range.
It was a chaotic day for authorities in the state, who have issued emergency warnings for several bushfires.
On Wednesday night, the blaze near Bega was threatening properties and some people had been told it was “too late to leave”.
The fire had blackened 2,300 hectares of land much of it inaccessible but it was downgraded to watch and act level before 8:00pm.
Two other fires in Budawang National Park near Ulladulla and Nowra also contributed to a hectic day for crews.
The fire at Mount Kingiman, near Ulladulla, burnt through 1,156 hectares and by Wednesday evening was downgraded to watch and act.
Despite the easing of conditions, firefighters said embers may be blown well ahead of the fire, creating spot fires that could threaten properties.
RFS Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers said firefighters still faced a tough battle today. “It’ll be days and days to try and get containment of both of those fires,” he said.
“We are talking an average wind strength of something like 60-65km/h across most of these fire grounds. Nothing like yesterday, which was up over 100km/h,” he said.
“We are expecting conditions to deteriortate further as we head into the weekend as the next frontal passage moves across the state.”
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