Savage '70 metre bushfire flames' destroy dozens of buildings
Dozens of buildings are feared lost after a savage bushfire with flames as high as 70 metres ripped through the edge of the Blue Mountains, northwest of Sydney overnight.
The Gospers Mountain fire, which is creeping towards 400,000 hectares in size, reached the communities of Mt Wilson, Mt Tomah and Berambing with several homes believed to have been destroyed overnight.
On Monday morning the blaze was back to 'watch-and-act' level early after firefighters worked overnight to contain the blaze.
Firefighters battling the mega blaze face deteriorating conditions as a heatwave sweeping across the nation reaches NSW by Wednesday, bringing temperatures of 40 degrees to Sydney’s west.
With 110 fires currently burning across NSW, the RFS said it is quite concerned what effect the heat will have on their efforts to squash the blazes.
"There's going to be a lot of work going on over the next 24 hours to try and just see what we can do to protect as many properties as we can, but people should be under no illusions," RFS deputy commissioner Rob Rogers said on Sunday night.
"We're going to have to get through this next week of really hot weather with these fires being very active."
Total fire bans are in place for Monday for the Central Ranges, North Western, Northern Slopes and New England areas where the fire danger rating has been set at "severe".
Fire has consumed almost three million hectares of land across the state this season, supported by hot, dry and windy conditions.
Some 724 homes, 49 facilities and 1582 outbuildings had been destroyed. Six people have died and 2.7 million hectares have been scorched.
Fire captain may have lost home in Mt Tomah fire
The Terrey Hills Fire Brigade captain posted a video of the Mt Tomah blaze on Facebook on Sunday, saying flames were reaching 60 to 70 metres tall. It’s been reported some firefighters lost their homes in the blaze overnight.
The blaze is the result of backburning efforts gone awry, the Rural Fire Service has confirmed.
Firefighters on Sunday were trying to prevent the spread of the huge Gospers Mountain blaze when their controlled operation breached containment lines, a spokeswoman said.
The fire now stretches from the Lithgow area in the west, through the Hawkesbury area and towards the Central Coast in the east.
NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons described it as an "awful scenario".
"We have reports of dozens of building, structures having been damaged or destroyed," he told Nine's Today Show.
"We are just not sure on homes and outbuildings and sheds and those sorts of things. I am hearing reports that even our local members, and it might be our local captain have lost their home last night trying to defend their local community."
Authorities have warned there's a risk that embers from the fire could fall in the Bilpin area, starting new blazes ahead of the main fire front.
WA fires threaten Perth suburbs
Perth saw three days of temperatures above 40 over the weekend, hindering efforts to extinguish three major bushfires burning over more than 20,000 hectares, with two of them threatening lives and homes.
Emergency warnings remain for the two bushfires declared in the northern Perth regions of Yanchep and Mogumber.
An alert for people near Collie, and the Harris River and Muja state forests in southwest WA was downgraded after the wind direction changed, pushing the blaze away from properties.
The bushfire raging out of control in Yanchep since Wednesday afternoon was putting thousands of properties at risk on Sunday.
An emergency alert for residents around Guilderton, Gabbadah, Wilbinga, Caraban, Redfield Park, Sovereign Hill, Two Rocks, Yanchep and Eglinton has been downgraded, though the Department of Fire and Emergency Services warned there was still a possible threat to homes and lives.
The emergency alert remains in place for Woodridge and Seatrees and Breakwater Estates.
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DFES said the fire remains stationary but there is a high risk of flare-ups, with the wind due to strengthen and swing on Monday afternoon.
People in Neerbaggy, Gnangara-Moore River State Forest, Moore River National Park and Yeal Nature Reserve were given the all-clear.
One house and a Yanchep service station were confirmed to have been destroyed.
Two temporary evacuation centres were set up at Gumblossom Community Centre and Granville Civic Centre. Community meetings will be held on Monday at 10am and 2.30pm.
Four schools - Two Rocks Primary School, Yanchep Primary School, Yanchep Beach Primary School and Yanchep Secondary College - will be closed on Monday.
Another bushfire declared on Sunday threatened lives and homes in parts of Mogumber, north of Perth.
An emergency warning was issued and residents were asked to shelter. The bushfire remained out of control early on Monday.
South Australia facing extreme heat
The heatwave that hung around Perth on the weekend will make its way to South Australia from Tuesday to Friday, with temperatures set to hit at least 40 every day in Adelaide.
“Adelaide is going to be most affected, it’s forecasted to have three or four consecutive days of over 40 degrees,” Weatherzone meteorologist Jessica Miskelly told Yahoo News Australia last week.
Temperatures are predicted to reach a sizzling 44 on Friday before a change will bring milder conditions.
Remote parts of SA, like the Nullarbor Plain, will be significantly hotter, with a forecast of close to 50 degrees, threatening the Australian temperature record of 50.7 from 1960.
SA Health has advised people to be prepared for the heatwave.
“Alcohol is not a hydration source…be mindful of that, especially as the Christmas party season starts to ramp up," acting chief health officer Chris Lease said.
"Heat stroke and heat exhaustion are a real risk. The body struggles to cope with temperatures above 35.
"People need to monitor their hydration levels."
Queensland bracing for record temperatures
December heat records could fall in southeast Queensland on Monday as extremely hot conditions blow in from the west.
Brisbane city is expecting a top temperature of 39, with Ipswich and Gatton west of the capital heading for a scorching 43.
"They are pretty close to the records for December," Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Jonte Hall told the ABC.
Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young has urged people to pay attention to their health and to keep an eye on loved ones.
“I urge all Queenslanders to listen to weather reports, check websites and social media pages for the state’s health and emergency authorities, and be prepared,” she said.
“Drink plenty of fluids, preferably cool water, regularly throughout the day – don’t wait until you’re thirsty”
“Stay indoors when possible, preferably in a building with air-conditioning or good air flow, and limit strenuous outdoor activity,” she said.
Temperatures in Melbourne will soar as of Tuesday, reaching 39 on Wednesday before briefly dropping to 23 on Thursday.
Residents should expect a very hot Friday, however, as temperatures soar again to 41.
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