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Two dead, seven missing in devastating NSW bushfires

Unprecedented bushfires in NSW have claimed the lives of two people, amid fears there could be more fatalities as blazes rage across the state's north and mid-north regions and seven people remain missing.

At least 100 homes were destroyed and 30 people were injured in NSW.

The body of a person was discovered in a vehicle at the Kangawalla fire, near Glen Innes, the Rural Fire Service said on Saturday morning.

"Firefighters have located the remains of a person in a vehicle at the Kangawalla fire, near Glen Innes. Two people remain unaccounted for after yesterday's bush fires," the RFS said in a tweet.

State Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed a second fatality as she addressed reporters in Sydney.

"Our thoughts and prayers of course go to the families and loved ones of those two deceased persons," she said.

She warned the number could rise, and said the community must brace itself for worse to come.

"We do need to brace ourselves and what is concerning is that the forecast weather conditions on Tuesday could mean that we're not through the worst of it."

A woman who had been discovered by firefighters in the same blaze but in an unrelated incident was treated for burns before being transferred to hospital but has since died, NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said.

He advised the number of missing and dead could rise, Mr Fitzsimmons advised.

Satellite image shows the bushfires are visible from space and a picture of the bushfire close to homes on Railway Parade in Woodford NSW, Friday, November 8, 2019.
More than 70 fires are burning across NSW. One person has been confirmed dead, while two remain missing. Source: EPA / AAP.

As of Saturday morning More than 70 fires were burning across the state on Saturday morning, 39 uncontained, with five at emergency warning level.

The RFS has urged people affected by the fires on the north coast and northern NSW areas to register with the Red Cross.

Earlier, there were reports of people trapped in their homes.

The RFS previously said that many people have called for help but the size and speed of the fires means they can't get to everyone.

Emergency warnings have been issued from the Blue Mountains to the Queensland border.

Aerial footage showed "widespread" property damage and destruction as more than 80 fires continued to burn at midnight on Friday night.

Mr Fitzsimmons said on Friday there were preliminary reports of minor injuries to both firefighters and members of the general public.

He said they were dealing with a very dynamic, volatile and dangerous set of circumstances.

Picture of Fire and Rescue NSW firefighters conducting property protection as a bushfire burns close to homes on Railway Parade in Woodford NSW, Friday,
Friday's hot, windy conditions were ideal for bushfires to burn out of control across parts of NSW. Souorce: AAP Image / Dan Himbrechts.

"We are in uncharted territory ... we've never seen this many fires concurrently at emergency warning level," he said.

Seasoned crews with decades of experience said they have never seen such conditions.

MidCoast Mayor David West, from Brimbin, said that he had never seen anything like the fire in his area.

"I'm looking at a sky that's screaming danger, that's saying 'get out of my way, I'm going to kill you'," he told AAP on Friday night.

"I know that sounds melodramatic but it's not. This is a fire that's devouring everything in its path."

Picture of NSW Rural Fire Service personnel in Woodford NSW.
Emergency warning have been issued across NSW, from the Blue Mountains to the Queensland border. Source: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts.
The remains of the residence at Four Paws boarding kennels smoulders along the Pacific Highway south of  Taree on Saturday. Source: AAP Image / Darren Pateman.
The remains of the residence at Four Paws boarding kennels smoulders along the Pacific Highway south of Taree on Saturday. Source: AAP Image / Darren Pateman.

Mr West said he'd heard from people in the Bobin area who were suffering, as well as unconfirmed reports of property loss.

There should be a brief reprieve in conditions as temperatures cool over the weekend, but temperatures are expected to rise significantly from Monday.

2000 people evacuated on the Queensland Coast

Roughly 2000 people were evacuated from Tewantin and Noosa North Shore on Friday afternoon and into the night, independent Noosa MP Sandy Bolton said.

They sought shelter at local show-grounds, sporting facilities and church outreach centres.

One firefighter broke their leg and a home has been destroyed at Cooroibah.

It is understood the fire started at Cooroibah before jumping the river to Teewah and creeping towards Tewantin.

The Tewantin fire is one of three major fires burning in Queensland, with crews also fighting blazes at Lower Beechmont in the Gold Coast hinterland and at Thornton in the Lockyer Valley.

A severe fire danger is in place for the coastal and adjacent inland areas from Gympie to Ingham, and in the northern goldfields including Charters Towers, Julia Creek and Georgetown.

Authorities said 37 fires were burning across Queensland as of Saturday morning.

Picture of Port Macquarie, without a filter, where a fire has just started and as of yet does not pose any threat, but residents should be advised. Source: Imgur.
Picture of Port Macquarie, without a filter, where a fire has just started and as of yet does not pose any threat, but residents should be advised. Source: Imgur.

Fires force families to leave their pets

Many families have been forced to leave their beloved pets behind while urgently evacuate the fires.

One woman on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast had to set free her horses.

“I did not have time to get them. I have let them free. I hope they are okay. If anyone has any information please message me,” she wrote in a distressing post to a local community page.

Strangers have offered to open their doors to those affected by the fires, with some also offering to house their animals until they can return home.

“If anyone needs to evacuate themselves or animals you are welcome to bring them to our place in Imbil we have large dog cages, horse paddocks, stables and two spare rooms for anyone in need. Stay safe everyone,” one woman offered.

Time to give back to our Hero’s

A Go Fund Me has been set up to give back to NSW firefighters, thanking them for their work particularly over the past few weeks.

“I cannot bring myself to even begin to think of the damage that the fires have caused but one thing I can think about is how much worse it could have been/can be if it weren’t for our Fire Fighters - our hero’s,” the Go Fund Me reads.

All the money raised will be handed directly to the NSW Rural Fire service.

“With this being said I think we should all be digging deep to help support the NSW Rural Fire Service which will directly help the volunteers and the equipment needed for such catastrophic situations,” Rachael Aquilina, who set up the Go Fund Me, said.

A little over $400 has been raised so far.

Click here to see more photos:

The Public Information and Inquiry Centre (PIIC), remains open to assist members of the public in relation to bush fire information for the Northern Rivers, Clarence Valley, Mid North Coast, and Manning Great Lakes areas.

The telephone number to call is 1800 227 228.

-With AAP.

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