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Bushfire emergency declared in NSW

In October, a state of emergency was declared as bushfires raged across New South Wales.

The fire crisis claimed the lives of Walter Linder, 63, who stayed to fight a bushfire at Lake Munmorah on the Central Coast, and waterbomber pilot David Black, 43, who died fighting bushfires on the NSW south coast near Ulladulla.

Black's Dromader aircraft crashed in the Budawang National Park, about 40km west of the town on October 24.


More than 200 homes were destroyed and damaged another 120 properties in the Blue Mountains, where it emerged army explosives training started a blaze, which has stalked the community for a week.

An angry Blue Mountains mayor called for answers from the Department of Defence after the devastating State Mine fire burned through more than 46,000 hectares, engulfing an area from Lithgow along the northern edge of the Blue Mountains, threatening homes and lives.

Walter Linder collapsed as he tried to stop a spotfire consuming a shed on his Lake Munmorah property. Photo: Supplied
Walter Linder collapsed as he tried to stop a spotfire consuming a shed on his Lake Munmorah property. Photo: Supplied

The Rural Fire Service said an investigation had found the training exercise on army land at Marrangaroo on October 16 was responsible for the blaze.

"The investigation concluded the fire started as a result of exploding ordinances on the range," an RFS spokesman said.

The defence department apologised for starting the biggest blaze in the NSW bushfire crisis, but some Blue Mountains residents said saying "sorry" did not go far enough.

Father-of-three, David Black, was killed while fighting blazes on the NSW South Coast - leaving his family and hometown devastated. Photo: Supplied
Father-of-three, David Black, was killed while fighting blazes on the NSW South Coast - leaving his family and hometown devastated. Photo: Supplied

The worst of the unparalleled fire risk faced by NSW was averted as successful backburning operations reduced the chance of a 'mega fire'.

There were fears three Blue Mountains blazes would link up, creating a catastrophic wall of fire, hundreds of kilometres long.

"Earlier projections were that it had every potential of all three fires joining together," RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said.

Gallery: Firefighters tackle another house fire at Port Stephens on Monday morning, captured by award-winning 7News cameraman Paul Walker.
Gallery: Firefighters tackle another house fire at Port Stephens on Monday morning, captured by award-winning 7News cameraman Paul Walker.


Former US president and environmental activist, Al Gore, also weighed into the NSW bushfires debate, saying it's 'undeniable that global warming leads to extreme weather'.

While a United Nations official said the devastating fires in New South Wales proved the world is "already paying the price of carbon".

Prime Minister Tony Abbott dismissed the comment, accusing the official of "talking through her hat".

He argued that "fire is a part of the Australian experience" and not linked to climate change.

"Climate change is real, as I've often said, and we should take strong action against it, but these fires are certainly not a function of climate change - they're just a function of life in Australia."

The prime minister was also spotted helping the Davidson Rural Fire Brigade battle the bushfires in October.

NSW Rural Fire Services volunteer Tova Gallagher said she was shocked and had to do a 'double take'.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Photo: Twitter
Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Photo: Twitter

"I said 'that guy could be Tony Abbott's brother'," she told News Limited. "Oh wait, hang on. It's him."

Mr Abbott has been a member of the RFS for more than a decade.

How do we stop the firebugs?

Several fires that ripped through bushland south of Newcastle and attracted fire-fighting resources at the height of NSW's bushfire crisis were deliberately lit, according to police.

Between July 21 and November 5, ten fires burned through the western side of Lake Macquarie, destroying bushland and attracting significant fire-fighting resources.

On one day in September, fire-fighting aircraft were called in to help extinguish the blaze.

Following fire investigations, police believe all the fires were deliberately lit and potentially linked.

With a scorching bushfire season predicted for this summer young firebugs are emerging as the biggest threat.

Most of the 30 people charged with arson in October were children. Many them angry - victims of abuse and neglect.


Bushfire arson expert Dr Janet Stanley, of Monash University, said they are likely to live near bushland and in new housing estates where youth unemployment is high.

“About 40 per cent of people who light fires are youth aged 15 to 17 and 13 to 15 per cent are children,” she said.

“[They] experience disadvantage on the edge of the city and they're the ones who are interested in fire.”

A study from the Australian Institute of Criminology shows that of the 60,000 bushfires every year just six per cent are caused naturally. Half are believed to be arson but there is one statistic that is even more disturbing - only one per cent of arsonists are caught and convicted.

The NSW Premier, Barry O’Farrell, said it was a ‘wake-up’ call to parents.

“I think the fire crisis and the shocking revelation of young children involved in lighting some of the fires should be a wake-up call to every parent across the state.”

However, Dr Stanley said her research is under serious threat with governments across Australia failing to fund new studies.

But there were also stories of hope. She was not a firefighter, but Lily Talbot is a bushfire hero.

When the NSW bushfire season got off to an early start this year, the 11-year-old helped save her dad's life.

Ian Talbot was knocked unconscious on September 10, his birthday, when the family horse was spooked in the barn of their Kurrajong property.


Lily's mother had gone to pick up her sister from school, which had been evacuated. Home alone and with her father unconscious, Lily rang Triple-0.

"He has fallen over, he is unconscious and he is bleeding from the head," she told the operator. "Mummy is trying to get Molly from the fire ... Dad, stay still the ambulance is coming."

After following some first aid instructions, Lily then made sure the entrance to their property was visible to ambulances in the smoke.

PICTURE GALLERY: Sydney choked in smoke as bushfires burn
PICTURE GALLERY: Sydney choked in smoke as bushfires burn

She opened the gate and asked a neighbour to park their car nearby with the hazard lights on. "I was relieved when I saw the ambulance, because my dad would be alright," she said.

The operator who took Lily's call, Wendy Bryson, said the Year 6 student handled the situation like an adult. "She's just done such a terrific job, she should feel proud of herself," Ms Bryson said. "She's beyond her years."

For her efforts, Lily was presented with a Star Award at her school by the Ambulance Service of NSW. "My parents said they are very proud of me," she said.

Every New South Wales HSC student affected by the Blue Mountains bushfires has been promised an offer from the University of Western Sydney.

Seven hundred students in the Blue Mountains and Lithgow areas, some of whom sat exams as bushfires raged.

The Staying on Track program was launched in November with an additional $2000 scholarship announced for students who lost or suffered significant damage to their home.

UWS Vice-Chancellor, Professor Janice Reid, said the program is vital.

"As the Blue Mountains and Lithgow areas continue to rebuild, it's important that the next generation of residents don't miss out on the opportunity to study at university," Professor Reid said.



INFORMATION AND HELP
NSW RFS Bush Fire Information Line - 1800 679 737
NSW Disaster Welfare Assistance Line – 1800 018 444
Locating persons - Police Information line – 1800 227 228
Red Cross - 9229 4249
Salvation Army - 9264 1711
Bush fire survival plan