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| Sunday, 10 November 2002 |
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Thousands of Australian firefighters battle blazes By Michael Perry SYDNEY, Nov 9 (Reuters) - About 3,000 firefighters battled almost 100 bushfires across eastern Australia on Saturday with soaring temperatures and low humidity threatening to send many blazes out of control, fire officials said. The New South Wales Rural Fire Service said 95 fires were burning in Australia's most populous state, with 35 of them out of control. "We have a significant number of fires that are continuing to burn, many of them have been burning for up to six weeks," said John Winter, spokesman for the fire service. "Its been a long battle for us on many, many fronts." Almost 470,000 hectares (1.16 million acres) of land have been burnt in New South Wales, more than a dozen houses destroyed and a handful of lives lost in what is shaping up as one of Australia's worst bushfire seasons, with fires burning in five states. New South Wales fire fighters have been battling blazes since the winter month of July as Australia experiences the driest conditions in more than 100 years, coupled with temperatures in the 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) range. The worst period for bushfires is usually December and January. Fire officials said two houses and several industrial properties were burnt southwest of Sydney, Australia's biggest city, and strong westerly winds could send a fire towards homes on the outskirts of the steel city of Wollongong, south of Sydney. A giant fire-fighting helicopter had been filling up with sea water and water-bombing the blaze. "The Erickson air crane was flying to the sea and filling up with 7,500 litres and dumping it about every three minutes," said Winter. "By doing that we are able to knock the heat out of it, the ground crews go in and contained the fire." URBAN SPRAWL A total fire ban has been declared across New South Wales and many national parks closed to prevent motorists, picnickers and bushwalkers accidentally lighting fires. "This is the first statewide total fire ban we've had since the Christmas bushfires last year," Winter said. Last Christmas, some of the worst bushfires ever ringed Sydney, a city of four million people, burning through 770,000 hectares (1.9 million acres) and destroying 109 houses. The fire service says 20,000 homes were saved from the flames. Bushfires are natural to the Australian environment and many plants depend on them for their regeneration. But urban sprawl has brought the bushfire front line to city backyards. Last month 10 Sydney homes were destroyed as some 70 fires burnt around the city. Sydney's fire brigade service recalled off-duty officers on Saturday and moved them to bush suburbs in case fires were fanned towards homes. On Friday, bushfire smoke rolled over Sydney, reducing visibility to few kilometres (miles) and in some areas forcing residents indoors. |
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