State of Emergency Declared in NSW amid Firestorm

Deadly wildfires consume about 100,000 acres, destroy hundreds of homes in Australia

Government in Australia’s state of New South Wales (NSW) have declared a state of emergency as 300-km wall of fire continues to ravage the region, consuming about 100,000 acres and destroying or damaging hundreds of homes.

Deadly bushfires aided by soaring temperatures and strong winds have already destroyed more than 250 homes and damaged many more, leaving more than a thousand people homeless, and forcing thousands of others to abandon theirs.

The fire  conditions are said to be the most dangerous in more than four decades, with about 100 blazes creating a 300-km active fire edge.

The fires have claimed at least one life so far. A man died, possibly of a heart attack,  while trying to protect his home from the fire front.

At least 65 fires are burning in NSW including 15 large blazes, which remained uncontained as of posting.

Deteriorating Conditions

“We are likely to see deteriorating conditions starting this afternoon (Sunday, October 20, 2013) as we’ve already been acutely aware of, but more so as we move into Monday and Tuesday,” said Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons.

Forecasters warn temperatures between the mid-20s to high 30s with sustained winds of up to 45kph gusting up to 100kph through Wednesday.

RFS tells families to be ready to run as NSW’s 300km wall of fire continues its destruction

Related Links

• Australia Declares Emergency as NSW Bushfires Destroy “Hundreds of Homes” October 17, 2013
• Thousands Evacuated due to Bushfires in NSW September 10, 2013
• Australia: Entombed by a ‘dome of heat’ January 8, 2013
• Australia’s Runaway Bushfires Threaten Lives and Property
• Back-to-Back Disasters Could Hit Australia: FIRE-EARTH Forecast
• Australia on Fire: Tasmania Burning