Firefighters are in “uncharted territory” with a record number of fires burning at emergency level across NSW this afternoon. More than 90 fires are burning on Friday afternoon with conditions expected to worsen, NSW Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said.
The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) is desperately trying to protect properties around the state, with 15 blazes given emergency warning status and 50 burning out of control. The areas of concern are Torrington, Tyringham, Buckra Bendinni, Kosekai Road (west of Bowraville), Willi Willi, the Tapin Tops National Park, the Crowdy Bay National Park, Port Macquarie, Hillville, Wandsworth, Woodford, Stockyard Flat (Walcha area), Carrai Creek, Liberation Trail (Clarence Valley) and Muck Creek (Clarence Valley).
Two fires in Queensland, one in Tarome in southern Queensland and one in Cooroibah on the Sunshine Coast, are also at an emergency level.
As reports of the fires appear on social media, public are aghast with the scale of devastation the fires have caused. Rising temperatures and high winds have officials concerned the situation might worsen.
EMERGENCY WARNING: Bills Crossing Crowdy (Mid-Coast LGA)
The fire is spreading to the Harrington area, as firefighters and aircraft work to protect homes. If you are in Crowdy Head or Harrington, monitor conditions and seek shelter if the fire impacts. #nswrfs #nswfires #alert pic.twitter.com/fn1KwIWXVK— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) November 8, 2019
How things are looking in Lake Innes, #PortMacquarie right now.
Be safe.#NSWFIRES pic.twitter.com/0rLhcrxcFI— NSW North Coast (@ACM_NSWnorth) November 8, 2019
This is what living on Mars must feel like #NSWfires pic.twitter.com/TKPruT4O5I
— gazza (@biggazza77) November 8, 2019
