• Firefighters work to contain a bushfire along Old Bar road in Old Bar. Wildfires razing Australia's drought-stricken east coast have left two people dead and several missing, more than 30 injured and over 150 homes destroyed, officials said Saturday. AP
    Firefighters work to contain a bushfire along Old Bar road in Old Bar. Wildfires razing Australia's drought-stricken east coast have left two people dead and several missing, more than 30 injured and over 150 homes destroyed, officials said Saturday. AP
  • LPG cylinders sit on the ground after being moved away from a service station by firefighters along Old Bar road in Old Bar, New South Wales, Australia. EPA
    LPG cylinders sit on the ground after being moved away from a service station by firefighters along Old Bar road in Old Bar, New South Wales, Australia. EPA
  • A fire bombing helicopter works to contain a bushfire along Old Bar road in Old Bar, New South Wales, Australia. REUTERS
    A fire bombing helicopter works to contain a bushfire along Old Bar road in Old Bar, New South Wales, Australia. REUTERS
  • A fire bombing helicopter works to contain a bushfire along Old Bar road in Old Bar, New South Wales, Australia. REUTERS
    A fire bombing helicopter works to contain a bushfire along Old Bar road in Old Bar, New South Wales, Australia. REUTERS
  • Firefighters tackle a bushfire to save a home in Taree, 350km north of Sydney as they try to contain dozens of out-of-control blazes that are raging in the state of New South Wales. AFP
    Firefighters tackle a bushfire to save a home in Taree, 350km north of Sydney as they try to contain dozens of out-of-control blazes that are raging in the state of New South Wales. AFP
  • Bushfires burn in the distance as children play on a beach in Forster, 300km north of Sydney, as firefighters try to contain dozens of out-of-control blazes that are raging in the state of New South Wales. AFP
    Bushfires burn in the distance as children play on a beach in Forster, 300km north of Sydney, as firefighters try to contain dozens of out-of-control blazes that are raging in the state of New South Wales. AFP
  • A resident hoses smouldering logs as a bushfire burns in Woodford, New South Wales (NSW), Australia. EPA
    A resident hoses smouldering logs as a bushfire burns in Woodford, New South Wales (NSW), Australia. EPA
  • Residents take refuge at a local club in Taree, 350km north of Sydney, as firefighters try to contain dozens of out-of-control blazes that are raging in the state of New South Wales. AFP
    Residents take refuge at a local club in Taree, 350km north of Sydney, as firefighters try to contain dozens of out-of-control blazes that are raging in the state of New South Wales. AFP

Australia warns of 'catastrophic' fires on Tuesday

Mixture of high temperatures and strong winds blamed for devastating blazes

Jamie Prentis
Jamie Prentis
London

November 10, 2019

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Firefighters in Australia have given warnings of a “catastrophic” blaze for the Greater Sydney area on Tuesday, with weather conditions set to worsen.

A state-wide fire ban was put in place for all of New South Wales, Australia’s most populated state, for Monday and Tuesday. Schools in high-risk areas will be closed.

Catastrophic is the highest warning level and the first time it has been declared in Sydney since new fire danger ratings were introduced in 2009.

“Homes are not designed to withstand a fire under these conditions," the New South Wales Rural Fire Service said.

"If a fire starts and takes hold during Catastrophic fire danger conditions, lives and homes will be at risk.

High temperatures, strong winds and low humidity have been blamed for the increased danger.

“Large areas of the state are also forecast to experience Severe and Extreme fire danger," the service said.

"This includes in the north coast and northern NSW areas, where there is a large number of fires already burning.

"These fires will not be contained in time and will threaten lives and properties."

At 6am local time, the fire service warned that 64 bush and grassfires continued to burn across the state, with 40 still not contained.

“Many of these fires won't be contained ahead of tomorrow's dangerous fire weather,” it said on Sunday.

At least three people have died and many more are injured. Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who has suggested the military could be called in to help, described the blazes as “simply terrifying”.

Australia