The NSW Rural Fire Service says a fire that destroyed up to 20 structures west of Sydney was started by a backburning operation.
Fire crews lost control of the backburn to the south of the Gospers Mountain “mega-fire” on Sunday afternoon, affecting properties around Mount Irvine, Mount Wilson and Mount Tomah.
RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said the crews in the area were attempting to protect communities around the Bells Line of Road, but “unfortunately things don’t always go to plan”.
Assessment teams were expected to determine the exact amount of damage done in those areas on Monday.
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Watch and Act: Gospers Mountain
The fire is active on both sides of the Bells Line of Road & is now burning in the Grose Valley. If you're in the areas of Mt Lagoon, Bilpin, Mt Irvine, Mt Wilson, Berambing & Mt Tomah, monitor conditions. https://t.co/ekOSH2RQ4v #nswrfs #nswfires pic.twitter.com/tq3bj96scv— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) December 16, 2019
RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers said “nothing is working out” for crews battling the blaze, which now covers more than 378,000 hectares.
“In these drought conditions, whatever we try doesn’t seem to be working,” he said.
The fire has damaged powerlines and left about 450 homes in Bilpin, Beambing, Mount Wilson, Mount Tomah and Mount Irvine without power.
Endeavour Energy said residents might be without power for days as it cannot begin repair work until the RFS declares the area safe.
As well as protecting homes, the RFS has been trying to save the Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens in Mount Tomah.
Most of the 28-hectare garden is safe but there has been some damage to plant collections and infrastructure.
Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill urged those in the affected areas to check on anyone living alone or who is less mobile.
“It is my fear, given the fires around our community, that we have very difficult weeks ahead. I am sorry to say that Christmas 2019 may not be free of the tension we all know too well,” he said.
The ‘mega-blaze’ has burned for months and stretches from the Lithgow area in the west, through the Hawkesbury area and towards the Central Coast in the east.
The fire was burning at emergency level on Sunday before being downgraded to watch and act about 3am on Monday, as temperatures and winds dropped.
Firefighters are doing all they can to protect properties ahead of the heatwave predicted to move across NSW on Wednesday but the blaze is expected to burn around homes for weeks.
There are 100 fires burning across the state and so far this fire season six lives have been lost and 700 homes destroyed.
The post Backburning near NSW ‘mega fire’ destroyed up to 20 buildings appeared first on The New Daily.
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