A firefighter has died battling a blaze in Nerong. Photo / Monique Harmer, Newswire
A firefighter has died and at least 16 homes have been destroyed as bushfires rip through the NSW Central Coast and southeast Queensland.
Emergency services were called to Little Nugra Rd in Nerong about 1.45pm on Sunday after reports a man had been injured while fighting the fire.
Officers were told the man was struck by a tree. He died at the scene.
It is understood the man was a firefighter for the national parks.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement on Monday morning that the firefighter’s death was a tragedy.
“My heart goes out to the loved ones and colleagues of the firefighter who has tragically lost their life in the Bulahdelah bushfire,” he said.
“All Australians are thinking of you in your time of grief.”
Albanese said his death was a reminder of the sacrifice firefighters make to protect the country.
“This terrible news is a sombre reminder of the dangers that our emergency services personnel face to keep our homes and communities safe – and the extraordinary courage that their job demands,” he said.
“We honour that bravery, every day.”
NSW Premier Chris Minns said he was heartbroken by the news.
“It’s devastating and it’s a reminder of what firefighters have to do to keep the public safe,” he said.
“This is many ways a dangerous profession, and we’re deeply indebted to the men and women that devote their time to keeping us safe. This is terrible news today.”
More than 60 bushfires are still burning across the state on Monday, nine of which remain uncontained.
The fires have torn through more than 129ha across the Koolewong, Phegans Bay and Woy Woy Bay areas, with residents told to stay alert while crews battle the blaze.
Bushfires are also impacting parts of southeast Queensland, with residents off the coast of Brisbane being told to stay alert.
An urgent warning has been issued for residents in North Stradbroke Island in Queensland, which is currently moving towards Alfred Martin Way.
Residents have been told to stay informed as the fire tracks between Dickson Way, Sewage Line Track, Alfred Martin Way and the Dunwich Airport.
Photos from Koolewong, the worst-affected area, on Sunday showed caved-in homes and burned-out cars, as smoke continued to fill the streets.
The fires, between Gosford and Woy Woy, have been downgraded after they razed over 120ha and destroyed at least 16 homes.
While nearly 20 homes were destroyed by fires and more were damaged in the flames, firefighters have been able to save 118 homes.
“You’ve managed to save as many homes and lives as possible,” one local wrote online.
While the Koolewong fire is downgraded, a separate incident has flared up south of Newcastle.
“A southerly change has moved across the fire ground and fire activity has increased,” an alert from the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) said.
The fire had ripped through more than 48ha by 12pm on Sunday and remained out of control.
The Rural Fire Services said about 150 crew are fighting the blaze with the assistance of three waterbombing aircraft.
Authorities warn locals in the Dudley, Whitebridge and Gateshead to monitor conditions and watch for alerts.
The RFS is also warning of a separate fire in the Milsons Gully region which is burning through the Goulburn River National Park.
The fire has moved in a southerly direction towards Bylong Valley Way, threatening homes in the Baerami, Baerami Creek, Widden, Yarrawa and Kerrabee regions.
Bylong Valley Way remains open for local residents, but has been closed for the general public.
“Firefighters will be working through the day to slow the spread of the fire and strengthen containment lines,” the RFS said.
So far the fire has ripped through over 11,000ha.
Rural Fire Service Superintendent Ben Shepherd says more than 1500 crew are currently fighting the ongoing blazes and won’t have any reprieve until mid next week. “It’s important to note some of our firefighters have been battling some of these fires for weeks, especially in the Western Divide we’ve seen some quite devastating fires in croplands … resulting in millions of dollars lost,” he said.
“It has been a busy period but there is a bit of reprieve probably by Wednesday and the back end of this week when there is a chance of shower activity, so I think it will be a well-earned rest for many of our firefighters.”
Shepherd thanked locals for preparing their homes in the event of a fire, noting so far there had not been any reports of serious injuries or death.
He said the extent of fire damage is likely to become clearer over the afternoon.
“We have building impact assessment teams with both fire and rescue and rural fire services moving across the fire ground,” he said.
“As you can understand, in the heat of the moment where firefighters might believe it to be a home, those structures end up being sheds.
“So it is quite a meticulous process that they will go through and assess the actual state of the structure, so we will have a better indication this afternoon.”
The devastation from The Central Coast bushfires has dramatically worsened, with 18 homes now confirmed destroyed during the blaze.
That’s up from 12 homes reported lost on Saturday.
Officials warn the figure could climb even higher as firefighters continue battling dangerous conditions.
Central Coast Council mayor Lawrie McKinna confirmed the escalating property damage on Sunday morning.
“Yes, actually, 18 houses now have been lost, which is shocking, but more assessment and damage has been done with RFS,” he told Sunrise.
The mayor also spoke about the issues facing the community as the blaze continues to rage on Sunday.
Firefighters face new dangers as thunderstorms and strong southerly winds risk pushing blazes into fresh areas as 20 fires still remain uncontained across NSW.
In its latest update the NSW Royal Fire Service confirmed fires were still a “developing situation”.
RFS Deputy Commissioner Ben Millington told ABC Breakfast there were 76 fires burning, with 20 considered out of control.
He said the key danger for Sunday was winds that would push the fires into a different direction.
“There’s a potential for the fire to travel to the north, and we’ve crews in place to protect homes should that occur,” he said.
“That wind is now from the south; it could potentially move the fire to the north which has its own issues.”
Fire crews are prioritising active blazes before authorities can assess the full scale of destruction.
Millington said while conditions had eased from Saturday’s inferno, wind and thunderstorm threats remained.
“We’ve got more moderate conditions today,” he said.
“A lot less heat, we do have strong winds and the chance of thunderstorms. Firefighters are continuing to work right across the state on all of these fires, not just in The Central Coast, but also in the upper Hunter … we’ve got a fire burning up there, quite a large fire, about 11,000 hectares.”
On Saturday the ferocious bushfire destroyed 12 homes on The Central Coast, with an extreme heatwave leading to more than 75 bushfires across the state.
This was contained to 20 throughout the night.
Locals in parts of Koolewong, between Gosford and Woy Woy, were told to leave as an apparent change in wind direction suddenly sent the blaze towards homes on Saturday afternoon.
Reports emerged of panicked locals scrambling to grab pets and valuables before racing to emergency centres or seeking refuge with friends and family.
More than 1500 firefighters and 300 vehicles were deployed statewide as temperatures soared, with Penrith climbing above 41C and extreme fire danger declared across the Hunter, Sydney, Illawarra and Central Coast.
Millington told reporters the terrain around The Central Coast fires hampered firefighting efforts.
“Firefighters did a fantastic job, albeit we did lose some 12 or so homes,” he said.
“They were supported by aircraft, including the RFS Chinook helicopter, the large air tanker, they worked throughout the afternoon and right through the night to protect those homes.”
“We’ve still got a southerly change coming through and that’s where our focus continues to be.”
NSW Premier Chris Minns noted the devastating impacts of the bushfires on many in the local communities.
“We know at least 12 homes have been destroyed on The Central Coast but that number is likely to be higher and we are devastated for those families,” he said in an interview with the ABC.
“Obviously that is the worst news imaginable in the run-up to Christmas, it is exactly what they didn’t need and is a reminder of how devastating these fires can be.”
Minns spoke of the high winds and devastating heat firefighters dealt with, noting the fire had jumped a large stretch of water to hit the town of Woy Woy.
“Just to put it into perspective, the fire embers jumped a stretch of water over a kilometre long, so this was a fast-moving, very dangerous fire in a residential area and we owe a debt of gratitude of the members of the RFS, who put their lives on the line for the state.”
According to the premier, December will be “pretty tough” with more bushfires expected.
“Unfortunately, we are likely to have more volatile weather periods because of the changing climate.
“I would love to be able to say we are out of the woods and the worst is behind us, but the truth is that is not the case.
“It is very important that people have their fire evacuation and preparedness plans in place.
The state and federal government have declared the bush fires as a natural disaster, allowing for financial support for locals in the regions.
Assistance measures that may be provided to communities include:
• Assistance for eligible residents to help meet immediate needs like emergency accommodation and essential items.
• Grants for low-income, uninsured residents to replace lost essential household items to maintain basic standard of living.
• Grants for low-income, uninsured residents to undertake essential structural repairs to restore their homes to a basic, safe and habitable condition.
• Concessional loans for small businesses and primary producers up to A$130,000 ($149,000).
• Freight and transport subsidies for primary producers to help transport livestock and fodder.
• Loans for non-profit organisations up to A$25,000.
• Financial support towards counter-disaster activity undertaken by emergency service organisations to keep communities safe.
“The Albanese and Minns Governments are working together to get support to communities impacted by these bushfires as quickly as possible,” federal minister for emergency management Kristy McBain said.
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