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New South Wales wildfires all ‘contained’

3 min read

Inspiring People

All bush and grass fires across New South Wales are now contained for the first time since the bushfire season began, say the Rural Fire Service.

Bushfires under control in New South Wales for first time in six months

Firefighters have declared that all bush and grass fires burning across NSW are contained for the first time this bushfire season. Heavy rain over the weekend helped extinguish many of the blazes and gave firefighters a much needed boost in battling the remaining 24 fires still burning in the state’s south last week.

More than 11 million hectares (42,471 square miles) of land - an area comparable to the size of England - has been affected across all states and territories.
Across Australia in the past six months fires have killed at least 33 people and destroyed thousands of homes More than 11 million hectares (42,471 square miles) of land – an area comparable to the size of England – has been affected across all states and territories. Source: Unsplash/FionaSmallwood

Heavy rains have helped firefighters and boosted dam levels to their highest in nearly two years

Bushfires across New South Wales, Australia’s most populous state, have been contained for the first time in nearly six months. — reported SkyNews on Friday.

The recent heavy rains have helped firefighters and boosted some dam levels to their highest in nearly two years.

Australia has been battling hundreds of fierce blazes since September in an unusually prolonged and brutal summer wildfire season that was fuelled by three years of drought, which experts have blamed on climate change. 

Helped by storms that lashed Australia’s east coast earlier this week, the New South Wales Rural Fire Service said 24 blazes remained alight across the state as of last Thursday, 13 February, though all of them are now under control.

"After what’s been a truly devastating fire season for both firefighters and residents who suffered through so much this season, all fires are now contained in New South Wales, which is great news," Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers said.

During the peak of the crisis in early January, NSW firefighters were battling almost 150 fires that produced a fire front about 3,700 miles (6,000km) long.

Blazes across the country have razed nearly 29.7 million acres of tinder-dry bushland, killing 33 people and an estimated one billion native animals since September.

Source: SkyNews

Thick smoke from the East Coast bushfires in Australia have enabled photographing the rising sun as though it was the moon. This photo taken in thick heathland bush at trial Bay NSW shows the sun rising out of the ocean coloured by bush/wild fire smoke.
Trial Bay, New South Wales, Australia Thick smoke from the East Coast bushfires in Australia have enabled photographing the rising sun as though it was the moon. This photo taken in thick heathland bush at trial Bay NSW shows the sun rising out of the ocean coloured by bush/wild fire smoke. Source: Unsplash/TrevorMcKinnon

Flooding in Queensland and record rainfall in 24 hours recorded at Sunshine Coast airport

Further north, the BBC report heavy rainfall in Queensland on Wednesday and Thursday led to flash flooding and power outages across the state. A record 232mm of rain was recorded in 24 hours at Sunshine Coast airport.

A 75-year-old kayaker was reported missing on Sunday after heading out on Mary River. On Thursday, Queensland Police said a body had been found. A 26-year-old woman has also been reported missing and the search for her is being impeded by the poor conditions, according to police.

More storms are forecast for Queensland and NSW, and areas still recovering from bushfires are likely to be hit, according to senior meteorologist Grace Legge.

Source: BBC

All bushfires in NSW contained after a week of heavy rain New South Wales Rural Fire service has confirmed all blazes in the state have been brought under control. Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers delivered the news and said the focus can now move to rebuilding communities. This season 33 lives were lost and more than 24,000 homes were destroyed in New South Wales. Over five million hectares of bush and grassland was also burned out. Source: YouTube/SkyNewsAustralia
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HOW TO HELP WITH THE AUSTRALIAN BUSHFIRES — FROM WHEREVER YOU ARE IN THE WORLD

Many people from both inside and outside Australia have been asking what they can do to help, so we've compiled a list of resources, such as where to donate and what other actions you can take from wherever you are around the world.