At Least 30 Homes Destroyed in Eastern Australia Wildfire

Some from Rappville sent to hospital with burns

 

A local resident gets into his vehicle near a bushfire burning near Busbys Flat, Australia, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019. Parts of Australia’s east suffered widespread fire damage with up to 30 homes destroyed as out-of-control wildfires continued to ravage northern New South Wales state. (Jason O’Brien/AAP Image via AP)

 

By TRISTAN LAVALETTE Associated Press

PERTH, Australia (AP) — About 500 firefighters were battling out-of-control wildfires in eastern Australia that have destroyed up to 30 homes.

More than 40 bushfires were burning across New South Wales state. Temperatures were cooler Wednesday after strong winds and stifling heat restricted firefighting efforts Tuesday.

See also  Crews Work to Reinforce Lines at New Mexico's Johnson Fire

More than 100,000 hectares (380 square miles) have burned with the small village of Rappville, population 250, among the worst affected. About 50 people sheltered in a school overnight.

NSW Rural Fire Service deputy commissioner Rob Rogers said some people had been taken to hospitals with minor burns and breathing difficulties. The number of injures wasn’t given, and the extent of the fire damage was still to be determined.

“We’re just making sure we know what properties are damaged or lost, people are accounted for and making those areas as safe as we can so that people who haven’t lost their homes can return,” he said.

See also  Storms Bring Relief and Danger to Australian Wildfires

“There’s power lines still down, there’s a lot of trees falling down, so there’s a lot of work to do,” he added.

A firefighter gets out of his vehicle near a bushfire burning near Busbys Flat, Australia, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019. Parts of Australia’s east suffered widespread fire damage with up to 30 homes destroyed as out-of-control wildfires continued to ravage northern New South Wales state. (Jason O’Brien/AAP Image via AP)

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said it was a dangerous situation. “Fortunately, there’s been no loss of life, which is something always to be thankful for, but there are remaining very serious threats today,” he said.

See also  Mobile Attack Training

Arson was suspected of causing the Rappville fire that started Friday night. Fire service superintendent Michael Brett said “suspicious activity” had been identified in the area.

Rain is expected across northern New South Wales on Friday.

All contents © copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Topics

Some from Rappville sent to hospital with burns     By TRISTAN LAVALETTE Associated Press PERTH, Australia (AP) — About 500 firefighters were battling out-of-control wildfires in eastern Australia that have destroyed up to 30 homes. More than 40 bushfires were burning across New South Wales state. Temperatures were cooler Wednesday after strong winds and […]

Get The Wildland Firefighter Newsletter

Related Articles

Waterax Winner of the Innovation Award | SME 2023

Waterax Winner of the Innovation Award | SME 2023

The ADRIQ Innovation Awards 2023 shone on November 23 at the Palais des congrès de Montréal during the 33rd Innovation Awards Gala, bringing together over 575 participants. Under the dynamic leadership of Stéphane Bellavance, a distinguished personality in the...

MARK-3 Mechanics Training

MARK-3 Mechanics Training

Dive Deeper into Expertise at WATERAX Pump Mechanics Factory Training! Calling all MARK-3® pump enthusiasts! Get ready for a transformative journey at the WATERAX MARK-3® & MARK-3® Watson Edition Pump Mechanics Factory Training. In this immersive 3-day training,...

Alpha Gala 2023 Prizes

Alpha Gala 2023 Prizes

On October 19, WATERAX attended the Alpha Gala in Montreal, QC. There, the company was presented two awards by the esteemed Chambre de commerce et d’Industrie de Saint Laurent – Mont Royal: Business of the Year and Innovators in Sustainable Technology. The WATERAX...