Image Credit: ABC News

The state of New South Wales (NSW) is battling an extremely dangerous bushfire day, with severe heatwave warnings, gusty winds, and total fire bans across the region. Authorities are grappling with intense blazes that have already led to significant property loss.

🏡 Devastation and Emergency Zones

• Homes Destroyed: At least 16 homes have been confirmed lost across the NSW Mid North and Central Coasts due to the ferocity of the fires.

• Emergency Alerts: As of late afternoon, the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) reported over 50 incidents, with two major fires escalated to Emergency Warning level:

  • Koolewong (Central Coast): This fire, located south of Gosford, has been particularly destructive, with live video showing houses and trees ablaze along Nimbin Road. At least six houses have been confirmed destroyed here.

  • Milsons Gully (Upper Hunter): A fire burning within the Goulburn River National Park, west of Muswellbrook, was also upgraded to the emergency status due to increased activity.

⚠ Conditions and Warnings

• Extreme Danger: The state is facing an "extreme fire danger" forecast for eastern and central NSW, fueled by a "perfect combination" of weather conditions.

• Heat and Wind: Senior meteorologists have reported severe heatwave conditions, with temperatures in the high 30s and low 40s, coupled with strong and gusty winds, which greatly escalate the risk of fires developing and spreading rapidly.

• Evacuation Urgency: Residents in the path of the Koolewong fire were urgently advised to leave immediately towards Woy Woy. An evacuation centre has been established at the Gosford RSL.

• No Injuries (So Far): Despite the scale of destruction, there are currently no reports of injury. However, firefighting operations are active, and the public is urged to stay clear of the affected zones.

🚁 Ground and Air Battle

• Firefight Intensity: RFS Deputy Commissioner Ben Millington stated that while firefighters were starting to gain the upper hand, the threat remains "very big" due to warm temperatures and strong winds, predicting several more hours of difficult conditions.

• Bulahdelah Fire: Further north, the Bulahdelah fire (Mid North Coast), believed to have been sparked by lightning, continues to burn at Watch and Act level, having consumed over 2,500 hectares and destroyed up to four homes in the Crawford River area. Firefighters are relying heavily on specialist aviation resources and heavy plant machinery in the difficult terrain.

• Transport Impact: Train services on the Central Coast and Newcastle line have been disrupted, with no services running between Gosford and the Hawkesbury River due to the Koolewong fire.

🛑 What to Do

Authorities are urging the public to heed all warnings, monitor conditions closely, and avoid unnecessary travel in fire-prone areas. Commuters and residents must have a clear bushfire survival plan and identify safe locations in case they cannot leave. Thunderstorms are also forecast, posing an additional risk of sparking more fires.