One person is dead and several others remain unaccounted for as fires continue to rage across NSW and south-east Queensland, in what has been described as an “unprecedented” emergency.
Firefighters have confirmed that they found the remains of a person in a vehicle at Kangawalla, east of Glen Innes in the state’s north, where some of the fiercest fires are raging.
Two remain unaccounted for.
Firefighters have located the remains of a person in a vehicle at the Kangawalla fire, near Glen Innes. Two people remain unaccounted for after yesterday’s bush fires. NSW RFS is working with @nswpolice. #nswrfs #nswfires
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) November 8, 2019
The NSW Rural Fire Service confirmed this morning that at least 100 homes have been destroyed so far, with reports of more than 30 people injured.
As of 6.30 this morning, there are 77 bush or grass fires, with 42 of these uncontained.
At this stage, it appears at least 100 homes have been destroyed in yesterday’s bush fires. Three people are unaccounted for. More than 30 people have been injured. At 6:30am there are 77 bush or grass fires with 42 uncontained. #nswrfs #nswfires pic.twitter.com/WtB9O671bU
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) November 8, 2019
Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said that the current situation faced by firefighters in the state is unprecedented, telling media on Friday:
“Unfortunately we are in uncharted territory this afternoon — we’ve never seen this many fires concurrently at emergency warning level.”
The RFS holds concerns for a number of people who contacted it for help yesterday, with deputy commissioner Rob Rogers saying that the volume of calls for help was too high:
“We did our best to get firefighters to them, we had firefighters in helicopters, trying to get to people. We had trucks on the ground trying to get to people. They just simply could not get to all those people who were calling for help.”
As of earlier today, nine fires around the state were at ’emergency warning’ level.
Fire activity has eased across some firegrounds. 9 fires are now at Emergency Warning and 9 at Watch and Act. We are still seeing erratic and dangerous fire behaviour across the remainder of fire grounds, which continues to pose a threat to homes. #nswrfs #nswfires
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) November 8, 2019
