Soaring temperatures, an abundance of dry fuel and strong winds have led to more than 50 bushfires breaking out across NSW today, with firefighters working to contain four major fires located at Marsden Park, Winmalee, Windsor and Castlereagh, and several smaller fires burning across the state.
The NSW Rural Fire Service is issuing emergency warnings and situation updates via Twitter and their official website. The service has confirmed that one house has been destroyed in a fire at Winmalee, another has been lost at Marsden Park and that “5 firefighters have sustained smoke inhalation and 2 have received minor burns”. There have been no reports of life lost due to the fires.
Rural Fire Service Deputy Commissioner Rob Rogers has told the ABC that there are over 800 firefighters, 200 fire trucks and numerous helicopters working across the state to try and contain the blazes.
The University Of Western Sydney’s Hawkesbury campus was closed due to widespread power outages caused by the fires, and smoke is beginning to descend over the Sydney CBD.
Via SMH.com.au. Images by Brett Hemmings via Getty
