UPDATE: Dangerous fire conditions are escalating across eastern Australia as a persistent heatwave continues to fuel bushfire threats. Forecasts of dry lightning add to the urgency, risking new blazes just as fire crews battle existing flames.
Severe heatwave conditions are gripping New South Wales (NSW), affecting eastern regions from the Hunter all the way to the south coast. On Friday, over a dozen properties, including homes and vehicles, were damaged in an out-of-control fire at Dolphin Sands on Tasmania’s east coast, where two firefighters sustained injuries. The blaze has already scorched over 700 hectares.
Fire crews are actively deploying air and ground tankers to contain the fire, and the Tasmania Fire Service has issued a warning for residents not to return to affected areas. Commissioner Jeremy Smith stated,
“Emergency services and contractors are currently going through areas of the fireground to make it safe and assess the damage that has been caused.”
Many residents are left without power for up to a week due to severe damage to dozens of power poles, as confirmed by TasNetworks.
As firefighters continue their efforts, cooler temperatures and scattered showers are expected to bring relief to crews on Saturday. However, residents in NSW face sweltering conditions, with temperatures climbing to a scorching 37C in Sydney and reaching the low 40s in western suburbs, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
In a positive turn, an emergency warning for residents near Beni Road, outside Dubbo, has been downgraded, along with the bushfire at Bulahdelah on the mid-north coast, thanks to easing conditions that have allowed firefighters to gain control.
Despite this, total fire bans remain in effect for large parts of NSW, including inland, eastern, and northern regions, as well as Sydney and the Illawarra. Meteorologist Jonathan How warns that thunderstorms forecast across much of southeast Australia carry the risk of dry lightning, potentially igniting new fires.
In Victoria, milder temperatures are on the way as a cold front and thunderstorms sweep in after a hot, dry, and windy Friday. Firefighters are also engaged in containing a bushfire in Markwood, located 280 km northeast of Melbourne, which has already impacted at least three properties.
As conditions evolve, residents across eastern Australia are urged to stay vigilant and adhere to safety protocols. The situation remains dynamic, and authorities continue to monitor the fire threats closely.
