New South Wales bushfires in Australia all ‘contained’ for the first time
Both bushfires in New South Wales (NSW) are now thought to be contained within the Australian state, say fire authorities.
After “a very stressful, frustrating and nervous” period the NSW Rural Fire Service said it was “great news.”
The development is partly thanks to heavy rain that has lashed the state since last weekend.
Read More: Downpours to end Australia’s misery brought by bushfires
Heavy rainfall has wreaked havoc in Sydney and the woe over the weather were continuing this weekend with a category two storm forecast to hit.
Flood warnings for NSW and southern Queensland have been released as Storm Uesi approaches, bringing winds of up to 130 km/h.
In Uesi’s course lies the small Lord Howe Island, some 600 km off the east coast. The island’s residents and visitors were warned to seek shelter from “destructive winds.”
“After what’s been a truly devastating fire season for both firefighters and resident, who’ve suffered so much this season, all fires are now contained in New South Wales,” RFS Assistant Commissioner Rob Rogers said on Thursday.
This was the first time that containment was reached in the fire season meaning that firefighters manage to build a fence around the fire, so it can not spread any further, sources say.
While some fire activity still occurred in the South of the State, the RFS said, emergency workers could now “only focus on helping people rebuild.”
Read More: Australia bushfires: State of emergency declared for Canberra region
Australia has always had a fire season, with naturally occurring blazes ignited during the dry summer season, but the size and severity of the fires this year has been unparalleled.
Fires across the world have killed at least 33 people in the last few months and have destroyed thousands of homes.
It has impacted more than 11 million hectares of land-an area equal to the scale of England-across all states and territories.
NSW was the state most affected. Two blazes alone – the fires at Currowan and Gospers Mountain-burned around 500,000 hectares each.
However, they were declared out earlier this week after rains, as well as dozens of smaller fires.
