60 fires still burning across NSW
Sun Nov 29 15:27:09 EST 2009
Sun Nov 29 04:27:09 UTC 2009
SYDNEY, Nov 29 AAP - Cooler conditions in some parts of the state are helping firefighters get the upper hand over about 60 bushfires burning across NSW.
The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) said the blaze of most concern was south of Newcastle in the Lake Macquarie area.
Blazes are also burning in the Narrabri, Lithgow and Glen Innes areas and firefighters are continuing to work on these fires on Sunday.
No homes are currently under threat from any of the blazes.
RFS spokeswoman Rebel Talbert said firefighters at this stage were focusing their efforts on the fire near Lake Macquarie.
"The fire in the Killingworth area was burning close to some homes on Saturday," Ms Talbert told AAP on Sunday.
"It remains uncontained but firefighters are fairly confident that they'll be able to get good containment on the fire today.
"We're hoping to have it contained this afternoon."
People in the areas of Killingworth Road, The Trongate, The Broadway, Wakefield Road and Charlton Street in the Barnsley and Killingworth areas should continue to monitor the situation, Ms Talbert said.
Meanwhile, firefighters have contained a fire that has burnt out five hectares of bush near Lithgow in the central west.
"Firefighters will continue to mop up and patrol the fire throughout the day," Ms Talbert said.
Ms Talbert said hot conditions were expected in the NSW north-east and a total fire ban was in place for most fire districts in that area on Sunday.
"The north eastern part of the state is of concern today because they'll have some high temperatures, low humidity and some strong winds," Ms Talbert said.
But Ms Talbert said cooler conditions elsewhere would give crews a chance to bring many fires under control.
"It is definitely cooler than Saturday, which will give fighters the upper hand.
"But it's still a matter of getting through today.
"We are expecting conditions to ease significantly on Monday."
