Massive Bushfires Hit Sydney

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, December 05, 2002

Massive Bushfires Hit Sydney

Firefighters were fighting a losing battle Wednesday night to control massive bushfires on Sydney's southern and northern outskirts that destroyed at least 17 homes and plunged the city into chaos.

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Firefighters were fighting a losing battle Wednesday night to control massive bushfires on Sydney's southern and northern outskirts that destroyed at least 17 homes and plunged the city into chaos.

Sydney was facing worse fire conditions than those during the Christmas bushfire emergency of 2001, NSW Premier Bob Carr has said.

Driven by 100km/h winds, temperatures in the high 30s and humidity as low as 4 per cent, more than 40 fires broke out in the Greater Sydney area within an hour, about 3pm.

Severe weather conditions are expected again Thursday, with strong and squally westerly winds, and temperatures reaching 30C.

Late Wednesday night, firefighters were racing to combat fresh outbreaks at Mt Riverview and Mitchell's Pass, in the lower Blue Mountains.

Effects of the fires were felt across Sydney Wednesday, including in the CBD, as flashovers on huge high-voltage transmission lines near the fires caused power supply surges that blacked out homes and offices, disrupted rail services and industries, and caused road chaos as traffic lights failed.

Major entertainment events in Sydney were cancelled Wednesday night, including John Farnham's concert at the Entertainment Centre and all performances at the Opera House.

Fire hit an electricity substation in the city's south, forcing the closure of the M5 East motorway tunnel, while power failure also forced closure of Museum railway station in the centre of the city.

Commuters were asked to spend a few more hours in the city Christmas shopping while the fault was repaired.

By late Wednesday, 67 aircraft and thousands of firefighters were battling more than 60 fires around Sydney, as well as major blazes west of Nowra on the south coast �C where five homes were destroyed Wednesday night �C and in the Hunter Valley north of Sydney.

A massive fire burning across the Baulkham Hills Shire, on Sydney's northern fringe, had claimed last night 15 homes in Glenorie alone.

In the city's southwest, dozens of homes were under threat from a blaze burning near Holsworthy army barracks.

That fire started near Glenfield and destroyed one home in Wattle Grove and another in Sandy Point.

Several buildings at the Holsworthy barracks were also destroyed.

Two firefighters suffered broken legs at Alfords Point, while a Rural Fire Service truck was severely damaged near Glenorie and there were reports of another alight at Wattle Grove.

Fears the flames could detonate unexploded artillery shells on army land meant aircraft could not water-bomb much of the Holsworthy fire.

Source: Agencies

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