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Southwestern Sydney residents warned to take shelter as bushfire upgraded to emergency

Some 500 firefighters are continuing to battle a bushfire in Sydney's southwest that burned through 1000 hectares.

Firefighters fight flames close to homes in Corryton Court, Wattle Grove in Sydney, Saturday, April 14, 2018.
Firefighters fight flames close to homes in Corryton Court, Wattle Grove in Sydney, Saturday, April 14, 2018. Source: AAP

A new emergency warning has been issued for a fire burning out of control at Holsworthy, in Sydney's southwest.

The RFS issued the warning for residents, saying there has been increased fire activity with strong winds and embers sparking new fires.

"Voyager Point, Pleasure Point and Sandy Point are experiencing ember attack. Residents in these areas should shelter in place. It is too late to leave," the warning, released just after midday, said.

The NSW premier says it's a "miracle" that no lives or properties were lost when a bushfire raged through southwest Sydney overnight.

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Firefighters fight flames close to homes in Corryton Court, Wattle Grove in Sydney, Saturday, April 14, 2018.

AAP

RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons has warned, "the risk remains very real".

He has asked local residents to remain vigilant given winds on the fire ground are expected to reach up to 60km/h later in the day.

The fire - which has burned 1000 hectares - resulted in hundreds of people leaving their homes on Saturday evening with flames almost reaching properties at Holsworthy and Wattle Grove and spot fires later threatening Sutherland and Menai.

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Firefighters fight flames close to homes in Corryton Court, Wattle Grove in Sydney, Saturday, April 14, 2018.

AAP

Residents in Sandy Point and Alfords Point were told on Sunday morning to continue monitoring conditions while those in Illawong, Bangor and Picnic Point were warned of ember attacks and potential new spot fires.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Sunday said: "It's absolutely a miracle that overnight no one has been reported as having a serious injury and hundreds of properties have been saved."

"That is a huge relief," she told reporters at the RFS headquarters in Sydney.

Some 500 firefighters are still battling the out-of-control blaze which the premier said had been fanned by high winds and "unusually high temperatures for April".

Fire investigators and police are working to establish how the fire was started. NSW Police have declared the area a crime scene but the RFS says it's too early to declare if the blaze was deliberately lit.


2 min read

Published

Updated

By SBS/AAP

Presented by Yang J. Joo

Source: AAP, SBS




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