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NSW bushfire key information
5pm And that ends our live blog coverage on day three of the NSW bushfires. Wrapping up the day's events, these are the key developments:
- Australian Defence Force is investigating whether an explosives training exercise caused the Lithgow fire in the Blue Mountains.
- 193 Blue Mountain homes have been destroyed and 109 damaged, an initial assessment of the Springwood and Winmalee areas shows.
-Two fires are still burning out of control at Springwood and Lithgow in the Blue Mountains. For the latest updates on the warnings, visit the RFS website.
- The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting vert high risk fire danger conditions tomorrow, with a maximum temprature of 28 degrees and a UV Index of 10.
- Insurance costs are expected to exceed $100 million.
4.56pm A total fire ban in place in four areas in NSW until further notice.
4.52pm
4.40pm Livestock at St Columba's school in Springwood are taking refuge on the school's tennis court.
4.38pm
4.35pm RFS crew sent to put out fire at Walgett supermarket.
4.23pm Another view of the Springwood fire near St Columba's school.
4.19pm Dramatic images of Springwood fire near St Columba's school.
4.12pm Ruttleys Rd Fire downgraded to watch-and-act alert
"His Holiness Pope Francis has asked me to express his concern for the people of NSW and all who are affected by the devastation wrought by the extensive fires in the region," Vatican secretary of state Archbishop Pietro Parolin said in a statement.
"He prays extensively for those who have died and for those who have lost their homes and workplaces, as well as for the numerous personnel working to combat the fires."
3.57pm Residents near Bilpin urged to steer clear of path of fire.
State Mine: Fire threatening Bilpin If you're west of Mt Lagoon Rd seek shelter If you're east of Mt Lagoon Rd go to Kurrajong if path clear
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) October 19, 2013
Warning from RFS reads:
If you are west of Mountain Lagoon Road, on the Lithgow side, the RFS advises it is too late to leave, and you should seek shelter as the fire impacts.
If you are east of Mountain Lagoon Road, on the Kurrajong side, leave now if the path is clear towards Kurrajong.
If you are in Bell or Dargan, it is too late to leave and you should seek shelter while the fire impacts. The Bells Line of Road is closed in a number of locations.
3.40pm A closer look at the burning embers RFS are warning residents about.
3.31pm The Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District has issued a media statement about the evacuation of patients from the Springwood Hospital because of the increased fire activity.
"Springwood Hospital ... is being evacuated as a precaution in advance of predicted worsening weather condition over the coming days. In conjunction with the Rural Fire Service, Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District and Ambulance NSW are coordinating the pre-emptive evacuation of 24 patients and 17 staff to Nepean Private Hospital.
"Next of kin have been contacted to advise them that their loved ones are safe and are moving out of the area. The rehabilitation and palliative care patients will be accommodated together in one ward. Maintenance personnel are on site to lock down and monitor the hospital.
"The Springwood bush fire continues to burn out of control. At present Springwood Hospital is not under direct threat from the fire – today’s evacuation is pre-emptive."
3.26pm 12 more fire crews sent to Springwood.
3.25pm Evacuation centres for residents affected by the State Mine Fire at Lithgow-Blue Mountains area are located at:
- Lithgow Workers Club - 3 Tank Street, Lithgow
- Springwood Sports Centre - 83 Macquarie Road, Springwood
3.23pm Evacuation centres for residents affected by the Springwood fire are located at:
- Springwood Sports Club, 83 Macquarie Road, Springwood is OPEN.
- Lithgow Workers Club, 3-7 Tank Street, Lithgow is OPEN.
3.19pm The Deputy Commissioner at the RFS says total fire bans have been declared for greater Sydney, Greater Hunter, Illawarra and Central ranges until further notice.
3.17pm Disused factory at Mt Lewis engulfed in flames.
3.15pm RFS warns of burning embers in Springwood fire.
3.12pm Springwood Hospital has been evacuated, RFS says.
3.08pm
3.07pm
3.06pm
3pm Second skycrane deployed for the Springwood fire.
2.53pm
Linksview Road Fire, Springwood (Blue Mountains): Photo of the fire at 2:30pm from Winmalee Shops #nswfires http://t.co/T37wsLbyVh
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) October 19, 2013
2.50pm HAVE YOU BEEN AFFECTED? SBS wants to hear from anyone who is currently safe, but has been affected by bushfires in NSW. Send your stories, news updates, pictures to sbsnews@sbs.com.au or leave a comment below.
2.43pm The view of the Winmalee fire from the ground.
2.34pm A Community Liaison Officer has been stationed for the Yerrinbool Fire.
Advising all Yerrinbool residents that we now have a Community Liaison Officer stationed at the Yerrinbool Fire... http://t.co/YyQ9eCXMDD
— RFS Sth Highlands (@RFSSHT) October 19, 2013
2.33pm 90 firefighters are working across the state on various bushfire operations.
2.30pm Emergency warning issued for fire near St Columba's High School at Springwood.
Linksview Rd Springwood: Emergency Warning in place Fire has intensified around Muru Ave and St Columba's High School at Springwood.
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) October 19, 2013
Full details of the emergency warning issued by the RFS is below:
Fire activity has intensified in the area around Muru Avenue and St Columba's High School at Springwood. There is thick smoke in the area.
Be alert to burning embers. Put out any spot fires which start where you are.
Firefighters and helicopters are working in the area. Follow the advice of firefighters on the scene.
An emergency alert is being sent to people in this area.
2.27pm
2.23pm Fire crews use SkyCrane to dump water over fire at Winmalee North.
2.15pm There are reports the Springwood hospital is also being evacuated. More details to come.
2.12pm Winmalee Shopping Centre evacuated.
2.08pm The fire near Lithgow and towards Bilpin and Mountain Lagoon has burnt through more than 30,000 hectares, the RFS says.
There are two areas covered by an emergency warning.
Fire activity has intensified around the areas of Dargan and Bell. There is a threat to properties in this area. If you are in this area, seek shelter as the fire impacts. Protect yourself from the heat of the fire.
Fire activity has also intensified near the communities of Berambing and Bilpin. People in this area should seek shelter as the fire impacts. Protect yourself from the heat of the fire. It is too late to leave. Avoid driving in these conditions.
Bells Line of Road is blocked in both directions between Lithgow and the township of Bilpin.
Emergency Alert telephone warning messages are being sent to people in this area.
There are four other fires labelled with a watch-and-act status:
Watch and Act - Ruttleys Road Fire (Wyong LGA) 19/10/13 13:24 Watch and Act - Linksview Road Fire, Springwood (Blue Mountains) 19/10/13 13:01 Watch and Act - Hall Road Fire, Balmoral Village (Southern Highlands / Wollondilly) 19/10/13 12:30 Watch and Act - Mount York Road, Mt Victoria Fire (Blue Mountains) 19/10/13 11:37
1.46pm Fire has caused millions of dollars worth of damage to the historic Zig Zag railway in the NSW Blue Mountains.
Ten carriages, accommodation carriages, historic sleeping carriages, a meeting room, workshop, office and sleepers were ruined by the fire which tore through the area between Lithgow and the western side of the Blue Mountains over Thursday and Friday.
The cost of the damage is estimated at up to $4 million, Zig Zag Railway board member Alexander Robinson-Mills told AAP.
The damage can be seen in the image below taken from the Zig Zag Railway Facebook page.
1.39pm Roads closed from Lithgow to Bilpin.
1.36pm Roads have been closed in the Bell area on the western side of the Blue Mountains after an emergency warning is issued for the Lithgow fire.
1.35pm Full details of the RFS's emergency warning for the Lithgow fire is below.
A large bush fire is burning between Lithgow and Bilpin. There is a threat to properties in areas including Bell and Dargan, and Berambing and Bilpin.
Current Situation
There are two areas covered by an emergency warning.
Fire activity has intensified around the areas of Dargan and Bell. There is a threat to properties in this area. If you are in this area, seek shelter as the fire impacts. Protect yourself from the heat of the fire.
Fire activity has also intensified near the communities of Berambing and Bilpin. People in this area should seek shelter as the fire impacts. Protect yourself from the heat of the fire. It is too late to leave. Avoid driving in these conditions.
The Bells Line Of Road is closed in some sections.
Emergency Alert telephone warning messages are being sent to people in this area.
1.20pm Deputy Commissioner of the RFS says he's disappointed the first emergency warning of the day has been issued.
1.16pm An emergency warning has been issued for the State Mine Fire in the Lithgow-Blue Mountains region. And another four fires have been labelled with a watch-and-act status. For the latest details visit the RFS website.
1.13pm Residents in the Springwood (Blue Mountains) area are being sent emergency alert telephone warning messages about a fire that flared up again.
1.06pm Defence training may have caused Lithgow fire, the Defence department says.
The defence department has launched an investigation into whether a large bushfire at Lithgow on the western side of the NSW Blue Mountains was caused by training activity.
Defence has confirmed that an investigation is underway into the State Mine fire that started on Wednesday, the same day explosive ordnance training was taking place at the Marangaroo training area.
"Defence is investigating if the two events are linked," it said in a statement.
"The ongoing investigation... will review both the incident and Defence procedures."
1.11pm In the eye of a fire....
Firefighters from the Blackheath/Mt Victoria Rural Fire Brigade have captured dramatic video footage from Thursday's fires at Mount York.
The footage was recorded with a GoPro cam placed on the helmet of a firefighter shows the importance of having a bushfire survival plan and leaving early.
12.54pm NSW communities will rally together, PM tells media.
Communities affected by the devastating bushfires in New South Wales will "rally together" as Australians always do in difficult times, Prime Minister Tony Abbott says.
As the fires continue to blaze, Mr Abbott said it was appropriate to remember all those who lost their homes over the past few days.
"We remember them, we remember their communities," he told the South Australian Liberal Party annual meeting in Adelaide on Saturday.
"We send our best wishes to them as they confront loss, as they confront challenge, as they rally together as Australians always do in difficult times."
Mr Abbott said it was also appropriate to remember those on the frontline of the fires.
"The full-time professionals, the part-time professionals, the volunteer professionals in the state emergency services and the rural fires services," he said.
"We remember all of them."
12.34pm "Sheer stupidity"
NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell has described the actions of two girls who allegedly lit a grass fire on a day of extreme bushfire risk as "sheer stupidity".
Police arrested and questioned the girls, who are aged 12 and 13, after members of the public saw trying to start a fire in a reserve in Sydney's west yesterday.
11.11am 193 homes razed to the ground, RFS says.
After assessing 95 per cent of the fireground in Springwood and Winmalee the RFS has been able to establish that 193 properties have been destroyed and 109 have been damaged.
That number could change following more investigations involving other fire-hit areas.
On Friday the Insurance Council of Australia said there had already been 550 claims totalling $30 million, with the number expected to rise sharply.
Meanwhile, NSW firefighters are racing to get the upper hand on bushfires in the Blue Mountains, central coast and southern highlands as calmer, cooler weather provides a window of opportunity.
But the Rural Fire Service says the danger is far from over, with higher temperatures and increasing winds predicted tomorrow.
More than 1500 firefighters have been on the ground across the state with 83 fires burning across the state, including 19 uncontained blazes.
The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting the mercury will climb a few degrees today, but conditions will worsen tomorrow as temperatures reach the low 30s in parts of the state.
No rain is expected until the middle of next week.
